North Carolina is home to some pretty amazing animal encounters. From an educational lemur center in Raleigh to witnessing the magic of the wild Mustangs in the Outer Banks, to oh-so many more fun encounters available, you’re sure to love them all. One of the best, however, is the drive-through safari located just outside of Charlotte, where you can drive your own vehicle through this North Carolina serengeti, or… take a fun-filled, open-air wagon ride!

Lazy 5 Ranch, located in Mooresville, has been raising exotic creatures for more than 35 years.
TripAdvisor/VickiTyree
The ranch offers visitors a rare opportunity for an interactive encounter with the friendly residents.
Facebook/Lazy 5 Ranch
And while you can, and are welcome to experience the safari from the comfort of your own vehicle, we recommend reserving space on a wagon ride!
Facebook/Lazy 5 Ranch
There's simply no better way to enjoy the true wildlife safari experience of this exotic animal ranch than from the open-air platform of a horse-drawn wagon.
TripAdvisor/Sharon C

Related Stories

You Could Spend Hours In The Giant Pumpkin Patch At Carrigan Farms In North Carolina

You Could Spend Hours In The Giant Pumpkin Patch At Carrigan Farms In North Carolina

 Choose From Over 25 Acres Of Pumpkins At The Charming Riverbend Farm In North Carolina

Choose From Over 25 Acres Of Pumpkins At The Charming Riverbend Farm In North Carolina

 As The World's Largest Zoo, It's Time To Plan A Visit To The North Carolina Zoo

As The World's Largest Zoo, It's Time To Plan A Visit To The North Carolina Zoo
You'll journey through the 3.5-mile safari ride at a snail's pace, stopping ever so often...
TripAdvisor/Tdorman
...to feed the animals. Lazy 5 Ranch is home to animals from six continents.
TripAdvisor/VickiTyree
You're likely to see zebra, buffalo, bison, sheep, exotic cattle, and a whole host of animals you may not even recognize.
TripAdvisor/Tdorman
But they'll recognize you - and that white bucket of food that spells "lunch." Your ticket for the wagon ride includes a pail of food for every two people. Think you may need more? You can purchase more for only $3 before you depart on the journey around the safari.
TripAdvisor/Ciera Anderson
What could be more fun than a horse-drawn wagon safari ride to feed the exotic animals at Lazy 5 Ranch?
TripAdvisor/Jamie P

An open-air platform wagon ride is definitely the way to go to have the best interactive safari experience at Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville. The ranch features exotic animals from six of the seven continents and is sure to make lasting memories for the entire family.

Lazy 5 Ranch is open year-round, except for Christmas Day. Hours vary by season. Regular admission is $11/adults, $8/ages 2-11 and seniors 60 and over. A wagon ride admission ticket is $16/adults, $11/ages 2-11 and seniors 60 and over. The ranch does not accept credit or debit cards, so be sure to bring cash. Extra food is available for $3/pail. Note: wagon rides aren’t offered on Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Thanksgiving Day. Learn more from the official website, and stay up to date on the latest by following the Facebook page here.

Address: 15100 Mooresville Road, Mooresville, NC, 28115

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore North Carolina