Visiting Alligator Alley – Summerdale, AL
About Alligator Alley
Alligator Alley is located in the town of Summerdale, Alabama. Summerdale is part of the suburbs of Mobile and is less than a two-hour drive from New Orleans, Biloxi, and Pensacola. I chose to visit Alligator Alley after a tour of the Honey Island Swamp near New Orleans. During my swamp tour, I only was able to see a few alligators in the wild. I decided to look for a place where I could see alligators up-close.
Alligator Alley was founded in 2004 by Wes Moore as a refuge for alligators that were rescued from a variety of bad situations. This unique alligator sanctuary is home to over 450 alligators. In addition to rescued gators, Alligator Alley also has other rescued animals including, pigs, turtles, snakes, and lizards.
Alligator Alley is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission costs range from $15 for adults to $13 for children. I highly recommend a visit to Alligator Alley for anyone interested in seeing alligators up close and learning about these amazing creatures.
Alligator Alley - Table of Contents
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Alligator Alley - Inside the Park
Alligator Alley is designed in a way that allows visitors to view the gators without the crowded feeling of a typical zoo. The swampy habitat that the alligators live in is first visible from a series of viewing platforms and metal bleachers. If you continue to follow the swamp, you will then arrive at an elevated boardwalk. This boardwalk loops through the swamp and provides a chance to see 100s of alligators up-close.
In addition to the alligator habitat, this unique wildlife sanctuary also has various habitats for other rescued animals. Some of the amenities include a gift shop, restrooms, picnic tables, and a snack stand (closed due to COVID-19).
There is also a children’s play area where younger visitors can dig sand with lifelike excavators.
Alligator Alley - The Alligators
Alligator Alley features over 450 rescued gators that can be observed and photographed while living in a swamp habitat. Visitors can feed the alligators by purchasing a tub of “gator biscuits” for $5. When feeding the gators, be sure to throw the food into the water. The alligators will not eat it when it is on the shore.
At Alligator Alley, the alligators are placed in different habitats depending on their age. The largest habitat features adult alligators. Separate habitats are created for the hatchlings, one and two-year-olds, and the three-year-olds.
When you enter the habitat area, don’t spend too much time at the first observation platform. This platform is crowded, and the fence makes it hard to see the gators. Instead, walk the length of the habitat and start at the end of the boardwalk. I suggest working backward as the best views are towards the end of the boardwalk.
Adult Alligators
The adult alligator habitat is the largest habitat at Alligator Alley. The alligators have the freedom to roam in a 20-acre swamp. When observing the gators, remember that these alligators have all been rescued from bad situations. Take your time walking boardwalk around the habitat as the active gators will be moving around.
If you have alligator biscuits, look for alligators that are swimming around. They are the gators that are actively feeding. During my visit, I counted over 100 alligators that were visible in the adult alligator habitat.
One thing I learned is that alligators must warm up their bodies before hunting. During a visit, it is common to see many alligators out of the water lying in the sun. They are doing this to increase their body temperature to give them the needed energy to hunt and digest their food.
The largest alligator to live inside Alligator Alley was the legendary Captain Crunch. Captain Crunch was captured because he was attacking pets that were sleeping in their yards. At the time of his capture, Captain Crunch weighed 782 pounds and was 13 feet, 2 inches in length.
The adult alligators are fed three times a day. The feedings take place at 11 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm. Unfortunately, during my visit, I arrived just after 1 pm and missed the scheduled feeding.
If you throw your alligator biscuits to the active gators, they will attack it and show their teeth. Below are the best pictures I was able to get of the alligators eating.
Remember to really take your time walking around the boardwalk area. Since the boardwalk is raised, it is easy to get pictures of the alligators without the fence getting in the way.
The Hatchlings
The hatchlings are the youngest alligators at Alligator Alley. Their habitat is entirely enclosed to keep them safe from any bad weather. Most of the hatchlings spend their time under the various heat lamps.
Do not feed the hatchlings the alligator biscuits. There is a separate food dispenser that takes quarters. The food for the hatchlings is much smaller than an alligator biscuit.
The hatchling habitat is the first habitat that you will see upon entering. When taking photos, make sure your flash is off. Hatchlings are very sensitive, and the flash could harm their eyes.
One and Two Year Olds
The next habitat is the one and two-year-old alligators. Although these alligators can eat the biscuits, they did not show much interest. The one and two-year-olds love to cuddle for warmth and also enjoy wrestling and playing around.
Alligator Alley provides visitors with a chance to hold a young alligator. This alligator was just over one-year-old and did not seem to mind being held by humans. When I gave him back to his handler, he quickly climbed up on her shoulder and closed his eyes. The handler explained that they have to tape his mouth shut so he won’t bite. She claimed this was not unpleasant for him.
The Three Year Olds
Once the alligators turn three, they go onto the three-year-old habitat. During my visit, most of these gators were sunning and were not very active. I was able to get a few nice close-up photos. When the alligators turn four, they move onto the adult habitat.
Alligator Alley - Other Animals
There are some other rescued animals at Alligator Alley. While the alligators are the main attraction, I also highly recommend looking at the pigs, turtles, snakes, and lizards.
Pigs
There were two pigs out wallowing in the mud during my visit to Alligator Alley. One of the handlers ensured some curious guests that these indeed rescue pigs who live in the sanctuary and not alligator food.
Tortoises
There are two giant tortoises at the alligator park. There is one Sulcata Tortoise and one Yellow Foot Tortoise. The lifespan of these tortoises is between 50 and 100 years. During my visit, both tortoises were active and eating the grass. They were quite fun to observe, and it would have been worth the entrance fee just to see them.
Snakes
At Alligator Alley, there are numerous habitats containing snakes. It was difficult to get photos as many of them were behind glass. The snake to the left is a Burmese Python which can grow to 13 or 14 feet. To the left, I am holding a very friendly snake. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the breed.
Lizards
In addition to alligators, Alligator Alley also has quite a few lizards. It was difficult to get photos of the lizards due to the screens on their habitats. I was able to get a good photograph of the Peach Throat Monitor (left) and a Javan Water Monitor (right).
Swamp Tours
If you would like to see alligators in their natural habitat, I highly recommend taking a swamp tour. Below are various tours that provide the opportunity to see gators. Most of these tours depart from the New Orleans area, which is about two hours from Alligator Alley. Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book a tour using my link. This commission is at no additional cost to you.