Boyett’s Grove Citrus Attraction in Brooksville, FL

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Let me tell you about my visit to Boyett’s Grove Citrus Attraction in Brooksville, FL. I grew up coming to this zoo and my greatest memory is feeding the friendly spider monkeys. My mom says it has changed a lot since then. The attraction is unlike any other aquarium, zoo, or museum. My mom, Kay and 20 month old nephew, Ben came around 2PM. It was $17.95 for 2 adults and a bag of food. The bag of food is in a plastic store bag full of popcorn, chopped celery and carrots, bread, buns, and powdered donuts. Parking is free. The only downside is parking is at the top of a hidden hill on Spring Lake Hwy so you have to be extra careful leaving (people don’t drive the speed limit).

You enter the outdoor attraction to tortoises that you can reach out to touch and hand feed. Then you explore the following: emus, geese, mini horses, goats, potbelly pigs (with 5 baby piglets), zebras, donkey, monkeys, spider monkeys, llamas, deer, peacocks, porcupine, camel, raccoons, and last but not least, birds, turtles, snake, fish, guinea pigs and bunnies.

  

In the aviary, some of the birds are in individual cages you would see in your home. You will find several parrot species and canaries. There are food dispensers that you need to put a quarter in and about twenty turtles were surrounding it just outside of their pool.

Through another surprise door is a dinosaur land. The room is dark and has statues of dinosaurs surrounded by strobe lights. The dinosaurs remind me of children’s toys multiplied in size. Children can pretend to dig up fossils in the surrounding sand pit covered with bones.

In a separate room are statues of  shark, grouper, and other fish species. There are home sized aquariums of live fish as well.

The attraction and its animals could use some tender loving care. The horses have matted hair and the slides are aged by the elements and are covered in spider webs. It is difficult to push a stroller here, the sidewalk is narrow and not flat. You are surrounded by overgrown trees and some of the tallest banana trees I’ve ever seen. Inside the gift shop is an arcade, old fashioned candy, ice cream and more. There is only one cashier handling everything and no change machine.

All in all, you can expect a unique experience hand feeding several animals that are like pets. You don’t have to deal with lots of tourists or crowds. Young children will enjoy this giant petting zoo. It truly brings your childhood dreams and fairytales to life.

Also, I recommend having lunch down the road near Hwy 50 at Pappa Joe’s Italian Restaurant.