Zoos afford humans opportunities to view and learn about animals. The petting zoo at the Pretzel Hut places a zoological spin on the concept of human touch.

"The purpose of the petting zoo is to have people interact with animals, especially children," said Katie Smith, the Pretzel Hut's petting zoo manager. "It's also to help people make memories with their families. Animals bring people a lot of joy. I love coming here. It just makes you happy."

Located on a hill up behind the property at 2224 Furnace Hills Pike, Newmanstown, in Elizabeth Township - just North of Brickerville on Route 501 - the petting zoo is an attraction, a destination for locals and out-of-towners alike. The petting zoo is free to attend - visitors aren't required to purchase the Pretzel Hut's famous pretzels or fresh-cut french fries - and animal lovers can interact with and feed the creatures, most of which are barnyard animals.

The petting zoo at the Pretzel Hut is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The petting zoo is also seasonal, closed during the colder months of January, February and March.

"It's part of the business," said Smith. "The animals are very well loved. Sometimes I take care of them better than I do myself. But it's free, and people can come up here and they don't have to buy ice cream."

"The animals are pretty," added Smith. "You can actually go in the pens, pet them and feed them."

The petting zoo at the Pretzel Hut is physically situated on a small plot of wooded land up a modest incline. The friendly setting consists of seven gated-off enclosures or shelters, including a bunny house.

The petting zoo is home to three goats, two sheep, two kunekune pigs, seven rabbits, ponies, donkeys, a turkey, three chickens and two peacocks. They all have names and personalities, they are all well fed and none of them are starved for attention.

The Pretzel Hut's petting zoo also features a rotating special guest animal each month, like a visiting camel or a highland cow.

"I'd say it's pretty popular," said Smith, who works full time as a veterinarian technician at Adamstown Veterinary Hospital. "It's a madhouse when Ozzie the camel comes and Amy the highland comes, because people don't usually get to see them. The goats are really sweet."

"I think people treat them very well," Smith added. "Sometimes we get people here who haven't interacted with animals before. Some people are terrified of the goats."

As the petting zoo's manager, Smith's duties include feeding the animals, brushing them, cleaning up after them, calling a veterinary doctor if they become sick and generally looking after and caring for the animals. She also raised and bottle fed some of the current petting zoo residents and has taken some home during the winter months.

"I love being with the animals," said Smith. "I'm usually by myself with the animals."

The petting zoo predates current owners Dwight and Kathy Zimmerman, who bought the Pretzel Hut in February of 2024. The Zimmermans saw the petting zoo as part of the Pretzel Hut's business model, moved its location deeper into the woods and built an outdoor seating area and grove at the petting zoo's former spot.

The petting zoo is as much a local tradition as the Pretzel Hut itself.

"The Pretzel Hut is known for the petting zoo, because it's been here so long," said Kendra Smith, a petting zoo assistant. "We take the safety of our animals very seriously. The animals like people probably as much as people like animals."

For additional information, go to https://pretzelhut.com.