Inside: Local mom visits Alligator Alley in Gulf Shores, Alabama (Summerdale, Alabama), where you can hold a baby alligator, pet snakes, and feed over 700 alligators.
Alligator Alley was unlike any animal encounter I have ever experienced. This alligator farm was wildly educational, unique, and a must-see on your next trip to Alabama.
What Is Alligator Alley
Alligator Alley is a self-guided nature park where you can see close to 700 alligators in their natural habitat. Wes Moore, owner of Alligator Alley, opened the farm in 2004 to help transport alligators from unnatural habitats (where they are getting into trouble with humans) to the farm in Summerdale, AL. While I listened to Moore’s presentation at the farm (more on that later), he informed us that the alligators he rehomes have lost their fear of humans, which therefore makes them a nuisance.
What To Expect At Alligator Alley
When you arrive at Alligator Alley, you will park in the parking lot before heading to the entrance. The entrance is where you will purchase tickets, alligator food if you plan to feed the gators, and any souvenirs you may want on your way out. Once you purchase tickets, you can start your trek through the nature trail.
You will start at the baby alligators and then eventually make your way to “Captain Crunch,” who is the largest gator they have there at the end of the trail (but sadly, we didn’t spot him the day we went). You can throw your alligator food into the cages (minus the baby alligator cages) as you walk. This was so fun because the gators would open their large jaws to grab the food as soon as you threw it to them. So cool!
Feeding Demonstration
When you get to the bleachers area, you will want to make sure you find a seat for the feeding demonstrations, which they hold daily at 11 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm. This was the highlight of our experience. The bleachers face the large lagoon where the adult alligators live, and as soon as the handler struck the “dinner bell”, out came a plethora of alligators trudging through the water onto the bank. It was a bit unnerving to see so many big gators coming out of the water.
The handler tossed large chunks of meat while he told us all about the alligators. He knew most of them by name, which I thought was neat, and didn’t seem phased when they were right at his ankles, ready for their lunch.
We learned that large alligators can go up to 18 months without eating, that the average lifespan of a gator is 50 years, and that “Captain Crunch” is over 800 pounds and prefers not to be bothered. There was no threat of our family trying to find Captain Crunch, much less disturb him. See ya later, alligator!
Hold A Baby Alligator
There are certain times during the day when an alligator handler will have a baby alligator out to hold. This did not cost extra. We simply waited in line and then got to hold a real-life baby alligator. They keep the jaws of said gator clamped shut, so no worries about losing a limb. Spoiler alert: They do NOT feel like you would expect at all.
The Nature Trail
As you pass the bleachers, you’ll see lots of young alligator habitats that house the smaller gators that are not quite ready for the big lagoon. We had fun feeding these smaller guy and girl gators, but the food went fast!
It is near impossible to get lost here, which is good considering you’re surrounded by 700 gators, as the trail is clearly marked. Along the way to the large boardwalk, you can stop off at the snake area, where they house large snakes. My children were thrilled to pet the corn snake they had out of its cage, but I kindly passed on that experience.
Another wild part of the nature trail that I felt a little creeped out by, but my kids loved, was the MANY Orb-Weaver Spiders on their webs. There were signs marking the spider’s natural habitats, and they were right beside the path, so beware of that with little kids who might want to curiously grab them.
Once you get through the snakes, baby gators, spiders, oh my, you’ll finally arrive at the boardwalk. This boardwalk allows you to walk over all the gators that are lurking in the murky waters. It was really neat to see the big gators lounging around!
Tips For Alligator Alley
We went to Alligator Alley in July of 2025, so it was HOT! Here are some tips for you to keep in mind when you visit:
- Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for children 3-12, and toddlers under 2 are free.
- You can purchase feed starting at $6 a cup. This is a must-do in my opinion.
- Hours: They are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
- NO pets allowed here.
- You can bring food and water here. They have shaded picnic areas.
- There are restrooms on the property.
- It is handicap accessible.
- Photography is welcome.
- Make sure you either take water or purchase it at the snack shed on the boardwalk. It is HOT, especially during the summer, so keep that in mind.
- They offer field trips and birthday parties.
Where is Alligator Alley in Gulf Shores, Alabama?
Alligator Alley Website
Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm
19950 Highway 71 Summerdale, AL 36580
251.946.2483
See ya later, alligator! Will you be visiting Alligator Alley?
Looking for lunch after feeding the alligators? Check out our Kidding Around Review of Lambert’s Cafe in Foley, AL!
Hold a baby alligator at Alligator Alley in Summerdale, Alabama!
Looking for more travel ideas? Check out our Kidding Around® Guide to Travel, with first-hand reviews of our favorite places to visit!
