Lazy 5 Ranch Review

Lazy 5 Ranch located in Mooresville, North Carolina well actually Rowan County is home to over 750 animals. When first arriving at the ranch you come through a large gate announcing "Lazy 5 Ranch" then you'll drive up a dirt road to another gate where there's a little building sitting where you'll pay admission to the ranch. The cost is $8.50 for adult general admission and children ages 2-11 and seniors age 60 above get in for $5.50 each. Also, you can pay an additional $5.00 for adults and another $3.00 for children and seniors to ride a wagon around the ranch. The wagon ride includes feed for the animals. The Lazy 5 Ranch does not accept debit or credit cards so you must bring cash. Operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. till 1 hour before sunset and on Sunday's from 1 p.m. until 1 hour before sunset.

Upon entering after paying admission on the right there's an area that you walk through an animal petting area where camels, llamas, goats and sheep as well as caged birds and other small animals are kept. Also, on the right side there's the trading post where you can purchase gifts or a souvenir from the Lazy 5 Ranch.

When entering the Lazy 5 Ranch on the left there's a large picnic area, a snack shop and a large playground area for the kids. Parking up front is usually crowded. if you plan on taking a wagon ride upon paying you need to veer right and take right where the sign points to the horse barn. You can park over there and there's a lot more parking area over there. You'll catch the wagon ride at the horse stable.

If you plan on driving through the ranch once you pay you'll go straight and you'll see the entrance where most of the animals are kept. Upon entering this area be prepared for the animals to come up to your vehicle wanting food and they'll stand in the road. So you need to move slowly throughout the vehicle route. You'll see animals such as potbelly pigs, goats, llamas, giraffes, yak, ostriches, a Rhino named "Luther" and other exotic wildlife.

I took the wagon ride and the person driving would stop in a middle of an area on the ranch and the animals would come up around the wagon wanting food. The guide tells you to feed the two-legged animals out of the bucket and feed four-legged animals out of your hand. The Yak and Holstein Cow hold their tongues out and you just have to drop the feed on their tongue. It's funny to watch the animals come around wanting food and the things they do to get the food.

I saw you can even have birthday parties and large group accommodations at the Lazy 5 Ranch. Kids will love it there because the animals are so friendly and there's a lot to do in a day. The ranch even offers discounts for large groups to visit.

I'd recommend visiting the Lazy 5 Ranch, but a word of caution when you plan to leave the ranch you have to exit over by the Horse barn and not the sign that says Exit only over by the main entrance because that's where the vehicles that drive through the ranch come out. Signage is a little confusing on exiting the park but overall the experience was fun.