The Preserve

We went a few months ago and same. Please find me on Elephants Austin on FB. We have started a group aside from my page, but you can contact me there. We need members to address this!! Also, you can look them up on the interweb. They were formerly Have Trunk Will Travel.

Was just getting ready to buy tickets when I decided to look them on up on YouTube . “Have trunks, will travel”. QUICKLY changed my mind. You can hear them say the elephants names as they strike them repeatedly as they train them to do tricks. Thought I was buying tickets for a preserve - not a circus act. No way!!!! Watch the videos. . . I’m betting it will be very difficult to support this mess.

They are made to perform. The last part of their show during the "experience" is specifically trained tricks with two elephants doing hula hoops, soccer, bowing, and balancing on one side. This while the handler is holding a bull hook the whole time. This is not a sanctuary. They haven't been saved from circuses. They have had same owners, staff, and handlers as they had when in showbiz as they do now in Texas. Bull hooks still by each elephant's side.

Just because dogs do tricks doesn’t mean an elephant should. That is not a fair or relevant comparison. Elephants are meant to live in the wild. Dogs are domesticated, they are meant to live with humans, they actually enjoy attention from humans, affection, & some enjoy the praise and attention they receive from their family when they do a trick. Just because an experience is amazing, does not make it right. If you educate yourself on elephant sanctuaries that actually treat the elephants right, & aren’t just using them as a pay check by entertaining humans dumb enough to believe anything, you’d learn what they do here is complete wrong. It takes 5 seconds to do mild research & learn any elephant that paints, are used for constant human interaction, including advertising “elephant baths”, basically everything this “sanctuary” has to offer...It is not “protecting” them from abuse like there well paid trainers/actors make you believe, u are doing no good but supporting fakes.

Yes, they are the same folks from California. Don't get caught up in the PETA/ADI smear campaign though... I have visited The Preserve and saw no evidence of abuse. The elephants appeared to be very healthy and in very good spirits. There were no wounds that we could see. The experience that we had was extremely positive and educational. I truly believe that these animals are well cared for and are enjoying a decent life. For the previous "guides" that answered incorrectly: Have a little knowledge or do some research before you answer questions please!

Their former name is Have Trunk Will Travel and they moved from California due to the states state's strict animal policies such as the use of a bullhook. You can Google their former name and disturbing articles & videos come up

We were there Easter Sunday and nothing about the place gave any impression they were cruel in anyway. Elephants are an important animal That is loosing their habitat. These animals are here to help educate the public. This place was great and animals seemed to be very happy.

They usually have 2 different times each day. I think 11:00am and 3:00 pm You need to book in advance.

Exactly an hour and a half. It covers everything when you go to book the ticket.

No, but they do rent out their elephants for rides at weddings and parties 😖 Very sad

I understand the business move from California, but I wondered where they originally purchased these elephants. It is irrelevant now, I have seen the videos. I will now be doing everything in my power to see that these amazing creatures are removed and placed in a legitimate sanctuary.

We paid 95 per ticket