If you are looking for something to do this definitely is for you. It gives you a new appreciation for cat sanctuaries and the cats in them. You think when the tour start there is no way this can last an hour and a half to two hours. Well the old saying, "Time flies when you you are having a good time!" applies. It seem as the tour just starts and it's over. Our tour people were really impressive not only presenting the cats and the history and life of each one, but how much time they took with each individual person. Allowing them photo opportunities and being able to touch many of the cats. So if you are looking for something for yourself or family to do - this is it.
This facility is conservation education at its finest. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly and hospitable. It's is a hands on up close experience you will not have with your typical zoo...will defiantly enhance your awareness on the big cat industry.
What a great experience!!! Can't say enough good about it!! Jim and Bertie were excellent hosts and the venue was obviously well cared for! Lots of interactions with the animals and extensive knowledge of their animals. You can tell they truly love their cats! They took care to connect with each of us and to ensure that we each had a great experience. Also, they bent over backwards to accomodate our timetable and party size. We will definitely be returning often!!!
My husband and I visited 2/19/15. We were amazed with the animals and the opportunities to get up close and personal with them. Jim and the entire crew treated us like family and gave us time to take as many pictures as we wanted. This center is not a zoo and they run 100% off of donations. The staff show a complete dedication to the big cats. What a wonderful group of people and cats! You will not be disappointed!
What an Amazing Experience! A must if you are in Panama City. The cats were beautiful. We were able to visit Bear Creek Feline Center on Jan.2.2015. From the minute we arrived Jim and Bertie treated us like family. Believe me this is NO ZOO! Theses cats are well cared for and Truly LOVED. Lots of interactions with cats. Jim and Bertie run the center totally on donations. We were never hurried and were given plenty of time to take as many pictures as we wanted. Where else could my wife sit with an African Serval in her lap! Thank you Jim and Bertie for a Wonderful Experience!
My wife and I visited on Jan 2, 2015. It was the highlight of our visit to the Panhandle. Jim and Birdie are great. Jim is amazing with all the cats. I love how the tours are not too large so each person gets special attention. They are doing good work here and should be getting money from the state for all of their rescues. Awesome cats, friendly people and cool atmosphere.
We went on 3/4/2015 with my mom and my two kids, 5 and 7; We had an amazing time; My kids are begging to go back again today; It is a one of a kind experience, as my mom likes to say, "it is part of my bucket list"... There are a few things that the little kids cannot participate in because of safety so it would be good to let them know ahead of time; Also, make sure to talk to the kids about the importance of being quiet and paying careful attention to what the instructors tell them to do; they are wild cats so alot of noise from children is not allowed during certain exhibits, although they do have plenty of time to run around and have fun too... Also, make sure that your kids are not afraid of animals as this would probably be a terrifying experience for a child who did not like animals... your heart will definately race a few times as you never know what to expect from these wild cats; They make safety the utmost priority especially when it comes to the small children
Our family visited while on a holiday vacation (Dec. 31, 2014). It was our last stop on the way out of town, and it became the highlight of the trip. We were a group of 6 adults plus one teen and one 7 year old. Everyone had a wonderful time! Jim and Bertie were great hosts. The cats were beautiful, and Jim and Bertie took time to give us the history of each, along with other educational info. The pace of the trip was spot on, and we never felt rushed. I highly recommend this! If we are ever in Panama City again, we'll be sure to visit again.
This was such a neat experience. The cats are well kept and the Broaddus's are extremely knowledgeable and really strive to make it memorable. Completely worth the time!
So I let my fourteen year old daughter plan a road trip from Atlanta and our first stop lead us here. This place is AMAZING! We were given a tour in a very small group which made this experience much more personal. We were able to interact with the cats and even allowed into several of the enclosures. When they say they will get you so close to the cats that you can smell their breath... They are not kidding! They are very knowledgeable and well educated about big cats which also made this a great learning experience for both myself and my daughter.