reptile discovery center

The Reptile Discovery Center is really an awesome place. The variety of reptiles is impressive, and having the chance to see a venom-extraction so close is very neat. Additionally, the nature trail is quite interesting and really enhances the overall experience. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. For those who love reptiles, or anyone really, this place is absolutely worth your time!

The opportunity to witness the venom extraction process was worth the price of admission. The opportunity to interact with a few non venomous snakes was also appreciated. The staff were very friendly, knowledgable and made our experience worth the trip.

This is a very memorable and interesting attraction. It's also very educational for both kids and adults. The facility is small and unremarkable but the reptiles scattered around on the short hiking trail outside and the snake demonstration inside is really worth a trip. As you gather in the small atrium you sit in folding bridge chairs and the docents bring out a variety of non-venomous snakes to view and even handle if you so choose. Following the natural history discussion and close-up snake viewing/handling - the snake venom extraction demonstration begins. A safe glass barrier protects you from the snakes and handlers. You watch as a variety of very venomous snakes are removed from their cubbies and placed on a central table to have their venom extracted. The King Cobra is very impressive when it opens it's "hood." The kids can squirm around and get really close to the glass. You can easily take pictures. After the demonstration there is a Q&A with the folks that do the venom extraction. This is a one-of-a-kind experience and definitely worth seeing- even if you don't like snakes.

Enjoyed seeing close up a wide variety of snakes and other kindred creatures. Watching venemous snakes being 'milked' was most fascinating. The accompanying monologue makes a visit even more interesting. An awesome educational experience.

I sent a larage group from work to the Reptile Discovery Center last year and they loved it! The instructors are very knowledgeable and really into what they do there. This is one of DeLand's best kept secrets!

This is one of the best attractions ever. I have to admit I love snakes, but this is so unbelievably cool that anyone will love it. Its a nice museum with great displays of all types of snakes, but the venom extraction is one of the most interesting things you will ever see. People are literally sitting there with their jaws hanging open. The gentleman that does the extraction comes out and talks afterwards and he is very friendly and knowledgeable. You cant go wrong with this place, I promise

This place has a lot more than just snakes...there are tortoises, turtles, alligators, iguanas, frogs, and lizards too. The exhibits nicely display some of the worlds most venomous snakes. There is also a nursery display exhibit with baby snakes that are hatched at the facility too. The best part of our visit was the venom extraction process. There is a large display room where you can closely watch the staff handle and extract venom from various types of snakes. They offer the venom extraction display twice a day. It is best to get here when they are going to be doing the extraction. It was our favorite part of our visit. There are outdoor shaded trails with other exhibits, to include alligators, tortoises, iguanas, and turtles. It was very cool and the staff were very friendly and answered all our questions. Great for all ages.

Cool place if you like snakes. The venom extraction is awesome. We got to see 5 different kinds of snakes and about 15 extractions. The kids got to hold an indigo and ball python too.

This was our second visit and a best kept secret for travelers and locals alike. This was the second time I took my kids out today with my mother in law and wife we were totally enthralled. Helping mankind around the world yet seeing it up front and personal. The owner and his staff were wonderful. Hands-on with the none venomous snakes and great both with adults and children we will be back and we are locals.

We attended on a Groupon and would definitely come back. The Reptile Discovery center functions as a living zoo as well as a working laboratory, harvesting snake venom every day. The family got to handle non-venomous snakes, which was a big deal, as well as watch cobras, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes get their venom milked. The reptile zoo inside is fascinating. We saw snakes we'd never even heard of. The outside zoo is just as interesting, but be sure to bring insect repellent and a hat. Great way to spend an afternoon.

We came with our 2 kids who are 7 and 2. My son and husband love snakes so this was right up their ally. They loved looking at all the snakes they have on exhibit. We were lucky that when it came to the venom extraction show it was just us and another family watching. It was very exciting and kept my 2 little ones interested. It is a long wait if you get there early to watch the venom extractions as they only offer them at 11:30 and 3. But worth the wait.The very friendly lady at the front desk told us we could come back closer to the time of the show which is exactly what we did. The handlers were very nice also and was patient answering the many questions of my 7 year old.

Outstanding educational visit for the grandkids. The staff worked so well to encourage the kids to handle the non poisonous snakes and then gave a very scary demo of the venom milking! Kids were impressed and now very alert to the very dangerous snakes in Florida.

We managed to get in despite a van load of people who showed up from Orlando unannounced (please arrange ahead if you're in a large group when visiting attractions, people). The room where they do the snake venom and handling presentations is fairly limited in size. Make sure before you buy your ticket that they can accomodate you for the show. The show is a must-see and it would be a shame to miss it.The lady at the front counter tried to sell us on the idea of coming back at 3:30 for the show due to the large number of unscheduled people who showed up in a bus. Being that we drove from Daytona, and it was 10:30, we weren't interested in taking half the day to go home and come back. The lady took our money, so we took that as an OK to stay and attend. So, we kept a low profile, and shortly before the show we went into the presentation room and took positions in a discreet corner of the room as to not interrupt the group. This seemed to satisfy everyone, and we got to see the show. I did notice several people leaving and talking about how they had been told by the front desk lady that the show was sold out. Lesson here is to perhaps call ahead if you're close by to see how much room they have before you cough up cash.The outer exhibits are very nice, but make no mistake, the live show is the thing you are here to see. The staff brings some snakes and, in our case, a small alligator out to the crowd where you can handle them all. The staff members were super knowledgeable, patient, and attentive to those of us in the crowd. There was a group of elementary age kiddos there, who were loud, but the staff was quite patient with them, to their credit. The people running this place are extremely professional, know their stuff, and are great with the visitors. I've seen several reviews that called this place a treasure, and that is accurate. I would have liked to have thanked the folks putting on the show in person, but I didn't see them again before we left, so I asked the lady and gentleman at the entrance to please express our appreciation to the reptile handlers. If you guys at RDC read these reviews, THANKS! Fantastic job. Great job interacting with the young ones at the show.

Small, but excellent facility...lots of snakes and turtles/tortoises with a dozen gators thrown in to keep it fun. The venom milking is definitely incredible, make sure you see it. Enjoyed the nature walk with its large natural enclosures and they provide bug spray. Signage is very informative and the staff is very available and generous with their time and knowledge. If you watch nature/ outdoor shows on TV, this is reality. Won't take you long maybe 90 mins including the milking, but it's very cool and did I mention hands on? Ps snakes are dry, not slimy and very muscular feeling

As a disclaimer, we love science and are easily entertained. I say this because the Reptile Discovery Center is small and not glamorous. The venom extraction demonstration is unique and fascinating. It starts with a chance to touch and hold a variety of non poisonous snakes and to ask questions of snake loving staff. Then, behind a big picture window, you can watch the snakes being milked of their venom and learn about why that is done. The staff was generous with their time and were ready to answer any and all questions. Along with that are a couple of rooms worth of live reptiles to see and admire, spiders, a gift shop, and an outdoor walking area. Enjoy that with a trip to Deland and/or to Manatee State Park.