This Michigan Farm Attraction Lets You Feed Kangaroos, Ride Camels, And See 140 Exotic Animals
Forget the standard petting zoo, your heart will skip a beat the moment you catch the scent of sun-warmed hay and sweet apple blossoms drifting off M-20. Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo is a vibrant, multi-species sanctuary where the air vibrates with the rhythmic thump of apple cannons and the gentle, dusty shuffle of kangaroos seeking a snack.
The paths are impeccably clean, and the animals possess that bright-eyed spark that only comes from genuine, high-quality care. Michigan animal lovers will find their ultimate destination at this adventure farm, where exotic zoo encounters and hands-on agricultural fun create unforgettable family memories.
Whether you’re sharing a quiet moment with a goat or dodging a splash-pad spray, the hospitality here is as authentic as the farm dirt. To maximize your critter time, arrive early and grab a bucket of feed before the exotic residents settle into their afternoon naps.
Finding Your Rhythm On Arrival
Mornings feel gentle here, with dew still clinging to the grass and the low, excited chatter of families scanning their maps. As you approach the entrance, the farm market doors slide open to reveal the comforting aroma of cinnamon and fresh cider.
The ticket lines move with a brisk efficiency, and the staff greet you with that clear Michigan politeness that immediately calms any first timer jitters. Originally opened by the Lewis family and steadily expanded over the years, the property strikes a perfect balance between a working farm and an approachable, professional zoo.
You can sense the intentional care in the layout, with water stations positioned thoughtfully near animal enclosures and high energy play zones. Buy your tickets online to save a few dollars and aim for opening time, since parking is conveniently close and early arrival helps you skip midday crowds while the parakeets are at their hungriest.
Keep your phone charged for the QR coded maps that guide you through the sprawling acreage, because you will use it constantly once you are inside.
Kangaroo Encounters Without The Rush
A soft thump of paws on packed earth signals you are nearing the Kangaroo habitat. The enclosure offers sandy stretches for lounging and plenty of shade, and the animals tend to keep a polite, curious distance until the food appears.
There is a contagious calm in the way they move, and you’ll find yourself relaxing into their rhythm of slow blinks and careful nibbles. Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo has grown its encounters program through careful training and staff oversight rather than pure spectacle.
The keepers stay nearby and share quiet notes about diet and handling that feel practical and educational. Purchase your feed cups early in the day since they can sell out on busy Saturdays, then hold the cup low and steady with your fingers clear of the edge when it is your turn.
Afterward, wash up at the nearby sanitation station, and wander over to the wallabies if the main path starts to feel a bit thick with visitors.
Camel Rides And A Slow View Of The Farm
From the height of the saddle, the farm spreads out in gentle, geometric squares of green and gold. The camels sway like sturdy boats, steady and taller than you might expect, giving you a postcard view of towering sunflowers and winding slides below.
As you move, the handler talks casually, checks straps, and keeps a rhythmic pace with easy confidence. While rides were added as the zoo expanded, the family ensured that safety infrastructure came first.
You’ll notice sturdy mounting platforms, clear queuing lines, and shaded waiting areas that make the experience comfortable. There is an extra fee and the duration is short, designed for a quick loop, so weekdays are the better bet for shorter lines and closed toe shoes help on the platform steps.
If you want one height memory, hand the handler your phone for a quick photo before you dismount, then head to the nearby kiosk to hydrate.
Parakeet Aviary: Color You Can Hold
The moment you open the door to the Parakeet Aviary, the air changes, becoming bright with fluttering wings and tiny, musical chirps. If you hold out a seed stick, you become a temporary tree, and the birds settle on you like living, polite ornaments.
It is oddly grounding to stand still and let a rainbow of color choose to land on your shoulder. The aviary fits the farm’s philosophy of steady growth, inviting intimate interaction while keeping clear boundaries for the birds’ well being.
Staff hover just enough to coach younger guests on gentle hands. Buy a seed stick or two at the entrance, keep your elbows tucked, and move with slow, deliberate motions so the birds feel safe and you get better photos.
If the center path is busy, step into a quieter corner and offer a steady branch, because you often earn a feathery quorum faster than those standing in the middle of the walkway.
Apple Cannons And The Joy Of Aim
The satisfying thunk of compressed air followed by a bright red arc across the Michigan sky feels nostalgic and cheerfully precise. The Apple Cannons are a fan favorite, with targets dotting a wide field beyond a secure safety line and a scoreboard energy that stays lively even after near misses.
The area smells like autumn leaf piles and warm cider, which makes the whole moment feel like a seasonal postcard. The farm leans into these classic agricultural games with reliable gear and constant staff oversight.
The cannons look well maintained, lines move steadily, and signage covers safety rules without draining the fun. Bring small bills or a card for extra shots, because just one more is the most common phrase in this zone once you start landing closer and closer.
When it is your turn, shoulder the cannon, exhale, and squeeze the trigger steadily rather than jabbing it, then aim a touch high to compensate for the apple’s drop and collect your polite bragging rights at the fence.
Splash Pad And Midday Cooldown
As the West Michigan heat builds toward noon, the Splash Pad is a lifesaver, lifting the temperature off your shoulders in seconds. Water jets arc reliably into the air, the pavement grips well under bare feet, and laughter carries across the lawn like a happy metronome for the middle stretch of the day.
This attraction arrived as part of the family’s commitment to making the farm a full day destination. Shade sails for waiting parents, perimeter benches, and nearby restrooms make it easy to manage, and everything looks well kept in a way that quietly matters.
Pack quick dry clothes and a small towel in your vehicle, since you will be glad you did once the first soak happens. You can stash shoes at the edge, but label a bag and set a clear meet up point like the blue mushroom fountain so nobody has to wander while dripping.
Reapply sunscreen after the water, then wander over to the corn pit while your hair dries in the sun.
Capybara Moments And Gentle Facts
There is something about a capybara’s quiet, stoic presence that feels like hitting a pause button on a busy day. During these encounters, a keeper shares bite sized facts about social structures and legendary water naps while the animal blinks slowly and rearranges its whiskers.
That calm suits the farm setting, and it changes the energy of a group faster than you might expect. These specialized encounters reflect careful programming.
Sessions stay small and staff balance warmth with structure, and just watching how they time touch and protect space teaches more than any signboard could. Reserve ahead because popular slots vanish quickly on sunny weekends, then wear simple, comfortable clothes and sit still so curiosity can outrun the urge to immediately pet.
Afterward, stroll past the otters and notice your own pace, because it often becomes slower and more observant without you trying.
Food, Donuts, And The Map Problem
Once cinnamon sugar clings to your fingers after a warm Apple Cider Donut, the day suddenly feels simple again. The onsite eatery, The Social Goat, turns out crisp pizza slices and lemonade with the right tart note for a summer afternoon, and food lines usually move at a steady clip.
Service has grown alongside the attractions, staying practical and friendly rather than chasing trends. While QR codes handle menus and maps, cell service can be spotty, and you will often see staff helping guests navigate in real time as they collect feedback.
Screenshot the menus and the farm map before you lose bars. Keep wet wipes in your pocket for sticky donut fingers, grab water refills early, and find shade near the sunflower photo wall when you need a midday reset.
That small pause keeps the rest of the afternoon smoother, especially if you are moving with kids who hit a wall fast.
Seasonal Shifts: Sunflowers To Corn Maze
Late summer hums with the vibrant yellow of sunflowers, giving you backdrops your relatives will actually ask to see. As the air turns crisp, the farm trades petals for pumpkin stacks and a Corn Maze that crunches underfoot, and the friendliness of the place stays steady even as the scenery shifts.
That rhythm tracks back to the property’s history as a produce forward agricultural operation. Activities bend toward harvest moments without losing the heartbeat of the exotic zoo, and you can sense respect for Michigan tradition in the way the day is designed.
If you are planning around scenery, sunflowers usually peak in late summer, while the corn maze tends to feel best from September into October. Wear sturdy boots if it has rained, keep hands free for navigating twists, and plan a slower pace so the maze feels playful rather than stressful.
End with a cup of cider by the fence, watch the deer graze as the sun goes down, and you will understand why golden hour is the farm’s quiet finale.
Little Oddities That Make The Day
Sometimes the smallest features are the ones that stick. A Goat Tower pulley system turns you into an amateur engineer delivering snacks to a hungry goat three stories up, and the spinning tunnel resets your balance just enough to make everyone laugh again.
The massive jump pillow loosens shoulders, and those small inventions become the stories people retell on the drive home. The family keeps play features clean and sturdily built, which hints at the farm shop craft behind the scenes.
The mix of active play and quieter animal time feels intentional rather than scattered, and you will notice thoughtful repairs and well labeled hardware as you move through the property. Carry a small stash of quarters for feed dispensers and a zip top bag to keep tickets dry, then rotate between high energy zones and calmer paths to keep kids steady.
Try to finish at the deer feed station during golden hour, because shadows lengthen, animals stay active, and your camera finally behaves.