STAR ECO Station

A wildlife rescue center in the heart of Culver City? I didn’t believe it myself until we went to see for sure. Turns out it’s true! STAR Eco Station is an 18,000-square-foot wildlife rescue center for illegal, abandoned and abused exotic wildlife. Guided tours of the facility are available every weekend and last between 45 minutes and an hour.

Tours of Eco Station introduce visitors to over two hundred rescued exotic wildlife, from tropical fish to tortoises, from parrots to pythons. Each tour is led by an Eco Station staff member, and features fun animal facts, hands-on animal encounters, surprising rescue stories, environmental exhibits, and innovative approaches to going green.

The ECO Station is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching young kids about the environment, wildlife and the preservation of our planet. Your visit isn’t just entertainment; it’s also an education. During your tour, your guide explains why the animals are there, why they don’t make great pets and what we can do to protect them.

The Station also hosts special events including DinoFaire, Children’s Earth Day, Creepy Crawly Creature Feature and Enchanted Green Hallow’s Eve.

Highlights

• Plenty of opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of exotic wild animals
• You get your own tour guide who knows a ton of interesting info, from animal names to how each arrived at the Station — even the animals’ temperaments
• Groups are usually pretty small – less than 15 people total
• You’ll have a chance to touch one or more of the Station’s residents – we’ve touched a jungle python and a leopard gecko during past visits

Planning Essentials

• Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tours begin every hour on the hour (last tour begins at 3 p.m.) and last approximately 45-60 minutes. Visitors are served on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are required, however tours may sell out.
• Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for kids, children under 2 years old are free; check the ECO Station’s website for special event dates and any associated fees
• The Station has one set of restrooms located just inside the main entrance
• No food or drinks are sold inside the Station and there is no designated picnic area
• You are not permitted to wander through the Station without a guide, so your visit is limited to about an hour (unless you come during a special event with other activities going on)
• Best suited for school-age kids who can manage their own behavior (not tapping on glass, yelling or running around during the tour)
• Can get very crowded during special events
• A small number of parking spaces are available behind the ECO Station where you can park for free (spaces are marked “ECO”); free street parking is usually easy to find on Pearson, and metered parking is available on Jefferson

Our Tips for a Great Visit

• Arrive early to ensure a smaller group size
• Visit during a special event for added entertainment and learning opportunities
• If you come with a baby, leave the stroller at home & use a baby carrier instead – the place isn’t that big and a stroller can be tough to maneuver
• Encourage your little one to ask questions — the guides are extremely knowledgeable and used to educating young kids

STAR ECO Station is located at:
10101 Jefferson Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
Directions to the ECO Station