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Lions, and tigers, and bears – oh, my!! One doesn’t need to travel to the movie land of OZ to see them. A quick jaunt to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, will bring visitors face to face with all three varieties of these magical creatures. Located 7 miles south of historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas, an enchanting Victorian village with unique homes, boutiques, and restaurants, a trip to Turpentine Creek is a must-see destination. Upon entering the main reception area at the USDA regulated Big Cat rescue facility, guests are greeted by friendly staff and the strikingly colored Blue & Gold Macaw, Cecil, who usually greets new comers with a cheery “Hello!” in his best parrot voice. Part of the Turpentine Creek family since its beginning, Cecil thinks he is the official meet-n-greet ambassador and he never fails to charm staff and visitors alike.

In the main viewing area, visitors are within five feet of majestic white Bengal tigers and their orange & black striped cousins, golden lions, tawny cougars, sleek black leopards and spotted leopards, spotted bobcats, and breathtakingly beautiful ligers. Bam Bam, the grizzly bear, is always willing to put on a show by ‘drowning’ his oversized toys in his pool or carrying them around on his shoulders. He loves to hear the ‘ooohs and aaaahs’ of the crowd he draws with his playful antics; the more on-lookers he has, the funnier his act becomes.

Overseeing the whole compound area with his soft grey eyes is Goober, the Rhesus Macque monkey, long term king of the castle and ruler of the roost. With picnic tables and benches strategically located in this viewing area for visitors to enjoy their picnic lunch or a snack from the summer time concession stand, one can enjoy the beauty and majesty of these 40+ inhabitants for as long as they prefer. After the self-guided tour of the main area visitors may choose to join a guided Habitat Tour, where over 70 Big Cats and the resident six black bears enjoy the safely enclosed freedom of the wide open spaces of 30 natural habitats.

Walking along the ½ mile path one is sure to see more than a few ginger and black tigers ‘stalking’ their two-legged guests from behind tall grasses and trees. It’s also the purrrfect time to see cougars running and chasing one another in their long and luxurious runs, or to gaze upon a lion or two lolling in the sun. Perhaps some of these large kitties may be playing with the colorful and oversized toys that are placed in their habitats for enrichment.

On any given day, they may also be seen playfully chasing each other in and out of their large swimming pools or they may simply be lounging atop their platform benches where they can regally survey the world around them. And, a trip to Turpentine Creek is not complete without staying to watch feeding time in the late afternoon. There is nothing like seeing and feeling the excitement of Big Cats awaiting the chuck wagon. From the sedate to the frenetic, each cat displays his/her own inimitable style at feeding time and gives visitors the thrill of a lifetime in the process.

For those inclined to spend more than a day in the enchanting presence of the Turpentine Creek menagerie, on site lodging is available. The five distinctive Safari Lodges, for adults 18 and older only, offer glamorous and soothing coziness where guests can relax on their private deck or join others on the community deck, which has a fire-pit and a Jacuzzi. The family-friendly Bengal Suite, Siberian Suite, and Tree House Bungalow offer unique views of cats near or outside the windows. From all locations, guests will be treated to the sounds of the Big Cats caroling and talking to one another throughout the night.

Whether it’s a day trip, overnight visit, or lengthier stay, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge will be something for guests to enjoy, remember, and reminisce about for the rest of their lives.

So……..come on in, the Big Cats are waiting to meet you!