Located on Clevedon Road in Wraxall, the award-winning Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is home to a broad range of animals, including Aqua the rescue tiger, lions, rhinos, giraffes, capybaras, and elephants, among many others.
But have you ever wondered about the quirky inspiration for its name, and why it's called ‘Zoo Farm’?
It first opened as Noah’s Ark Farm Centre in 1999, where visitors could get hands-on with bottle-feeding lambs and get up close to both farm animals and exoctic animals like llamas, camels, and wallabies. Guests could also enjoy tractor rides and play in the hay barn.
The venue was founded by Anthony and Christina Bush, who had lived and worked at the site together as dairy farmers since 1962, when the original Moat House Farm formed part of the Tynesfield Estate.
Between 1998 and 1999, the site had a trial period as a small petting zoo before having its first full season in 1999.
Noah’s Ark expanded over time and transitioned from a working farm into the award-winning zoo we now know.
New indoor and outdoor play areas built between 2000 and 2004, including a 500-seat indoor ‘Ark Arena’, and Europe’s longest hedge maze planted in 2003 with 14,000 Beech trees.
In 2004, the venue completed the construction of the Reptile House and welcomed its first cold-blooded animals.
In 2005, a new animal village was created, featuring new show pens for large animals. The first ‘big zoo animals’, two South African white rhinos, also arrived in 2005.
2006 saw the opening of the Giraffe House and the arrival of Gerald, while 2007 saw the opening of the Gibbon Gallery for two endangered siamangs.
Zebras, Ostriches, Prairie Dogs, and Mara joined Noah’s Ark in 2008, and in 2009, the tiger territory was completed, and two Bengal-type tigers were welcomed to the site.
2009 also saw the birth of Sultana, the first baby Gibbon at Noah’s Ark, and Troy the Tapir (which was streamed live to the world via webcam).
In 2010, Gerald the giraffe was introduced to his new girlfriend Genevieve. The Tiger Territory was renamed the Big Cat Sanctuary, and three African Lion cubs were welcomed.
A new heated indoor soft-play barn, The Jungle Den, was opened in 2011, and in 2012, the first baby giraffe, George, was born.
2013 saw the birth of a Tallulah, the second Tapir, and in 2014, the largest elephant enclosure in the UK, Elephant Eden, was officially opened by Princess Anne.
Andean Adventures was completed in 2016 and welcomed the arrival of brother bears Sonco and Tupa.
The eateries were revamped in 2017 to allow visitors to purchase hot and cold treats on the go, and seven giant Aldabran tortoises also arrived at the zoo.
In 2018, Viva South America was opened and became home to Tapirs, Maras Capybaras, Agoutis, and Degus. Two African Lion cubs, Kojo and Tau, were also born.
The Wings of Wonder Exhibit was opened in 2019 by Eddie the Eagle. Bears Madidi and Rasu arrived at Noah’s Ark, and the zoo also began opening on Sundays for the first time as part of its 20th anniversary. Larry Bush, Anthony and Christina Bush’s son, also took over as Managing Director in 2019.
The zoo closed for three months during the 2020 COVID pandemic and the UK Lockdown.
A farm shop was opened to support the local community, and in 2022, a home-grown plantation was opened for the African Elephants. Two baby bear cubs were also born.
In 2023, the site became a conservation charity focused on conservation, education, and visitor well-being.
2024 saw Noah’s Ark celebrate its 25th anniversary with a bold new vision and five-year strategy: Project Carnivora.
The ambitious project would see the transformation of the existing lion pride’s habitat, as well as the creation of brand-new habitats for tigers, Arctic foxes, and vultures.
The refurbishment of the lion pride’s habitat was completed in 2025, as well as the brand new tiger habitat, which welcomed Aqua, the rescue tiger.
Scroll through to see some of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm’s major milestones throughout the years:
1. Anthony and Christina start Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
2. First season as Noah's Ark Farm Centre in 1999
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
3. Ark Arena - Built between 2000 and 2004
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
4. Europe;s longest hedge maze is planted in 2003 using 14,000 Beech trees
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm