Roos-N-More Zoo

Our friends invited us to go to the Roos-N-More Zoo!  It's located in the middle of the  Nevada desert about 30 miles South of Mesquite outside of a town called Moapa.  I got the kids up dressed and out the door in record time - for us.  We were at the neighbors house before 8!  (7 o'clock Nevada time) This way we would arrive when the zoo opened at 9.  Once we got off the freeway, and wound our way around into a rural development,  I was a little hesitant that this was a good idea.  It reminded me of, well, let's just say - less savory parts of the world where you didn't really want your children.  There were run down houses, clothes on lopsided clotheslines, undeveloped 'yards' and plenty of dead automobiles that littered the area. All of it brown, bare and baking in the hot sun.  The signs that pointed the way were small political type signs that were whipping about in the breeze on tiny wires staked in the ground.  Yes.  Ghetto.  Not Harlem type Ghetto - but you hear me, right?  We pull up to a open dirt parking place and go stand in front of the gates.  Temperatures already soaring into the upper 80's low 90's at this point.  I sunscreen the children, hydrate us all and silently think grumbly thoughts in my head.  (Shane WAS going to take the day off and we WERE headed for Bryce Canyon for Free Entrance day.) 

A man comes to the front of the gate and hollers out what to expect, to see the monkey's first because you could have as long as a two hour wait. There are MAYBE 40 people waiting to get in. I'm wondering about the procedure that must accompany such a thing!  He tells us about the extra tours you can take. One out to the field of Kangaroos. One to have one on one interaction with Monkeys and one to see the River Otters. My friend, after discussing it with her sister and husband want to see the otters. We just drove an hour and a half, they want to get an experience. So I pony up the extra $15 a person to see the otters...before I even know what it's going to be like inside the gates. I'm having a lot of dark cloudy faith at this point.

baby wallaby

We go in and it's fantastic! There are armadillos, lemurs, monkeys, birds, sloth, camels, joeys, and lots of animals and handlers under little tents to that you can come meet, touch and see the animals up close!

Many of the pens are fairly open so you look right down at the creatures.  There were even some baby monkey's and this wild cat kitten that were in Pack 'n Plays with a handler near by to answer questions and help you handle the animal. 

There's even a Petting Zoo area where you wander amongst some creatures: an emu, some piggies, an alpaca, and a huge tortoise.

We play with the otters, who are pesky and curious little creatures. We spent about 20 minutes with them. Nathan sits and pets them, they chew his shoe laces. Ashton is far more interested, at this age, at throwing rocks into the stream and pond that is in their enclosure.

The otter tour includes plenty of information about the creatures and about the personalities of each otter.  One of the females, named Harry was very mischievous.

By the time we leave the otter tour, the zoo is packed with people! Where before I didn't mind Ashton wandering several yards away, now it's too much of a risk letting him be further then about 5 feet away! 

By the time we leave, it's 11 o'clock zoo time.  Noon by St. George time. The two year old was DONE - but the 5 year old and mom could have stayed busy for at least another hour, maybe more.

Yes, we'll go back. And we'll take Daddy.  And I'll have no judgement as I drive through the 'ghetto' to get there!