I admit to having grown up in this area and not having heard of Huntsville’s Harmony Safari Park until a few days ago. As the internet says, it is indeed somewhat of a kept secret in town, as I don’t recall ever hearing its name in my social circle. Rocket City is home to a variety of unique experiences, this being one of them.

Folks are split on these sorts of attractions: Harmony Safari Park is home to endangered animals, and regardless of anyone’s take on the matter, it’s undoubtedly a kid magnet and likely an exciting way to .spend a few hours together as a family on the weekend. What kid isn’t fascinated by actual, live baboons and snapping turtles?

HSP’s website doesn’t have a lot of info, but it’s presented interestingly enough, as handwritten pages listing the hours and a message to patrons about the growing concerns for parent-child supervision and public safety, presumably a response to a federal complaint filed in May of last year after a nine year old girl was bitten by a kangaroo. New channel WHNT reported at the time that many people had noted the presence of signs warning patrons about kangaroos biting.

Such a situation could have been the end of a less established park, but Harmony is going strong at their location on Clouds Cove Road, operating between May and November from 10 a.m. until sunset. The last car is admitted one hour before sunset, so I suppose it takes about an hour to get through.

You can buy buckets of food for the critters, but Facebook reviews say no concessions are available for people and restrooms are limited to two port-o-lets. Other reviews warn against driving through the park in a nice car, as animals may scratch the paint.

Maybe the best part is that for the price of admission you can go through as many times as you want.

So if you’re into drive through safari parks, Huntsville’s Harmony Safari Park has you covered. Cash or check only, $9 a person, ages 2 and under admitted free.

By: Stephen Locke

Stephen Locke grew up in north Alabama, and returned to find a beautiful wife and East Limestone mutt to call family, after years of toil and revelry afar, and having absorbed the lesson, "Don'tcha think, sometime's it's wise not to grow up?" His true loves include waterfalls, houseplants, architecture, photography, basketball, and whistling along to his favorite guitar solos.