The Preserve - Fredericksburg, Texas

Connie M.

My boyfriend surprised me with a visit to The Preserve elephant sanctuary during our Fredericksburg, TX wine tasting weekend because he knows how much I love elephants — and it ended up being the highlight of the trip!

This was such a wonderful experience. You get the chance to gently wash the elephants and take photos with them. Just to set expectations — you're only allowed a few strokes with the bathing brush before it's time to step aside so others can enjoy it too. While you don’t get to give the elephant a full bath, just being that close and getting to touch and hug these gentle giants was magical.

I also bought a painting made by Rosie the elephant (so cool!) and got a photo with her. The elephants did do a few little tricks to show off how intelligent they are, and I was happy to see the trainers being very kind, gentle and respectful towards they throughout the event. It’s clear they truly care for the elephants and that the elephants trust them.

The Preserve does a great job of balancing education and interaction. I walked away with a better understanding of Asian elephants and the importance of conservation. The full 90-minute experience was worth every minute. Highly recommend this for animal lovers and anyone looking for a unique, heartwarming experience!

Jennifer C.

My husband brought me for my 40th birthday and it was magical! I have always been a huge animal lover and this experience was unforgettable! The girls are so sweet and smart, I could spend hours with them. We got tons of photos with them and I bought a painting by Rosie. Supporting organizations that help preserve elephants is a win and getting to see these ladies up close and personal gave me an even better perspective of how amazing they are. We are going to bring my grand daughter back next month for both the elephants and the new exotic section they will be opening!

Robin R.

My wife and I organized a special adventure outing for our 11 nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great nephews for this past Sunday at the Preserve. It was an overwhelmingly amazing 2 hour experience and everyone of the family thoroughly enjoyed the interaction, playing, picture taking, posing, feeding and bathing these three magnificant elephants!
Rosie, Becky and Rosie are amazing, sweet, generous and kind ladies. An they are definitely ladies! Full of spunk and mischievousness, ---- but also so tame and patient that Rosie a 41 year old Asian Female elephant, stood remarkably still while my 2-year old red-headed nephew spontaneously kissed the bottom of her foot while she was knelling on a foot stool.

This preserve is an amazing educational testament to a family's commitment to wildlife and species preservation. Our day was top notch and unforgettable. Kudos to the entire staff and especially the dedicated owners who have been blessing these enormous creatures with love for over 50 years.

GO participating an outing, I promise you will not be disappointed! Memories for a lifetime.

Robin and Nancy Rush
March 2025

Anthony D.

A truly amazing and memorable experience. The staff is so passionate and you can see how well they take care of the elephants. The grounds are beautiful and meticulous maintained. They strive to cover every small detail which made me feel like the elephants got that same care. I would highly recommend making a visit.

Beth M.

We surprised our daughter with the elephant experience for her 7th birthday! It was truly awesome! Not only did we learn a ton about Asian Elephants, but we had hands on experience with the girls. Kitty, Rosie, and Becky were amazing to see and interact with. We got to help bathe Kitty, see the other two get a pedicure, learn about their exercises and see them practice their stretches, watch them play, see Rosie paint, and so much more! And our girl got to finish out her trip with some artwork by her fave elephant. She gets to take home a print of Kitty’s foot! These beautiful creatures were truly a sight to see up close and personal. 🐘 💜

Triston G.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Unforgettable Experience at The Preserve!

Visiting The Preserve in Fredericksburg, TX was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by an incredibly passionate and knowledgeable staff who clearly love and care for the elephants with their whole hearts. Their dedication to conservation, education, and ethical animal care is truly inspiring.

The elephants themselves are absolutely breathtaking—gentle, intelligent, and full of personality! Being able to interact with them up close and witness their natural behaviors was beyond magical. One of the most unique aspects was seeing the elephant-created artwork—a beautiful and touching reminder of how special these animals are.

The facility is stunning, well-maintained, and provides a peaceful environment for both guests and the elephants. The Preserve’s mission to educate and raise awareness about elephant conservation is something everyone should experience. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a meaningful and unforgettable encounter with these amazing creatures.

Five stars aren’t enough—this place is truly special!

Amy B.

Loved this experience! Three beautiful female Asian elephants differing in age and each so well and lovingly cared for. Interaction with the “girls” is encouraged by visitors during the educational seminar to help engage individuals and hopefully fall in love with these wonderful giants!! There’s not a better place in all the US to get this one on one, hands on, interaction with an elephant. Kitty, is the oldest (58 yrs old) and has been with the owners most of her life. She is happy, engaged, healthy (58 is old for an elephant- so you know she’s had a good life), enjoys the people around her and the other two girl elephants. We will be back- next time with our grandkids! Thank you Gary for this wonderful experience!!

Joey M.

My family and I visited The Preserve on March 20, 2025. Before going, I read dozens of online reviews, and I’d say the 5-star ones are pretty accurate—but here’s my take.

Overall, this was a wonderful experience. If it weren’t for the exceptional staff and immaculate setting, I might have rated it 4 stars purely based on the price. That said, it was a premium experience from start to finish. They earned their star rating.

The staff was knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly accommodating. They took dozens of pictures of us with the elephants (with our phone camera) and encouraged us to take as many of our own as we liked. The grounds were clean, peaceful, and more professionally maintained than most zoos I’ve visited. But this was far more than a zoo visit—it was immersive and personal.

I’m no elephant expert, but I’ve spent time around them in the past. These elephants reminded me of my dogs—they genuinely seemed to enjoy their time with us. Some of the harsher reviews I saw online questioned the treatment of the animals, but from what I observed, these elephants are loved and well cared for. They aren’t props—they’re part of the family. They’ve been with this team for decades, so “returning” them to the wild isn’t really a realistic or humane option. Texas is their home now.

If you’ve ever seen elephants working in harsh environments overseas, you’ll immediately recognize the difference. Here, they’re not being exploited—they’re being honored.

We felt safe, welcomed, and enriched by the experience. I would absolutely recommend The Preserve to anyone who enjoys wildlife and wants something more personal and conservation-minded than a traditional zoo.