Goats
Mr. Gold, our famous fainting goat, and Phil are first to the fence every morning. If you have a scoop of food, you have their full attention.
Trade the Suburbs for an Authentic Morning Farm Adventure
A relaxing half-day trip south of the canal — meet friendly rescues and Delaware's only alligators.
- Petting zoo included — hand-feed the rescued Farm Friends
- Delaware’s only live alligator exhibit
- A rescue zoo — every animal here has a story
$6per person · infants under 12 months are free
Petting zoo food $1 a scoop · bamboo stems $1
Petting zoo food $1 a scoop · bamboo stems $1
CLOSING SOON
sorry we missed you!
Today:
9 am - 3 pm
Tickets:
$6.00 Admission
☀️
70°F (High 69° / Low 46°)
⛅
While we're open today: Temps will climb from 53°F to a high of 69°F. Expect clear skies with winds up to 8 mph and a 0% chance of precipitation.
"Our turkey crew loves strutting around with their feathers puffed up, inspecting every bucket with absolute authority. When it comes to running the farmyard, these chatty supervisor birds are always ready to gobble up the spotlight."
Looking for a relaxing, uncrowded outdoor morning for the family this weekend? Take a scenic drive south of the C&D Canal and step into the quiet, rural charm of Townsend.
At 3 Palms Zoo & Education Center, you'll discover a genuine, open-air farm sanctuary where kids and adults can connect with rescued animals up close—including friendly llamas, native birds of prey, and Mr. Smee at Delaware's only live American alligator exhibit.
What to Expect: We are proud to be a rugged, authentic rescue sanctuary. You won't find commercialized, paved walkways here. Instead, you'll experience a true farm environment with free-roaming rescued ducks, dirt paths, and incredible up-close encounters with our gentle rescued llamas, sheep, and goats. Dress for the farm, not the city!
Good to Know
Admission: $6 per person · infants under 12 months free
Petting zoo food: $1 a scoop
Bamboo stems: $1 each
Hours: Fall Hours | Open Daily: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM — the live board at the top of this page always has today.
Find us: 1060 Vandyke Greenspring Rd, Townsend, DE 19734 · (302) 715-1326
📍 The Perfect Northern DE Day Trip
Enjoy a beautiful half-day adventure south of the canal by pairing your zoo visit with these local favorites:
- 🍽️ The Historic Lunch Route: Head 10 minutes north to Historic Odessa after your visit and grab an amazing, upscale-casual family lunch at Cantwell's Tavern.
- 🛶 The State Park Route: Prefer to stay outdoors? Pack a picnic and head to Lums Pond State Park on your drive back north. Rent a kayak, hit the massive playground, or conquer the Go Ape ropes course!
- 🍦 The Ice Cream Finale: Cap off your farm morning by stopping at Woodside Farm Creamery once you get back up to Hockessin for legendary, farm-fresh ice cream.
🌿 More Good Stops Nearby: Ashland Nature Center — Delaware Nature Society trails, a butterfly habitat and hawk watch in Hockessin. Mt. Cuba Center — native-plant gardens and natural lands in Hockessin (open Apr–Nov). Auburn Valley State Park — Yorklyn trails plus the Marshall Steam Museum's Stanley steam cars.
At just $6.00 per person (infants under 12 months are free), we aren't an exhausting, expensive theme park. Relax for an hour or two without breaking the bank.
Meet the Farm Friends
Sheep
Rocky and the flock are professional leaners. Find the right scratching spot and they will stay all day.
Llamas
Tall, calm, and extremely photogenic. They supervise the petting zoo with great dignity and zero urgency.
Mini pigs
Toby and the crew. Belly scratches are accepted and encouraged.
Cows
Our rescued Angus herd watches over the pasture — including Baby Jacob, the calf born right here at the zoo in August 2026.
The welcoming committee
Chickens, ducks, a turkey, and Gus have the run of the place. Where you go, they go — especially if you are holding a scoop.
Visiting from Hockessin? Good questions
How much is admission?
$6.00 per person, and infants under 12 months are free. The petting zoo is included with every visit — the only extras are the treats: petting zoo food is $1 a scoop and bamboo stems are $1 each, and every one helps feed the animals.
When are you open?
Fall Hours | Open Daily: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Check the live status board at the top of this page before you head out — it always has the hours for today.
Where are you located?
1060 Vandyke Greenspring Rd in Townsend, Delaware. Read the GPS warning in the visit panel next to this — your GPS will try to send you down Blackbird Forest Rd, and that is wrong. The entrance is on Vandyke Greenspring Rd.
How long should we plan for a visit?
Most families relax for an hour or two. We aren't an exhausting, expensive theme park — take your time and meet everyone.
Can we feed the animals?
Yes — hand-feeding the rescued Farm Friends is the heart of the visit. Goats, sheep, llamas, mini pigs, and cows, all friendly and all very used to being loved on.
Start your morning adventure now.
Put us directly into your GPS below to start navigating.
⚠️ Critical GPS Warning
GPS units fail here constantly. They often tell you to turn onto (or stay on) "Blackbird Forest Rd." This is wrong. You must turn onto Vandyke Greenspring Rd to find our entrance.
Explore 3 Palms Zoo
Want to see who lives at the sanctuary before making the drive?