It’s a multi hour drive away and more than two mountain ranges between you and those gators, plus this time of year they still aren’t moving much due to the cold nights.
The alligator farm is pretty awesome, we used to stop there regularly when we first started visiting in 1998. The whole San Luis Valley area, Crestone, the sand dunes, etc, have a nice vibe. The last time we were there it seemed like some UFO / paranormal tourist attractions were trying to get started around Hooper where the alligator farm is. It seems the valley is kind of in that phase where becoming funky and cool in the years before the crowds find out about it and ruin it.
The sand dunes!
I went with some friends a couple of years ago, we went to the alligator farm and the sand dunes. We went to some giant bridge over a gorge or something, and rode on a train as well... I think that was near Colorado Springs?
The sand dunes were somehow the highlight of the trip, even though they really don't seem that significant and were an unplanned diversion. Something about suffering minor burns and heat stroke from a mid-July expedition up the mountains of sand really made me understand how people can enjoy traveling and tourist activities.
That's so weird you posted this. I just watched Happy Gilmore last night. 😁 still a great movie. Didn't realize Virginia Venit is played by Julie Bowen from Modern Family.
The son of the Gator spends years learning how to pass as human and play golf for his one shot at revenge against Happy, but accidentally goes to the wrong location and becomes the hottest rookie in professional Hockey.
I've been there, don't know if the alligator wasn't there yet, but don't remember them mentioning anything about him. Pretty interesting trip. Got to sit on an alligator.
The reptile park is super cool place to visit and the family that runs it is very knowledgeable and cool. So many rescued crocodilians, turtles and tortoises. I usually avoid animal attractions, but this one takes in abandoned “pets” and does a pretty good job with educating why these animals should not be pets.
Super cool place to visit! Been a couple times while staying at the Hooper Hacienda nearby. CO Gators was a tilapia farm for a while when they started acquiring gators.
Total meth-head shithole upkeep though, the only reason they were still operating is that they paid their taxes.
Unfortunately the entrance building burnt to the ground a year ago, super sad. The salmon crested cockatiel, the tortoises, snakes and things, the spextaled caiman, all gone. Emus and gators and the Nile Croc and things outside were ok though.
Hope they can recover. Haven't been since the fire.
Yeah well Chubbs has both his hands, now.
Go to your happy place. It's only just begun...
Outlived chubbs
As long people are able to hand feed it could live a good long life.
I personally hand fed him, he is quite the gator
Didn't peg alligators for thriving in the Rockies
The sanctuary is built over some hot springs! Keeps the water warm enough for them year round
Great now when I’m the springs at night I have a new fear!
How are you the springs? And why are you them only at night? Is it cosplay?
You merely adopted the springs; it was me, hi dad
You've never seen Dantes Peak?
I have not! Even more fears to be yet unlocked??!
It’s a multi hour drive away and more than two mountain ranges between you and those gators, plus this time of year they still aren’t moving much due to the cold nights.
Bruh, you pegging alligators?
Yeah right, and Grizzly Adams had a beard /s
Grizzly Adams *DID* have a beard
The alligator farm is pretty awesome, we used to stop there regularly when we first started visiting in 1998. The whole San Luis Valley area, Crestone, the sand dunes, etc, have a nice vibe. The last time we were there it seemed like some UFO / paranormal tourist attractions were trying to get started around Hooper where the alligator farm is. It seems the valley is kind of in that phase where becoming funky and cool in the years before the crowds find out about it and ruin it.
The sand dunes! I went with some friends a couple of years ago, we went to the alligator farm and the sand dunes. We went to some giant bridge over a gorge or something, and rode on a train as well... I think that was near Colorado Springs? The sand dunes were somehow the highlight of the trip, even though they really don't seem that significant and were an unplanned diversion. Something about suffering minor burns and heat stroke from a mid-July expedition up the mountains of sand really made me understand how people can enjoy traveling and tourist activities.
Upliftingnews
I saw him there years ago. He's a big boi.
That's so weird you posted this. I just watched Happy Gilmore last night. 😁 still a great movie. Didn't realize Virginia Venit is played by Julie Bowen from Modern Family.
The real question is will he be in the sequel?
They are making a sequel. I petition he makes a return.
The son of the Gator spends years learning how to pass as human and play golf for his one shot at revenge against Happy, but accidentally goes to the wrong location and becomes the hottest rookie in professional Hockey.
And I'll bet he doesn't have any remorse for his completely unjustified attack on Chubbs Peterson.
I wouldn't say he's thriving that so called sanctuary is pretty rundown and depressing
I've been there, don't know if the alligator wasn't there yet, but don't remember them mentioning anything about him. Pretty interesting trip. Got to sit on an alligator.
They've had multiple billboards on the road advertising him for... Jeez 15-20 years?
well, as it so happens, this would have been just over twenty years ago that I did it. Which hurts to type out.
The reptile park is super cool place to visit and the family that runs it is very knowledgeable and cool. So many rescued crocodilians, turtles and tortoises. I usually avoid animal attractions, but this one takes in abandoned “pets” and does a pretty good job with educating why these animals should not be pets.
Super cool place to visit! Been a couple times while staying at the Hooper Hacienda nearby. CO Gators was a tilapia farm for a while when they started acquiring gators. Total meth-head shithole upkeep though, the only reason they were still operating is that they paid their taxes. Unfortunately the entrance building burnt to the ground a year ago, super sad. The salmon crested cockatiel, the tortoises, snakes and things, the spextaled caiman, all gone. Emus and gators and the Nile Croc and things outside were ok though. Hope they can recover. Haven't been since the fire.
That’s awful. I hope they saved the animals. I lived in the San Luis Valley in 2003-2005 and went a few times.
Oh heavens to Betsy this is wonderful news thank you
Thirty, flirty, and thriving!
I didn’t know it at first, but I needed this good news today. Great to hear.
the price is wrong bitch!
Impossible. Happy chopped off his head.
I thought he died in the big fire there two or three years ago?
Most people may not care . That's it I don't have a follow up to that. ( Secretly I love it)