A quirky, old-Florida roadside attraction with an impressive venomous snake collection and live talks, cheap and fascinating for reptile-loving kids. Small and dated, so for enthusiasts.
Overview
Reptile World Serpentarium sits on U.S. 192 east of St. Cloud, about 50 minutes from ChampionsGate. It is a genuine old-Florida roadside attraction. George Van Horn founded it in 1972, and for decades it supplied snake venom for medical research and antivenom.
What you'll see: An indoor gallery of more than 50 species of snakes from around the world: king cobras, mambas, rattlesnakes, Gaboon vipers, pythons and boas. Outdoors there are alligators, turtles and tortoises.
Shows (current format): The famous venom-extraction ("milking") demonstrations are no longer the main show, per the official site. The noon and 3 p.m. programs are now live handling demonstrations with Q&A, where staff bring out snakes and answer questions. They are engaging, educational and keep visitors at a safe distance from the venomous species.
Who it's for: Kids and teens who love snakes, and adults who enjoy quirky roadside Florida. It is small (about 1 hour), slightly dated and not stroller-oriented. Very young or snake-nervous children may not enjoy it.
Practical tips (official site): Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Shows at noon and 3 p.m. Admission is cheap. Pay at the door; free parking.
Note: the active official domain is reptileworldserpentarium.net; the .com address returned an empty page.
Good to know
Venom milking no longer standard; shows are now handling + Q&A. Closed Mondays. Small.
Still being confirmed with the venue:
- Exact age bands for teen/child pricing
- September closure
- Facebook page
