Blank Park Zoo http://blankparkzoo.com/
The Zoo is open everyday 10 am - 5 pm.
Zoo Admission
Children (under 3 years) - Free
Children (3 – 14 years) - $4.95
Adults (15 – 55 years) - $7.95
Senior Citizens (55+ years) - $5.95
Wheelchairs - Free
Single Strollers - $4.00
Double Strollers - $6.00
MAKE SURE YOU PICK UP A MAP THAT THEY PROVIDE, thus making sure you don't miss any of the animals/exhibits!
Here are the wonderful animals & exhibits that they have available:
- Bats
- Birds, including Parrots (they are SO beautiful!)
- Black Swan
- Boa Constrictors
- Bongos
- Butterflies
- Caimans (they look like mini alligators)
- Camels (there are 2, they are pregnant right now. You can get a ride on them, the cost is $4/person - but well worth it!)
- Ducks
- Emus
- Fish, various species, some tropical, and some from Iowa
- Flamingos (they make weird noises, but funny)
- Gecko
- Giraffe (at certain times of the day you can feed them)
- Goats (these are in the petting zoo area, you can feed them and pet them. One was a bit obnoxious because he would almost step on you trying to get food, but funny! And baby goats)
- Japanese Koi Fish (Our entire families FAVORITE! You can feed these, bring quarters, and when you do just watch them flop all over each other for the food, so much fun!)
- Jelly Fish (one of our favorites)
- Lemurs
- Lions (Be prepared, when the male roars it is a very loud and deep roar, he means business)
- Llama
- Lynx
- Macaws
- Otters (we weren't able to see these, as the water was too murky)
- Peacocks
- Penguins (we were not able to see them as they were inside there little hut, but normally they are outside of it)
- Pigs - a LARGE sow, and 3 baby pigs.
- Prairie Dogs (Ground hogs to me)
- Sea Lions (One kept making this burping noise that made all of the kids roll w/laughter. You can also watch the employees feed them at certain times, we were not able to though)
- Sloths, two-toed (I believe these are new this year, they look like monkey/bears)
- Snow leopards (much smaller than I thought they would be)
- Swans
- Tigers (what beautiful creatures)
- Train ride (Cost is only $2/person. The conductor is great, the ride is fantastic)
- T-Rex Skull (My sons absolute favorite!)
- Turtles (two different areas & two different sizes - Regular and ENORMOUS!)
- Various breeds of monkeys in separate exhibits
- Wallabys (they look like mini-kangaroos. I LOVE these)
- Zebras
They do mini shows at certain times of the day. When we went this past weekend the kids got to pet a snake and we got to learn about these HUGE cockroaches (of which the kids DID NOT touch).
There is also a lunch/dinner spot where you can buy and eat your food. We did not eat there so I can't comment on the taste or prices, sorry.
Last but not least is there gift shop. HUGE assortment. To my family it was a bit pricey, but we were on a low budget vacation. Just bring extra money, maybe $10-$20 per person.
My suggestions:
* Wear sunscreen, and maybe bug spray (though there isn't any bug problem)
* Bring your camera and LOTS of film
* Bring quarters for feeding the animals
* Bring extra money to use in the gift shop
* Wear comfortable shoes
* ENJOY!
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