That Turtle Place

That Turtle Place We are a public educational sanctuary focused on turtles! Also visit our Turtle & Reptile Zoo right here in Alabama!

We inform visitors about their ecological importance, the challenges they face worldwide, and promote proper captive husbandry practices.

09/04/2026

Beautiful morning, come see us Today or tomorrow from 9am-1pm. Remember to try and visit early when everyone is out and about for the day! šŸ¢

09/04/2026

This is one of the most beautiful species on the planet, but it faces extreme challenges in the wild. With an estimated population of around 2,000, that number really grabs peopleā€™s attention when I bring it up. Many native species face the same threats right here in the U.S., so donā€™t think itā€™s only happening in other countries. The main reasons native turtles are threatened are road mortality, habitat loss, and the one I hear most often poaching for pets. We hear the term ā€œI rescued this turtleā€ all the time, when in reality most people are doing far more harm than good. Just about every turtle you come across doesnā€™t need to be kept as a pet, it needs guidance back to the natural areas where it belongs. Although this is often done with good intentions, stop and think about whether you are helping or harming. One common outcome is that the turtle becomes too big, expensive, or difficult to care for, and people think they can just release the animal back into the wild or easily find it a new home which is rarely the case. Survival rates are very low for captive turtles released into the wild, and there is a real risk of disease transmission to wild populations. There are also very few people or institutions that can take in the high numbers of poached or purchased turtles, so it is often much harder to find a home for your pet than you expect. Never take a turtle from the wild, and always help one cross the road when itā€™s safe to do so.

Hard to believe itā€™s been nine years since our honeymoon in Puerto Rico, the day after we arrived one of the islandā€™s la...
09/03/2026

Hard to believe itā€™s been nine years since our honeymoon in Puerto Rico, the day after we arrived one of the islandā€™s largest hurricanes hit, and the second struck just a day after we got home, definitely putting us to the test for our first two weeks of marriage. In these nine incredible years weā€™ve built a beautiful life and family together, and I wouldnā€™t change a thing. Canā€™t wait to go back someday and experience Puerto Rico with electricity and A/C šŸ˜‚

09/03/2026

We are open Thursdays-Saturdays 9am-1pm. Come visit us before we close for the season!

09/02/2026

Low survival rate, disease transmission, and invasive species introduction are only some of the negative ettects brought on by releasing captive turtles into the wild. This is why itā€™s very important to do research before you buy a turtle, and not get a species thatā€™s designed to live in a pond, and try to keep it in your house.

09/02/2026

These two are slowly coming around with age and size. We get asked all the time how we make our animals ā€œtameā€ and although not everyone is friendly here, it comes down to time, and making them understand we arenā€™t a threat but actually a positive thing. Through countless hours of positive interactions itā€™s just a matter of time before they realize we arenā€™t trying to hurt them, and these two have made such huge progress since being outside this season. This is Oliver and Tree, our two Burmese Brown Mountain Tortoises. Make sure to see them at your next visit!

09/01/2026

One of the most rewarding parts of what we do. Although we canā€™t provide every turtle a safe and loving home, the ones we do live the best lives we can possibly give them. Please note, we are not accepting aquatic turtles at this time, this guy was in the plans for months already. One thing Iā€™ve learned over the years of doing this is that no matter what someone says, what reasons they give, or what names you are called for not helping someone who expects us to put ourselves, as well as our animals, in a bad situation, we have learned to say no, as hard as it can be sometimes. Everyone has seen those animal hoarding situations with dogs, cats, birds, etc., and wondered how they got there. I bet most of the time they started with good intentions but never stepped back to look at the big picture, and things got out of hand physically, financially, and mentally. Keep that in mind before reaching out to us with harsh words for not being able to help, because I promise we would if we could.

09/01/2026

We are going to be friends.

08/31/2026

This has been the hardest thing Iā€™ve ever done, but itā€™s so worth it to wake up and see this place now and how much better it gets year after year. When we moved here it was a blank slate of grass, and now itā€™s slowly turning into the botanical garden with animals Iā€™ve always dreamed of. Some of the best advice Iā€™d give my past self is, be patient, donā€™t take on more than you can handle, and PLANT THAT TREE NOW! šŸ˜‚ Itā€™s strange how emotionally attached I am to some of these trees and plants, but it makes sense when you know how much time, effort, and mental energy Iā€™ve put into each one. I have no urge to be the biggest place with the most animals, but when people visit I want them to go home knowing these animals are truly loved and that we try our hardest to give them the best, most natural life we can with the resources we have. Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the weeks, months, and for some of you, years! Every year will get better as we learn more, gain a better understanding of the resident animals, and learn from experience and from those who have helped me tremendously over the years. Canā€™t wait to continue building the Disney for turtles while educating many people about these amazing creatures.

08/30/2026

Our two Mountain Tortoises would choose a pile of leaves to sleep in over a tortoise shelter any day.

Address

11926 Upper Columbus Road
Coker, AL
35452

Opening Hours

Thursday 9am - 1pm
Friday 9am - 1pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when That Turtle Place posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to That Turtle Place:

Shortcuts

Share

Category