diff --git a/content/zones/tavern.toml b/content/zones/tavern.toml
index 346a025..297e55e 100644
--- a/content/zones/tavern.toml
+++ b/content/zones/tavern.toml
@@ -25,3 +25,12 @@ x = 4
 y = 5
 target = "hub:14,7"
 label = "the tavern door"
+
+[ambient]
+interval = 60
+messages = [
+    "the fire crackles and pops in the hearth",
+    "a draft of cold air blows through the room",
+    "you hear muffled conversation from patrons in the corner",
+    "the smell of roasting meat and ale fills the air",
+]
diff --git a/tests/test_ambient_messages.py b/tests/test_ambient_messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b723786
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_ambient_messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+"""Tests for zone ambient messages."""
+
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from mudlib.zone import Zone, get_ambient_message
+from mudlib.zones import load_zone
+
+
+def test_zone_default_no_ambient():
+    """Zone() has empty ambient messages and default interval."""
+    zone = Zone(name="test")
+    assert zone.ambient_messages == []
+    assert zone.ambient_interval == 120
+
+
+def test_zone_with_ambient_messages():
+    """Zone created with ambient_messages and ambient_interval stores them."""
+    messages = ["message one", "message two"]
+    zone = Zone(name="test", ambient_messages=messages, ambient_interval=60)
+    assert zone.ambient_messages == messages
+    assert zone.ambient_interval == 60
+
+
+def test_load_zone_with_ambient():
+    """TOML with [ambient] section loads messages and interval."""
+    toml_content = """
+name = "test_zone"
+width = 10
+height = 10
+
+[ambient]
+interval = 45
+messages = [
+    "a draft of cold air blows through the room",
+    "the fire crackles and pops",
+    "you hear muffled conversation from the next room",
+]
+"""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write(toml_content)
+        temp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        zone = load_zone(temp_path)
+        assert zone.ambient_interval == 45
+        assert len(zone.ambient_messages) == 3
+        assert "a draft of cold air blows through the room" in zone.ambient_messages
+        assert "the fire crackles and pops" in zone.ambient_messages
+        assert (
+            "you hear muffled conversation from the next room" in zone.ambient_messages
+        )
+    finally:
+        temp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_zone_without_ambient():
+    """TOML without [ambient] defaults to empty messages."""
+    toml_content = """
+name = "simple_zone"
+width = 5
+height = 5
+"""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write(toml_content)
+        temp_path = Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        zone = load_zone(temp_path)
+        assert zone.ambient_messages == []
+        assert zone.ambient_interval == 120  # default
+    finally:
+        temp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_get_ambient_message_returns_from_list():
+    """get_ambient_message returns a message from the zone's list."""
+    messages = ["message one", "message two", "message three"]
+    zone = Zone(name="test", ambient_messages=messages)
+
+    # Run multiple times to ensure we get valid messages
+    for _ in range(10):
+        msg = get_ambient_message(zone)
+        assert msg in messages
+
+
+def test_get_ambient_message_empty_list_returns_none():
+    """get_ambient_message returns None when zone has no messages."""
+    zone = Zone(name="test")
+    assert get_ambient_message(zone) is None