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Search Site [tips]Lazy 5 Ranch
Highway 150 East Mooresville, NC 28115
704-663-5100, 704-278-2618
My sister Frances visited this zoo a couple of weeks ago with her friend Al. She decided with my love of animals and zoos that I would enjoy the Lazy 5 Ranch. It is located about an hour from Winston-Salem in the middle of rural farm land on 180 acres. The owners are experience animal trainers and have worked with exotic animals from all over the world. They are small operation providing picnic grounds and a small gift shop that sells a few snacks. Visitors are allowed to either drive their own cars through the safari like pastureland or take a wagon ride.
Located near the picnic area are some exotic birds in very nice caged areas and two petting zoos. I took some pictures of several of the baby goats and a mom and baby llama.
Also located near the picnic ground was a large prairie dog mound. As you will see by the number of pictures I took, I feel in love with them. I assume they were a male/female pair. This one toddled over and stood up to have his picture taken. Later he was happily enjoying his lunch when someone gave him a cracker.
The other one disappeared down one hole and reappeared on the other side of the mound from this hole.
While watching her this one went back to work. After kicking dirt backwards with their fee, they scoop the dirt up around the hole and then pack it down with their nose. He/she then started working down in the hole gradually working downward until it disappeared. After a couple of seconds it turned around and popped back out.
Nearby were several very colorful parrots. 
This baby burro and parents were settled in right outside the
petting zoo area. 
And so was this guy. 
The area around the barns and petting zoo had some beautiful rock gardens with some odd looking plants, flowering cactus, and a butterfly having lunch on some verbena. Also a very nice goldfish pond.
Now we are off on the wagon ride through the safari and pastureland. The animals will come up to your car or the wagon to be fed. I am sorry I cannot remember the names of all the elands, deer, and bison varieties we saw. Some would stick their heads right through the rails or the open area in the back to get their food. While some of them look rather vicious, they are all very friendly and take the food very gently from your hands.
The deer were very lovely but were afraid to come close to the wagon. However, the little horned guy has learned to keep to front paws on the wagon and walk along behind while eating. In the picture with the guys shoe he is going after food not him.
The baby zebra was born last week.
Frances clowning around 
This last picture of the pot bellied pig babies is blurry but it is the best one I could get.
