Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

I’d give it 7 stars if they’d have at least an RV dump station but they don’t. Each of the 6 sites have electric and water. Try and get the numerically lowest site you can so you can better hear or even see the cats “Carol”. Take the tour(s).Attend the Behavioral Training sessions in the mornings. It’s SO nice to stay at an RV park and listen to the big cats and not listen to traffic and/or train horns. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. There’s also a nice/small laundry in town w a Harts grocery store next door.

Why $65 is a GREAT Deal for a water & electric site!!! This includes 2 "VIP" passes ($32 each.) We had access to the Discovery Center any time during operating hours. We were able to visit the habitat area multiple times - You book a time when you make a reservation - check in the office for other available seats and put your name on the list... the last tour of the day is just before feeding and the animals are close to the road. AND you are helping to support the care of these rescued animals.

We stayed in site 1. We have to pay a non refundable pet deposit of $5 for each animal, but there was a ligress just outside our window (behind 2 fences.)!

We stayed here once before we had an RV and were in the Safari Lodge. The view from our deck was very beautiful.

I'm giving this 5 stars for noise, if I could give it 10 I would... the lions "caroled" all through the night. I have a clip of it in our video.

To say this is a unique lodging experience does not begin to describe this place.

Amazing, unique camping experience! Site 1 is directly next to the liger (ligress) in her enclosure. If you have panoramic driver side windows like we do on our RV, it's a perfect view to watch her in her habitat.

This is a beautiful place both in terms of the landscape and the inhabitants/animals. Koi ponds, lily pads, pretty gardens and wonderful rescued animals. The campsite itself is grassy and somewhat level. Water and 50Amp was available, as well as 30 and maybe 20A connections too. No sewer available even though it looks like they are starting to put in connections but haven't finished -- or maybe used to have connections and now don't. Clean bathrooms near the gate entrance, but still reachable with a long walk or a short drive.

This is a destination, not an RV park but it works well as an RV park too with the partial hookups and the view onto the ligress habitat. Tour is included with the cost of camping, for two people. It's one of the more expensive places we have camped, but the money goes towards the wildlife refuge, which makes it worth it. We spent $65 on the site itself plus two extra people who came on the tour only plus pet fees, so around $125 or so. But it's well worth it.

Cellular data service was sluggish, but not unexpected out here. There is guest wifi here and it was good enough. Out of all the cell providers we have Verizon had the best service consistently.

Eureka Springs is a destination in and of itself, but only 15 minutes away from the refuge. We had a great dinner out at a German-Czech restaurant called the Bavarian. Everyone loved their meal. No one was disappointed. There were many other restaurants to go to there as well. You get a gate code when you are a guest so you can come and go as you wish to go out to eureka springs or wherever.

Camping near lions and tigers who "carol" on and off all day and night is the coolest experience and my absolutely favorite thing about our stay. We selected spot #1, right next to a liger (lion/tiger mix) and enjoyed observing her. We backed up to a lovely wooded area and enjoyed some shade. Water and electric provided. No dump station. Wifi and cell service is decent. It's very quiet. Place is well maintained. A koi / lily pond as well as several flower gardens are nearby. As an overnight guest, a sanctuary tour is included. You also have unlimited access to the Discovery Center where you can watch a grizzly play in the water and observe a variety of other exotic critters.

Also available for overnight accomodations are two safari (glamping) tents, a tree house, and several cabins with access to a firepit and hot tub.

Turpentine Creek is located about 9 miles south of Eureka Springs: a cute little town worth checking out. Also recommend the very unique Quigley House just 4 miles down the road.

By the way, the second and third nights camping was $60.

All camping revenue goes to support the rescued animals so feel good about your camp fees supporting nearly 100 majestic animals with heartbreaking stories. ⁿlⁿ⁹8d8 8d8 7

I'd stay here again in a minute!!!!

The sites are grass, have electric and water on site. You will have to dump in town though, they give you a list of places and prices to go. Your price paid for the site includes a walking tour, self tour and tram tour. If you go into town for supper, you dont have to be rushed, they give you a code to get back into gates after they closed.