The homey walkways, combined with the native swampy vegetation throughout the zoo and the middling collection of animals, lend this zoo a perplexingly mixed ambiance. On the one hand, it feels decidedly regional. Disney has many more animals on display, and many more of a rare and endangered nature. Meanwhile, this zoo feels anything but slick.

However, this weakness is also a strength. Since it appears so regional and not international, the zoo maintains a certain tonality not often seen in big-draw zoological gardens. Cages are nearby and accessible. That the animals are often in cages, rather than nature-approximating exhibits, is an unfortunate side-effect of not having Disney's budget.

If you like a down-home feel to a zoo, this one will be right up your alley. If you're looking for world-class entertainment and world-class animal displays, though, you'd be barking up the wrong Florida cypress.

For what it is, this zoo is priced just a bit too expensive. Buyer beware!

(4/10)