You Can Get Surprisingly Close To Kangaroos And Sloths At This Tennessee Farm
Getting this close to a kangaroo is something most people assume impossible. This Tennessee farm removes that assumption in the best possible way.
The animals are calm and comfortable with visitors being very nearby. Sloths hang above while kangaroos move freely across the open grounds.
The whole experience seems unhurried because that is clearly by design. Staff members care deeply and that shows in every single visible detail.
I stood next to one here and the whole thing felt unbelievable. The state has memorable animal experiences and this farm leads all of them.
Come ready to get far closer than you ever expected to be.
How It All Began
Not every farm has a story worth telling. Trust me, this one definitely does.
Ocoee Riverside Farm in Benton is tucked into a stretch of land where the Ocoee River runs just feet from the property line. The setting alone feels like something out of a postcard.
The farm was built with a clear purpose: to create meaningful, educational connections between people and animals.
Every detail, from the accommodations to the animal care, reflects that mission. The owners poured their hearts into building a place that seems personal, not commercial.
What sets this farm apart from the beginning is the sheer variety of animals that call it home. Zebras, camels, sloths, kangaroos, spider monkeys, fennec foxes, highland cows, llamas, and more all live here together.
Tennessee does not have many places like this, and Benton is lucky to host it. Going through the front gate for the first time feels like the start of something genuinely unexpected and wonderful.
The Farm Setting
The landscape at 1087 Reynolds Bridge Rd works hard to impress you from the moment you arrive. Don’t forget to write down that address!
On one side of the property, the Ocoee River flows quietly just steps away. On the other side, zebras roam freely in open pastures.
It is a view that genuinely stops you in your tracks.
The farm is spread across enough land that animals have real room to move and live naturally. Free-ranging animals often wander close to guests, even without a scheduled encounter.
You might be walking a path and suddenly have a llama nudging your elbow for attention.
Tennessee has no shortage of beautiful countryside, but this particular corner of it is especially alive. The blend of river sounds, animal calls, and open sky creates an atmosphere that is hard to describe and even harder to leave.
Mornings here are particularly special, with donkeys braying at sunrise and kangaroos already active in the fields.
The farm does not try to be a theme park. It simply lets the land and animals do what they do best, and the result is something far more memorable than any manufactured attraction could ever be.
Kangaroo Encounters
There is something almost unreal about bottle-feeding a baby kangaroo in the middle of Tennessee. Yet that is exactly what happens during the kangaroo encounter at this farm.
The joeys are hand-raised and completely comfortable with human contact, which makes the whole experience feel relaxed and natural.
During the encounter, guests get up close with both adult kangaroos and the younger ones. Adults are curious and calm, often approaching on their own terms.
The babies, though, are the ones that tend to steal the show entirely.
The staff guides you through each interaction with real knowledge about kangaroo behavior, diet, and biology. It never feels like a rushed photo opportunity.
Instead, it feels like a genuine learning moment wrapped inside something incredibly fun.
For families with kids, this one tends to produce the loudest reactions. For adults visiting without children, it somehow still manages to bring out that wide-eyed wonder that most of us thought we had outgrown somewhere around middle school.
Sloth Cuddle Experiences
Sloths are slow, soft, and somehow even more charming in person than you imagined.
The sloth encounters here are among the most talked-about experiences on the farm, and it is easy to understand why once you have held one. These animals are incredibly calm and seem genuinely unbothered by gentle human contact.
The farm has multiple sloths, each with its own personality. Some encounters happen in dedicated indoor spaces.
The VIP experience allows guests to spend extended one-on-one time learning facts and getting up close in a more private setting.
Staff members walk you through everything, sharing biology, behavior, and care details that make the experience educational as well as emotional.
Tennessee is not exactly known for tropical wildlife, which makes stumbling upon a sloth encounter in the hills near Benton feel wonderfully surprising.
Guests are allowed to feed the sloths and take photos during the session. The animals are relaxed and well-socialized, which means cuddles feel genuine rather than forced.
More Animals On Site
Kangaroos and sloths get most of the attention, but the animal roster here goes much deeper than that.
Fennec foxes fit neatly in your cupped hands and have ears that seem too large for their tiny frames.
Spider monkeys swing and play with a kind of cheerful energy that is impossible not to smile at. Camels, both adult and baby, are part of the daily farm life here.
Highland cows, with their shaggy coats and gentle eyes, are equally popular with guests of all ages. The farm also has llamas, alpacas, goats, pigs, donkeys, and ponies.
Many of these animals roam freely and will approach guests during farm tours. The variety is genuinely impressive, and the staff knows each animal individually.
That personal knowledge shows in how comfortable the animals are around people.
Finding a single farm that houses this many species in healthy, well-maintained conditions is rare. This place pulls it off with obvious care and a lot of heart behind every enclosure and pasture.
Glamping Accommodations
Spending the night here takes the whole experience to another level.
The farm offers several unique accommodation options, including covered wagons, a multi-room suite above the barn, and themed spaces that each feel distinct. None of them feel like a basic campsite.
The wagons come with private bathrooms, thoughtful details like Bluetooth speaker fans and ceiling heat lamps, and fire pits right outside.
Firewood can be pre-ordered, and evenings by the river with a crackling fire and animal sounds in the background are as good as they sound.
The Sloth Suite, formerly called the Camel Condo, has floor windows that look down into the barn where baby camels and kangaroos can be spotted below.
Donkeys announce the morning with enthusiasm, and kangaroos are already active in the fields before most guests have finished their first cup of coffee.
Staying overnight turns a day trip into a full immersive experience that most guests say they wish had lasted longer.
Farm Tours Explained
The farm tour is the best way to see everything this property has to offer in one go.
Guides walk guests through the various pastures and enclosures, introducing animals along the way and explaining their backgrounds, habits, and care routines. It moves at a comfortable pace that works for all ages.
During the tour, guests typically get to feed a wide range of animals. Goats, llamas, alpacas, and pigs are usually part of the outdoor feeding stops.
Staff members bring out additional animals as the tour progresses, often surprising guests with species they did not expect to encounter up close.
The guides here know their subjects thoroughly. Questions are welcomed and answered with real depth, not rehearsed scripts.
Families with young children find the pacing ideal, and older guests appreciate the educational layer that runs through the whole experience.
Ocoee Riverside Farm designed these tours to feel personal rather than crowded, which is why encounters are scheduled rather than open to walk-in crowds.
That scheduling keeps group sizes manageable and ensures every guest gets quality time with the animals.
Keep These Informations In Mind
Getting to Ocoee Riverside Farm is straightforward with GPS navigation, and the farm uses clear signage at the gate to guide arriving guests.
The peaceful riverside setting also makes the drive there like part of the overall experience rather than just a quick stop along the way.
Booking in advance is strongly recommended, especially for specific animal encounters. The farm is well-suited for couples, families with children, and anyone looking for something genuinely different from a standard tourist attraction.
Birthday trips, honeymoons, and family reunions have all taken place here, and the staff adapts well to different group needs.
Many visitors end up spending more time on the property than they originally planned because there is always something interesting happening around the farm.
Tennessee has many beautiful destinations worth visiting, but few offer the combination of outdoor beauty, exotic wildlife, and personal hospitality that this farm delivers.
If you come for a single encounter or a full weekend stay, the experience tends to leave a lasting impression. First-time visitors almost always start planning their return trip before they have even left the property.
