Life is a zoo at 7 Acre Wood, where families can visit large and small farm animals on a daily basis.

The petting zoo features a barn filled with animals, such as goats, sheep and donkeys, that children can interact with as well as a miniature golf course, outdoor activities and a puppet house. Children can also ride a pony named Bullet—one of the park’s most popular attractions.

Owners Kevin and Lori Bass purchased 7 Acre Wood in 2012 after Kevin and their youngest daughter, Ashley, visited the park during a school field trip. The park has operated in Conroe since 1997.

Although hesitant about visiting the petting zoo at first, the park grew on Kevin once he experienced it.

“I fell in love with it pretty much right when I walked in and saw the place and met the owners,” Kevin said. “We just clicked with them. It was a natural progression to partner with them and then eventually buy [the park] from them.”

In 2012, Kevin left his full-time construction job and purchased the petting zoo—where he and his family offer birthday parties, school field trips and annual events. He said the petting zoo teaches children about common farm animals.

“Many children who have come out have never seen a cow or a sheep,” Kevin said. “It’s pretty amazing that we live in Texas and people still think my llamas are giraffes or camels.”

Children and visitors can also participate in a variety of outdoor activities, such as paintball, zip lining and miniature golf.

Since purchasing the business from its previous owners in 2012, the family has added new fences, a full-size playground and large-scale chess, checkerboard and Connect Four games. Kevin said he gets some of his inspiration for new activities at the park from Pinterest and from family members.

“I have now about 8,000 things [planned] to do,” Bass said. “We saw the giant checkers and chess games [on Pinterest]. The Internet is an amazing thing.”

4401 N. Frazier St., Conroe 936-890-2326 www.7acrewood.org Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m.