living-treasures-animal-park

If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable experience with your family this summer, I highly suggest you check this place out. It’s a blast for both adults and children of all ages. Pack up a picnic lunch to eat in the pavilion, and clear a day on your calendar!

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains un-awakened.” -Anatole France

Let’s be realistic, we all love animals. Whether you have a house full of them or not, tell me you don’t see a monkey or a kangaroo or a giraffe and just want to wrestle with it?

Ok, maybe not literally wrestle, but you know what I mean. Animals are awesome. The Pittsburgh zoo has hundreds of animals from all over the world for your viewing pleasure, and that’s a great way to spend your day!

But do you know what’s even better? It’s a shorter drive, the exhibits are much closer together meaning less walking (or running if you have a toddler like I do), AND you get to feed, pet, and play with over half of the animals!

Living Treasures Animal Park.

This is quite literally one of the coolest places I have ever been to, and I don’t just say that because my 3 year old puppy wrestler loves it, I say that because I love animals and it is amazing. It’s a special park where you can interact with a majority of the “residents.”

Since the animals have very large areas and sanctuaries to hang out in away from the crowds, you know they are only coming up to you for petting or feeding because they want to. They love the attention (and the treats!)

Do you want to hold a baby kangaroo? What about a snake? Want to have giraffes eat a carrot right out of your hand and give you a nice sloppy lick with their crazy black tongues?

Go to Living Treasures.

Where is it?

The Moraine location is just as close if not closer for most of our readers than the Pittsburgh Zoo. But even if it’s not, it is well worth the drive. 

Living Treasures Wild Animal Park

  • 268 Fox Road
  • New Castle, PA
  • 724-924-9571

There is also a second location in Donegal, PA for anyone who is outside of Beaver County and south of Pittsburgh. 

Living Treasures Wild Animal Park

  • 288 State Route 711
  • Donegal, PA
  • 724-593-8300 

What animals do they have?

Lions, Tigers, Buffalo, Alligators, Monkeys, Leopards, Camels, Deer, Ostriches, Pythons, Peacocks, Kangaroos, Giraffes, Sloths… just to name a few

living-treasures-animal-park

What sets Living Treasures apart?

Animal Snack Time

Not only are you strolling through the exhibits, but you actually get to FEED all of the “vegetarian” residents. Some of the smaller ones will eat carrots or dry feed right out of your hand!

The giraffes, deer, goats, baby zebras, sheep and many others will give you some love (and licks!) when you visit them with treats.

Bottle Feeding

Since many of the animals have been raised and bottle fed at Living Treasures, they give their guests an opportunity to help! You might want to get there a little early to get in line for this, and the animals love it just as much as the kiddos.

10:30 am – Camel Calf and Giraffe bottle feedings

3:30 pm – Petting zoo babies bottle feedings

Petting Zoo

While most zoos have petting areas, Living Treasures has pens full of baby zebras, donkeys, baby goats, sheep, and other adorable furry friends. My little Luke LOVES this!

Camel & Pony Rides

For our older kids (or younger ones with Mommy or Daddy’s help), take a stroll on a camel’s hump or hop on a little pony for a quick ride.

Live Animal Pictures

Get your picture taken holding a baby kangaroo, wallaby, or python!

Walk-Through Aviary

Are you a bird fan? Walk through this giant aviary and see your favorite winged creatures flying from tree to tree, and even taking time to perch on your finger for a quick picture!

Education Center

On Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 11 am and running every hour until 3 pm, you can catch an “Animal Encounter” show. You can get up close and personal with some awesome animals, and learn a lot about them in the process! 

Special Events

Want to have a seriously special birthday party?  Have it at Living Treasures! Different packages include park admission, pony rides, and picnic lunches.

Nights at the Zoo are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in October that let you check out all of the habitats by torch light. A truly unique experience and such an interesting way to observe some of these fascinating animals at night.

If you even needed persuading to check out an awesome place like this, hopefully reading about it did the trick. Get out there, take the kids, and have an amazing time!

Allie is a lifelong resident of Beaver County. She is a 2006 graduate of Blackhawk High School, and still resides in Patterson Heights with her husband Andy and their 3-year old son, Luke. She is a Regional Manager at PLS Logistics and a sports fanatic. You can find her on Facebook as Allie Dixon.