Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Eureka Springs

This place is awesome. They have a great set up and the tour is very informative. They work SO hard to make sure these animals are cared for and protected. They have places you can stay in as well as RV sites. I wonder what it would be like to hear those cats when they get vocal at night!

Been visiting TCWR for years. It only gets better, and survives on donations. The guided tours are awesome (and optional); they walk around the outside of the compound. The rocky dirt road is best with closed-toe shoes. For those who skip the tour, there is a swath of walking path with rest benches down the middle of the compound. That trail has a gradual declivity and acclivity on the reverse trip back toward the shop. The guided tour also contains a gradual decline in slope and incline about halfway. There is also an option to ride in a bus you can ride if you don't want to walk. Please keep in mind this awesome animal sanctuary is all funded by donations when perusing the gift shop. Enjoy your trip! Oh, they usually the lions and tigers around 3pm. Pro tip: if you see a tiger turn their rear toward you and pause, back away quickly. Don't forget to bring water for those sunny spring and summer days.

Although I respect the work they do here I do think the overall experience was rather boring. Considering the staff has no interaction with the animals for safety reasons, the experience is very lack luster. They advertise over 100 big cats when you only see around 30. And the distance between guest and animals is a real problem in getting any kind of decent photos. Great cause but not something I'd ever go back for unless they made it more guest friendly.

What an amazing place!!! Good people do Amazing things! Giving big cats a home, and much needed care! I loved every minute of it! The sad part is, knowing so many people mistreat animals, and places like this have to step in to do what's best from the cats! Live you guys

Spent $60 for my kids to see and learn about large cats. The tour guide gave very little info about the cats. Instead she spoke about how people shouldn't own cats. If you go stay behind the tour so you can enjoy the animals.