Interact with many kinds of animals at Topsey Exotic Ranch
By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos by SHIELA ANDERSON and BRANDY CRUZ
Llamas, longhorns and zebras — oh, my! Located a few miles northwest of Copperas Cove is an exotic ranch that has been entertaining and educating visitors for well over three decades. Topsey Exotic Ranch offers a unique experience where guests can observe and interact with rare animals, and their main mission is to preserve and conserve various wildlife species, while also spreading knowledge and awareness.
Topsey Exotic Ranch is well-known around the Central Texas area, primarily because of the unique drive-through safari experience it offers guests; however, it also has a petting zoo and a walk-around area.
Gary Friedel opened Topsey Exotic Ranch in 1988, and it’s been going strong ever since. However, Friedel says running a ranch is not easy work — it’s a 24/7, 365-day-a-year job that requires full attention, no matter the weather. He says many people make the mistake of opening similar safari-style ranches without the proper knowledge or experience, which can end with disastrous consequences. His knowledge and dedication are to thank for the longevity and success of Topsey.
The mission at the ranch is to preserve and conserve wildlife, which staff does by allowing the animals to roam freely in the 250-acre preserve. This promotes the animals’ health and well-being, while safely living in their natural habitat. Allowing guests to interact with the animals also helps the conservation of the endangered and at-risk species because it brings awareness to their existence. Topsey’s brochure states, “it is our privilege and pleasure to not only be able to preserve numerous members of the animal kingdom, but to also offer our guests an adventure unlike any other, for over 30 years and through three generations.”
The safari at Topsey offers visitors an unforgettable experience in which they can use their own vehicles to drive a 3-mile trail through the preserve and feed the free-roaming animals. The animals clearly know exactly what to expect when they see a vehicle approaching and aren’t shy about asking for pellets. In fact, some of the zebras are known to stick their heads in people’s windows, attempting to steal the food, while ostriches are infamous for pecking vehicles out of frustration. However, most of the animals are perfectly courteous and accept their pellets without a fuss.
There are between 40 and 50 species represented at Topsey, so there are always plenty of animals to see. If you go during the heat of the summer, you’ll find many of them lounging in the covered areas that provide much-needed shade. Friedel says the animals come from all over the world, including India, Australia, Asia and Scotland, among other places.
They have several endangered or critically endangered species, like red lechwes, rheas, and addaxes, and even some that are completely extinct in the wild, such as scimitar-horned oryxes and Père David’s deer.
After driving through the safari, visit the petting zoo to feed and interact with sheep and goats before heading over to the walk-around to see the animals that must be enclosed, such as monkeys and kangaroos. There’s also a gift shop full of snacks, memorabilia and animal feed in case you run out (which you probably will).
There are a few things to know before heading out to Topsey Exotic Ranch: leave your pets at home, don’t bring your own feed (it could harm the animals), and make sure your tank is full of gas.
The folks at Topsey Exotic Ranch take pride fostering the connection between people and wildlife, and their love and passion for the animals at their ranch is palpable. A trip to Topsey is more than a run-of-the-mill trip to the zoo — it’s an adventure.
Topsey Exotic Ranch
Website: www.topseyranch.com
Address: 945 County Road 118, Copperas Cove
Phone: 254-547-3700
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March-September; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from October-February
