Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo

Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo in Sevierville offers a type of animal encounter that standard zoos simply can't replicate: direct feeding and interaction with deer, bison, zebra, camels, and dozens of other animals in a farm setting where the animals actively approach visitors. This isn't a behind-glass zoo exhibit. The animals are at the fence, interested in you, and responding to every child who holds out a feed cup.

The deer interaction is the emotional core for young children. Feeling a deer eat from your open palm — the warm breath, the gentle tongue, the way the deer looks directly at you — is a specific kind of animal connection that registers differently than pointing at animals in a distance exhibit. For kids 2-6, this is often a peak animal experience and the story they tell when asked about the best part of the trip.

The exotic section expands the experience beyond typical farm animals. Bison, zebra, camels, and other species give older kids (6-9) something more surprising to engage with. The camel has personality — kids who get a close look at a camel's face at eye level find it both hilarious and fascinating in equal measure.

The farm setting is outdoor and works best in good weather. Summer morning visits before the midday Tennessee heat are recommended — the animals are more active, the kids are more comfortable, and the crowds are thinner. The terrain is uneven so strollers have limited practicality; keep babies in a carrier if possible.

This is a natural pairing with the Sevierville side of a Smoky Mountains trip before heading into the busier Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg strip.