Colorado Gator Park

While on our weekend to the Sand Dunes in Alamosa the family took a side trip on the way home to Colorado Gators Reptile Park.  The park started off as a Tilapia farm in 1977.  The hot spring water contributed to their success and in 1987 they purchased 100 alligators to dispose of the dead fish and filleted fish remains.  The baby gators thrived in the geothermal water averaging 87 degrees and soon the locals wanted to see the gators.  In addition to being a functioning Tilapia farm, they are now a sanctuary for unwanted exotic pets such as: large pythons, tortoises, iguanas and unwanted alligators.  We were able to touch all the free roaming giant tortoises and even hold a baby alligator.




 
 

The park is now home to over 200 gators and crocodiles.  It was really neat to see so many gators all at the same time.  Some were eating fish.  Some were impressing people with their mass and size just by sitting in the sun.  They were all fascinating to see.  We even saw the rare and special albino alligator.  


 
 

We were there for a gator round up weekend where the park catches and examines as many gators as possible to check for injuries and do basic health checks.  I am not sure how many gators they rounded up, because it looked like the crew was having more fun goofing off then working.  Especially when they started doing blind alligator wrestling.  Seriously, they blindfolded a worker, spun him in a circle and let him go.  The blindfolded fella then set off to search the water, find and catch an alligator.    


 

The farm had crocodiles, alligator wrestling, snakes, anacondas, lizards and snakes galore to gawk at, but finding "wild frogs" in crooks and crannies was the best part of the trip for the boys.



My what big teeth you have.