Petting Zoos Open
The Rusty Buckle Petting Zoo & Pony Parties
4.8(18)4.8 out of 5 stars, 18 reviews Providence, RI
About The Rusty Buckle Petting Zoo & Pony Parties
The Rusty Buckle is a unique, family-owned petting zoo distinguished by its deeply personal, hands-on animal interactions and exceptional animal welfare. It's a working farm where the passionate owners and their children actively engage with visitors, often going above and beyond to provide memorable experiences, especially with pony rides and direct animal care. It's not just an attraction; it's a family's 'beautiful home' opened to the community, fostering genuine connections between children and a diverse array of well-loved animals.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with young children (2-8 years old) seeking a hands-on, educational, and genuine animal experience.Children's birthday parties or other private events that could benefit from a unique mobile petting zoo.Individuals or families who appreciate and wish to support local, family-owned businesses with a strong commitment to animal welfare.Repeat visitors, as the personal connection with the animals and owners deepens over time.**Ideal for 2-8 year olds:** Children as young as 3 'went wild' for the animals and pony rides. The hands-on, interactive nature, and opportunities for basic animal care are perfectly suited for early childhood and early elementary ages. 'Girls' (unspecified age, but likely elementary) loved helping to brush horses.
Why families love it
- Diverse and friendly animals that actively seek attention, including goats, bunnies, ponies, donkeys, pigs (Thelma & Louise), a pardoned turkey, and horses (Cash).
- Exceptional animal welfare, with the family prioritizing animal needs and health 'first and foremost', even rescuing animals like 'Bun Bun' the bunny.
- Highly engaged, knowledgeable, and friendly family staff (including their children) who share fun facts, answer questions, and provide personalized attention.
- Offers highly popular pony rides, with kind and helpful staff assisting children.
- Available for mobile petting zoo events, bringing a variety of adorable animals directly to private events in locations like Rumford or public events like 'Wickford Water-Fire'.
- On-site visits are described as 'wallet friendly', offering good value for money.
Insider tips
- **ALWAYS Check Facebook for Hours:** This is the most reliable source for up-to-date operating hours; do not rely on Google Maps or their website.
- **Call Ahead for Unscheduled Visits:** If you're unsure about hours or making a spontaneous trip, a quick phone call is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
- **Leave Pets at Home:** The farm has a strict policy against visitors bringing their own dogs, even if well-behaved.
- **Be Prepared for a Working Farm Environment:** Understand that this is a family's home and working farm, not a large commercial park. Respect their schedule and boundaries.
- **Engage with the Staff:** The family and their children are knowledgeable and genuinely happy to share information and passion for their animals.
- **Look for Mobile Event Appearances:** Check their Facebook page for opportunities to visit them at local public events (e.g., 'Wickford Water-Fire').
Good to know before you go
- **Spontaneous visits without checking Facebook first:** High risk of arriving when they are closed and experiencing a negative interaction.
- **Relying solely on Google Maps or the farm's website for current open hours.**
- **Bringing any pets, especially dogs, to the farm.**
- Expecting a large, commercial petting zoo with extensive, fixed public hours.
- Visiting if your child is prone to significant distress from unexpected closures or strict rules.
- Crowds
- Not explicitly mentioned, but the nature of a family-run farm with limited public hours and highly personalized interactions suggests it is generally not a large, crowded commercial venue. The focus on individual attention (e.g., helping brush a horse after hours) implies a more intimate setting.
- Value
- Described as 'wallet friendly' for on-site visits, suggesting excellent value for the personalized, interactive experience offered. While no specific entrance fees are mentioned, the cost is implied to be reasonable. Pricing for mobile petting zoo services is not specified but would likely be a premium service for events.
- Food
- No explicit food or drink policy is mentioned. As a farm, there's unlikely to be dedicated food service beyond potentially small, simple snacks, but no stated prohibition on bringing your own.
- Accessibility
- No specific accommodations for special needs are mentioned. As a working farm, pathways may be uneven or unpaved, potentially challenging for wheelchairs or specialized strollers.
- Safety
- Implicitly high animal safety due to the family's explicit commitment to 'animals needs and health FIRST AND FOREMOST'. Animals are described as 'taken care of & friendly'.
What parents say
"Me and my daughter found the petting zoo this summer and quickly became frequent visitors! Not only is it wallet friendly, they have such a good mixture of animals who absolutely love the attention! There has yet to be a visit where we leave without a smile and great memories! Not only that, the family/staff who owns and runs the farm are AMAZING. Not only are the parent knowledgeable and friendly, but their children are always open for questions or to just tell you fun facts about their favorite animals. You can tell the whole family has a true passion for the animals, the farm, and their co"
5 months ago
"Hands down the best petting zoo we have had, and nicest people. They came with a pony, donkey, goats, bunny’s, a pig & even a pardoned turkey. All the animals were adorable, and the kids went wild. Great communication, and showed up when they said they would. Can’t wait to have them at our next event in Rumford."
10 months ago
"The animals are taken care of & friendly. The people not so much. The hours on Google said they were open. Their website didn't say they were closed on Sunday. I arrived with my 3 year old daughter. Called them, got the answering machine. Left a message. Got out of the car to look at the animals. Goats & pony's came up to up & were friendly. Rabbit was running around. Rooster was nice. Beautiful animals. Anyways a truck pulled up. I said hello. A woman said hi & we're closed. Got farm chores. I asked when are they open. She said check the website (I did & Google). Her tone of voice was arrog"
5 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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