Went to the zoo on a Sunday afternoon with my daughter in law. Had the place to ourselves. literally. It was the actual best zoo experience I have ever had. the tiger was epic. She came up to the viewing window. But the real winner of the day was the otter. We called him Gary. That little nugget was showing off and being sassy and flashy for our viewing pleasure. He came as close to us as possible and would look right at us, Than cavort around his pen. He was the best part of my trip. I wasn't sure if the zoo was Even open in the winter. It is. Some exhibits (like all of the africa exhibit and the kids zone) are shut down, for obvious reasons. Less people though, and it's not scorching hot. Love the zoo!

This is a nice little zoo that you can easily take in over the course of a couple hours. We went in when it opened, saw pretty much everything, ate a picnic lunch outside the zoo, and then went back in for the sea lion show before ending our time there. The zoo keeper woman we talked to after the sea lion show was excited to answer our questions and a joy to talk to. We didn't do everything there is to do (feed the giraffes, play on the playground, ride the train), so you could do more than we did and easily stay longer (and spend more money). It's certainly worth a trip, especially if you are either in the area or live nearby.

very affordable entrance fee. and my kids loved the animals.we went here sunday morning and we got the whole zoo for ourselves. i think its best to go here during summer time because the giraffes and other part of the zoo are not available during winter time.

Great little zoo! Had so much fun!! Had lion's and tiger's and no bears O'my. 🤣😂 The Red Pandas are so cute! While we visited most of the attractions like the train, and the play yard with the goats and lamas were closed , along as the food stands and bird feeding in the Australian exhibit, due to lack of staff. All the animal exhibits were open and the staff that was there and walking through the zoo were extremely friendly and willing to answer any questions you had. Lots of animals to see, with head sets for certain areas to learn more about them. There is a small picnic area in the parking lot and a small playground for the little ones to play. Over all was an amazing day even in the heat of the day. The prices are very reasonable. And I forgot to mention the zoo has sensory days on Tuesday's and Thursday's. If you haven't been there yet you're missing out on a great day. Perfect for a date day or a place to bring the family.

I'm thoroughly impressed with this zoo. First time visiting despite multiple times in the city, and it starts off with camels in the parking lot and a cool inside walk through the water cycle and the animals that live in it. Plenty of other cool animals about and a cafe that isn't crazy priced. Wish there were more bottle filling stations around for water but that's my only complaint

We're members here which is nice because we can show up whenever and stay as long or as little. It's totally worth the cost. They also have reciprocal benefits for other zoos around the US which will save you lots of money. We really enjoyed Zoo Brew here on Wednesdays and came religiously until my work schedule changed. Sunday, was the first time we visited during normal zoo hours and it was cool to see which animals were more active vs. when we came in the evenings. We decided to go Sunday, on STEM day, because two of the female lions are moving to a different zoo this week. There were a lot of information stations throughout and lots of interactive activities. I do like this zoo, though it's a lot smaller than what I'm used to. I still think it's great what they have been able to do with this amount of space. I also feel like you can get reasonably close to the animals. There's plenty of rest/bathroom facilities. And, the train is fun whenever you want to take a break from walking. You get a different view of the animals and I believe it costs $2-$4 depending on whether or not you're a member. Don't forget to go into the exhibit in the entrance building. A lot of people miss that and there's a bunch of cool exhibits in there. The waterfall in the Discovery Center is really beautiful.

Blank Park Zoo is a very nice zoo located in Des Moines, Iowa. The zoo is not huge, bug has a lot to offer and see. Adult admission is $16, and children were $10. Basic membership was $99 and may be the best value for a family. Train and Merry-Go-Round rides are $3. The zoo is easy walking, with a lot of shade. Restrooms were very clean and modern. We will definitely be back again.

I had a great time at this zoo. It’s a small zoo easily walked in 1-2hrs. All the animals were out and having fun in the sun. Lots of summer camp kids there today, who would occasional squeeze in too close. I recommend.

Blank Park Zoo is a small but very nice zoo. Their animals are well cared for and well enriched, and the exhibits are engaging and very natural. Staff are friendly and have a wealth of information. The exhibits could have benefited from a little bit more written information but I'm also a glutton for knowledge so the average person won't be disappointed. They have a good variety of animals separated out into geographic regions as well as a train ride and an interactive animal section for kids.

Fun zoo, we always go when in or around Des Moines. They are working on a couple exhibits so they are closed but there is still plenty of things to do and see. Camel rides are open, playground is open, carousel is running, you can feed the goats and birds, train was not running today. Great food selections and prices. We really like this zoo!

My Wife, Great Niece, and I visited the Zoo recently. While it is not exactly the ideal time of the year to visit, due to the chilly temps, many animals must be kept indoors. Much of the grounds still needed to feel the full effects of Spring, allowing much of the lower vegetation to grow back in and restore its natural beauty. That being said, it never stopped my Great Niece (6yrs) from enjoying the visit. She was fascinated by the sea otters, learned the difference between turtles and tortoises, and awed by the sight of Giraffes. She wasn’t sure what to make of the Rhinos, and she, myself included, was a bit intimidated by the Lions and Tigers. Perhaps her most favorite thing to participate in, was hand feeding the goats and llamas. All the goats were unique and as diverse as they come. We sat and had a quick snack at the concession. It had the usual; hamburgers, fries, chips, pop, water, etc. They provide ample outdoor seating with picnic tables in a shaded zone, and mostly affordable prices. After 3 hours, we were all ready to head out. They offer an excellent selection of items in the gift shop and parking for us was hassle free. We can’t wait to return there in August. Its truly a gem in the city, and a great way to wear down the youngsters. I recommend every one visit the zoo, and enjoy the wonders it beholds.

I love going to the Light the night events every year. I have been there the last two years and each year has had some amazing scenes set up. I love the ones that are on the water or that the kids can interact with. Each year they pick different themes and set up displays all over the zoo. We actually walk the zoo twice. We arrive a little before sunset and get the sunset view. Then we walk again to see the displays in the dark. Also the second walk is a lot quieter as most of the kids have gone home. The animals are not out during this event so it is good for kiddos to know in advance. Parking is the same as always you might get lucky and get something close but you'll probably end up in the gravel lot and walk a little. Tickets are a tad on the expensive side especially for a family but tbh not much different than going to a movie. On the plus side it's a memory to share with someone and something different to do.

Lots is extra, so be prepared to spend more money than the entrance fee. Train, feed parakeets, carousel, face painting, feed the goats. A lot is closed or being renovated currently, but the stuff that was open was fun! The animals were sleeping, (we went in the afternoon) but close enough to still see. Fun playground that my kids loved. We did it all within an hour or two, because it's pretty small.

Love that Masks are required! Safely have fun and see all the animals :) It was a beautiful fall day with all the pretty leaves all over the Zoo!!!

Even though the cafes, feeding stations, specialty tours, and train were not up and running, this zoo still had a lot to offer. It is a smaller zoo, we were able to see most everything in under an hour, but for the price of admission, I cannot complain! And no fee for parking! There was a lot of construction happening during our visit, so I have high hopes for their future! There is still a lot to see and enjoy! We did not stay for the night light walk through, but judging by the set up we saw during the daytime, I bet it is magical!!! I highly recommend visiting!!!

First time to visit and recommend if in the area. Pricing was fair and worth the advantage of this zoo. You can walk among some of the animals or get up pretty close to others. Staff was nice, bathrooms were clean. Bring some big spray just in case.

This little zoo is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. It’s clean, easy to navigate, & full of cool experiences. I didn’t know what to expect but we were pleasantly surprised by attractions like a sea lion training & a walk-in wallaby exhibit. Plan to walk a little because there is quite a bit of land to cover, & cash for the concessions

I'm always happy to support the local zoo and other entertainment areas! As of 6/10/22 the birds are still not on display due to the avian flu and the discovery center is one of my favorite parts of the zoo! The train and carousel are ALWAYS fun and worth the 2 bucks per person. (I like to recommend the TRI membership for locals)

Went on a Tuesday, and not crowded at all. Easy to park, enter and get around. Could see it perfect for strollers or even wheelchairs. Great for toddlers, and younger children. We enjoyed seeing the giraffes and lions most of all. Staff was very friendly in the gift shop and as we excited. Very clean park overall. From the restrooms to the walking paths.

This is just the right size zoo to enjoy an hour or two out with your family, or just by yourself. Many larger city zoos are just too big to get around and see what you'd like to see. At Blank Park, every exhibit is well done, on a natural circle path that allows you to see all the exhibits, and the animals are all very accessible and easy to see! A very good indoor tropical rainforest and aquarium exhibit which a lot of zoos don't have. Definitely worth a visit.

Nice little zoo! Don't expect anything near the level of the Henry Doorly Zoo, but there's plenty going on. It's clean, the animals have quality enclosures, and the kids can enjoy playgrounds and other interactive pieces. Great way to spend an afternoon!

As a tourist, I would like to share some information about the Wild Lights Festival in the Zoo. The Wild Lights Festival is a spectacular event featuring stunning light displays that create a mesmerizing atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy various light installations, such as illuminated sculptures, light tunnels, and interactive displays, and even lanterns of pandas. The festival typically takes place from April 1 to May 29, and the opening hours are from 7:30 PM to 10 PM. The admission fee is $25 per person for peak time and $23 for off-peak, but children under 12 can enter for free. If you're planning to attend the light festival, make sure to dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes, as the event takes place outdoors. Don't forget to bring your camera, as there will be plenty of opportunities to capture amazing photos. Overall, the light festival is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the area during these months.

Not a very big zoo but great for kid and people that mobility issues. Not many choices for food but the but they had lots of places to sit and cool off. You cold also feed some of the more friendly animals like Alpacas, Giraffes, and more that I can't remember. We were there for a little more then 3 hours so for 20$ it was a nice day out with the family. 👨‍🦼👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Zoos are complicated, especially when you know how abusive and dangerous some can be to the animals in captivity. I did my research on this zoo before deciding to visit and understood the situations behind the animals that have died here from accidents or neglect. However, this being an AZA-accredited zoo dedicated to conservation, and with only a handful of animal deaths, made me decide to visit. I'm quite glad I did, and am hopeful that in future this zoo will better be able to care for its animals. As with most zoos, many of the exhibit spaces seemed small for the animals they housed, tho there were some that my pal and I agreed were quite large. The bald eagles, for example, seemed frightened and were glued to a branch in their small, dark enclosure. But the otter nearby was busy swimming around, nosing thru the plants, and generally seeming to have a delightful time. The seals and sea lions were also quite active and seemed happy to circle around and splash in their enclosure. The tortoises had a relatively large space compared to their needs. My absolute favorite animal, and one of the reasons I was so excited to visit, were the two stunning, massive cinereous vultures housed in a large enclosure with some monkeys. It was a joy to watch the vultures hop around, spread their large wings, and observe us visitors. I was extremely disappointed, however, that there was no signage about them anywhere! Vultures are such vital parts of ecosystems, and are extremely misunderstood birds. People ought to be educated about them instead of viewing them and mistaking them for eagles. I ended up educating some other visitors about vultures, and at one point someone asked if I worked for the zoo! There were some other areas of signage that were lacking as well, but the vultures was the most disappointing. Many vulture species are endangered or threatened, and zoos should be spaces to educate people on *all* animals and how interconnected ecosystems are, rather than only highlighting the charismatic animals. I wish the website also had a complete list of the animals here, instead of highlighting the popular ones like giraffes and tortoises. "Ugly" guys need some love and attention, too! Lightning round: The train ride was lovely, tho the usage of a native american face as a train logo on most of the cars is cringe. It's 2023; indigeneous people are not mascots. Stroller and wheelchair accessibility is decent, tho there are some areas where there are only stairs to access a space (such as a viewing station by the giraffes). The vending machine near the train station wasn't working. None of the gift shop animals included vultures or "non-cute" animals. Signage for the virtual map QR code was unclear, and I wish that the online map was interactive or at the very least oriented so north is at the top. And since there are still some people without phones, having a small stack of paper maps and/or having some large, standing "you are here"-style board maps would be helpful.

It's a good zoo for a smaller city. I especially like the cool entrance through the "caves" that lead into the botanical garden with waterfall and rope bridge. The zoo is laid out in a nice circle. My granddaughter enjoyed the Merry Go Round and feeding the giraffe for $5 for three helpings. Nice sized petting zoo with a pond that has huge Koi fish to feed and swans. I was a little sad to see they added Alpacas in a fence off area that cost like 30 bucks for a half hour. My favorite was the bird enclosure by the train entrance where you can pay $2 to feed parakeets a sick with PB and for seed on it and they'll come sit right on your hand. My 1 y.o. granddaughter did actually grab one off my hand so be careful!😳😳 but it was fine. The peacocks were also a favorite and they roam around free on the sidewalks near the petting zoo. The tortoises 🐢 were so neat, I could sit and watch them all day and you can get fairly close to them. The big fella has a couple girlfriend in there so watch out for some frisky business when you walk up🤣. They were good about allowing us to bring our own waters in the stroller too but there is a little spot to buy food at the top of the hill by the restrooms and just before the Giraffes. There's also pop vending machines scattered about. They do face painting by the petting zoo too. I bought my daughter's family a season pass for Christmas and I highly recommend it!!

Great city zoo. People are nice and the animals all are very healthy. A great place tot are the kids and explore. Highly recommended.

Looking at this zoo from an aerial view, I didn’t expect there to be much at first. However, when I visited this zoo in person, I was awestruck at the diversity of animals on display within just a few acres! Every part of the zoo had some amazing creatures to marvel at, of which my favorites were the Red Panda, the Jamaican Fruit Bats, and the Cassowaries.

Me and my 3 Littles had so much fun. We were just visiting Iowa for a mini vacation and we loved it. Not only did we go for the zoo on memorial day we also went the night before for the festival of lights which were beautiful! I would definitely recommend going to this zoo.

I go here every year. It's always changing. Its absolutely beautiful!!! Good prices. Food places everywhere. Good interactions for kids. Always have fun here! The staff is always really nice and very informational!

This place is a hidden gen! It's affordable fun for the whole family. You can get an up close look at the animals, safely. The park was clean and easy to navigate. My family and I can't wait to come back!

This is a decent zoo. Small, a lot of kids every where. I was hoping for a bit larger. The food offerings were very lacking, having only one real place to get food there and a line forever cause they only had 3 people working the counter. The exhibits were made up well although small. The small size did provide more opportunities to see the animals though so that was nice. It catered a lot to kids. Nice to see the big cats but it would be great if they had more room to play. There were so many people i felt like the free roaming wallabies were just totally scared into their people free corner. Some limits to the quantity of people there would make that better I think.

Very impressed with this zoo. Tons of options and a nice size - quite large. Interactive areas. Photo opportunities in tons of places. Numerous areas to feed the animals. We fed parakeets, goats, llamas, and giraffes. Staff is very nice. Could spend many hours here. Extremely reasonably priced for all it has to offer. Ample parking and it is very close to the entrance. Highly recommend. My favorite zoo out of the 10 or so I've been to.

We went to night eyes this past time we went. I hadn't taken my kiddos since they were little. I k ow this event is out on by volunteers, but they were a little stingy with the candy, lol. But I not rating based off of that visit. The zoo is great. It does such that animals are in cages but I feel zoos do some good with animals that are endangered by having breeding programs. Idk if I believe big cats and others should be in cages, but I admit, I like seeing them. I know ow, I'm part of the problem. I'm sorry. I have included our night eyes photos and will edit with photos of the animal-visiting trips, too.

It's the perfect size for Littles! We got to see the giraffes up close, and thoroughly enjoyed all of the exhibits. My not quite 2 yr old granddaughter had a blast since they have many spots to encourage learning and play as well as seeing the animals.

Fun place to take your family or your grandkids for an afternoon of visiting the animals. Park is spread out and, for the most part, was not crowded. Enjoyed watching the giraffes wander about and watching the various sea creatures frolic in the tanks located throughout the park. My only disappointment was the train ride. I would have enjoyed seeing the whole park via the train so you could see what they had before heading around the park. Instead, it was a quick ride through just 1 section. Lots to see, so wear your walking shoes and enjoy the fun!

I thought this zoo was so cool! I loved all their aquarium fish. I appreciated that you could feed goats! We had a blast, would 100% go back.

Went to NightEyes as a family night for Halloween. Seems to changes each year and it’s fun for the whole family. Staff are very friendly and the kids love it. Plenty of activities and fun stuff to do all the while kids getting candy.

We don't have a lot of options for animal experiences in central Iowa. With that in mind, we love having an option that is not a terribly far drive from home. It is NOT a large zoo. When my child was younger, we had a pass & visited at least once a month, would usually take ~hour. It's been a few years, there have not been any "new" species that as a non-religious zoo follower would notice, takes us about 30 minutes. That said, the kids' play area is fantastic. The animals we love are consistently on exhibit, always clean & well maintained. We love when the keepers are out to speak more about them, very informative, and helps to build that familiarity and compassion for the animals that call our zoo home.

LOVED this zoo!!!! I would've given 5 stars, but I was getting ready to walk out of the little building, right by the jellyfish, and pulled my mask down to talk to my son with asd (he couldn't understand what I was saying so I pulled my mask down in hopes that would help) and was very rudely told that I needed my mask on. When I pulled it up, she rudely told me that "NO..it needs to be pulled ALL the way up over your nose" Tall, thin girl with short brown hair and glasses. I would've understood if we were just walking in, or even in the middle of the exhibit, and if she would've asked nicely, but bc of the fact we were RIGHT by the door to walk out, made it seem like she was on a power trip.

Really enjoy visiting today. The time frames were perfect on how many people were allowed in. Everyone was friendly and polite.

Very fun destination for our family get together of 18. Enjoyed the train ride & taking in all the views. Safari area was really neat & all the monkey activity was entertaining. Only knock would be we wished there was elephants or more of an aquatic selection such as dolphins too. Other than that weather was decent & rain held off so that was a plus. Definitely will be revisiting as our 18 month old will be fascinated to go back for future visits as he learns more about the animals & species. Thanks for keeping park safe & protected with social distancing guidelines the best you can! Be blessed

Fun park! Interesting mix. Good flow.

I visited today with an Adventure Pass from my public library; it was good for two adults and two children. I wish that they required masks for the indoor exhibits during COVID. Fun overall!

A nice and a small zoo in the middle of Des Moines. Some of the animals can be seen from close up. I wish it had some more animals, but it was well maintained.

The Zoo was very nice and while there were people there it wasn't hard to social distance. I was surprised that there were quite a few people without masks but that is everywhere.

Great day for a zoo stroll. Family of 4 (2yr old, 3 month old) walked the place in about an hour and a half before nap time. Just the right amount to keep the littles entertained. Easy in and easy out.

Me and my lovely lady friend went to the zoo brew last. it wasn't absolutely pleasant evening that I would recommend anyone take advantage of

Super cute zoo. The animals are super cute and well kept.

Perfect sized zoo for a toddler

Awesome place

Loved it

Lots to offer and remember it's open year round.

Never disappoints! Friendly staff and clean. Security guard was even monitoring masks in discovery center.

A few things were closed but understandably so, we still felt we got our money's worth! Spent about 1.5 hours until closing but could have used more time, we really enjoyed it.

There was only 5 people giving out candy and 10 to 15 people holding up signs telling you what it cost to feed the animals not sure if that's what the kids wanted to see on trick or treat in 2020

Very nice zoo had a great time with family

Fun place,and something to keep the little ones having fun. Something exciting to see or do throughout the zoo.

Staff has always been super friendly, Altho not a large zoo it’s always been clean and well kept. My kids loved the night eyes experience!

Nice zoo! I have been coming to Zoo for many, many years!

Good zoo with a good set up of their exhibits so you can see the animals all really well, has a few spots to get drinks and eat inside aswell. The train ride is fun get to see a few exhibits from another side you wouldn't be able to without doing it. We got to go to the additional 'Night Eyes' event for an additional 6 dollars on top of original admission price which goes from 5 to 9pm. It has a lot of interesting light displays set up throughout the zoo and some of the animal exhibits still have their animals in them at night too!

We had a great time. I was pleased that the enforced mask wearing

Nice place to take the family

Love the variety of animals and exhibits.

Great for families with little kids. After spending my early years in Des Moines and living across from the zoo (mid 1980s), I see not much has changed sadly.

Nice place, you are close to the animals, clean and good size

Really a good Zoo for it's size. Great for the kiddos, and the parking as all pretty close to the entrance.

Awesome zoo

There were girafees.

Great place to take the family.

Our group had fun. Kinda sad to see so much blocked off. I understand a good deal of it, but some of it just made 0 sense and seemed more of a staffing issue maybe then a covid-19 issue. Either way, kids had a blast and so did the adults. Would be nice though if they had a paper map or more posted along the way...(the one in the African area was almost illegible, so take a picture at the zoo entrance or you may miss things as the paths diverge). Also would be great if the Hy-Vee Safari Grill offered souvenir cups. Just a thought.

Awesome zoo!

They had a lot of interactive options that were toddler and covid friendly.

My girls love the zoo, especially the train and carousel.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful there is a sea lion trainer and some caves and a very beautiful landscape and the man who drives the train is very kind Beautiful there is a sea lion trainer and some caves and a very beautiful landscape and the man who drives the train is very kind (Original) Precioso hay una entrenadora de los lobos marinos y unas cuevas y un paisaje bien lindo y el señor que maneja el tren es muy amable Beautiful there is a sea lion trainer and some caves and a very beautiful landscape and the man who drives the train is very kind

Great zoo!

Loved it would love to see an expansion

Nice decent sized zoo. Very clean.

To much money to pay after getting in for things to do. Also their should be no charges for the totally disabled people .also the senior prices should be noticed when a person pays shouldn't have to ask cause they charged me full price.

Cool

Staff that we encountered were friendly. Was a nice zoo

I have been pleasantly surprised with our recent visits and the social distancing. We have been lucky to witness feeding times and the animals being active nearly every time. With the pass we can spend as little or as much time as we want. Sometimes we are in and out other times we have spent a few hours in the afternoon. For being a smaller zoo it is good for my toddler, but not as exciting for the middle schooler. To each their own.

God's critters are always a fascination to me, and Blank Park Zoo rates a strong B+ compared to regional zoos of this size. Covid precautions limit several exhibits at this time. Even so, it's worth the cost to see Grandma receive a Llama (spit) greeting to the face and come out laughing. Makin' memories..

Small zoo, can walk the entire zoo in 2hrs. Very nice, plenty of animals to see & things to do.

Great little zoo with nice animal displays. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable! Great place to take kids and learn a lot about animals. Also a great place for adults who love animals!

A small zoo but very clean and a lot of animals. You definitely need to stop by and see the turtle, monkeys, and seals! The new rhino exhibit is awesome. I’d recommend a train ride for all of ages. It’s really short and sweet but a lot of fun. The train conductor gives you a lot of fun animal facts. This zoo is fun for all ages (mid 30s male here). BUT it’s really geared towards kids. They have the train, camel rides, a goat petting and feeding area, a giant playground, an awesome seal exhibit, and a prairie dog tunnel area.

Very cute Place small but the animal seemed happy and the people were very pleasant.

I want in the winter so it was not that great! But it was good time!! I got to see most of the animals!! Only thing I did not see there wolves or smaller many mammals (not sure I they do not have them because of the winter). Indoor was cool! Not much activities during winter (not a critic of it). I would recommend going during summer and during the not highly recommend! Great way to get out of the house!

I love this place last time I was there their were new rinos

Went today 1.9.21. No crowds and the best experience I have had at the zoo. Heard the lions roaring, sat right next to a tiger, and meatball the sea lion was adorable. Came right up to the glass and hung out with us for about 5 mins. And the wonderful lady working the gift shop was amazing and a lot of fun to talk to!! So glad we are members!

We love seeing all the animals here!

Such a fun zoo!

Family and I decided we would go because it said they would have 50% capacity due to Covid and while trying to be cautious we still wanted to have a good time. The place had so many people (seemed more than 50% capacity) hardly anyone had masks on. However, had this not been during covid I would have encouraged my nieces to participate in the activities that were going on. I loved all of the animals. The tortoises and sea otters being my favorites.

Fun time for anyone

I have been here twice in the past 6 years with my family. I love the train ride and the animals are very elegant. I plan to come again after this covid thing is over.

(Translated by Google) The place is very nice, in winter lots of snow, it has tables for pinic (Original) Muy bonito el lugar, en invierno mucha nieve, tiene mesas para pinic

The zoo is still open! Masks required! The baby Giraffe Raza (Hope) is there!

All the new things at the zoo are great. However several big exhibits weren't open due to LOUD construction happening on the pool They should do that before or after hours they also should tell you BEFORE you pay which exhibits are closed that day They need to tell you before you pay if exhibit's are closed At least you could decide whether you still would go before hand. Other than that, all was good

(Translated by Google) Excellent place my children had a lot of fun (Original) Excelente lugar mis hijos se divirtieron mucho

Our whole family loves our outings at the zoo! The safari camps in the summer are awesome! My daughter has a good allergy and we felt very safe with their program.

While it's certainly not a big zoo and can be underwhelming for grown-ups, this is the perfect zoo for young children. We have been members for since 2019 and our toddler son has a blast every time! For the benefit of the animal well-being, it would be nice for the zoo to take over some of the golf course and enlarge the enclosures, especially for the lions and tigers.

Kids loved it

This is probably one of the best zoos in Iowa if not one of the best. This zoo is very kid friendly. Adults may find it boring. Expect to spend at least half a day there. It was missing some of the bigger animals, and some closures were closed or empty, but you can't expect much from Iowa.

Throughout the park I felt like I had the opportunity to really get up close to the animals. I loved the board walk that gave the perfect view of the giraffes and antelope that roamed the hillside. I felt like I was on their level and not awkwardly looking up at the tall animals like other places I’ve been. It was also fun to see the fall decorations that made cute photo opportunities and added to the experience.

Great little zoo! Easy to navigate, lots of interesting animals, and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view. The landscaping and gardens are lovely as well. Really fun going with friends!

This is the perfect size Zoo for kids. It has just enough stuff to keep them entertained but yet not too much stuff but you’re there all day. The cost for an adult and a child is only $20. It’s ice and clean and the staff is extremely friendly.

Went there because of new opportunities for my grandson. The zoo was so joyful for my grandson. That's what was important. It looks like they're doing a lot of renovations. So next year we'll probably get to see more.

I love going to zoos and the Blank Park Zoo in a fantastic trip idea. By far my favorite was the Red Panda and the Seals, one Seal was throwing and retrieving a stick for itself and we easily watched it joyfully for half an hour. Can't wait to come back

Had a great day at the zoo. Make sure your drinking bottle full.

Always a good time! We went to Night Eyes their multi day Halloween Event. Our 2 year old had a blast meeting the characters, trick or treating, seeing the Rhino (in the dark) and riding the carousel.

Really awesome zoo, I liked it a lot. 1.5 mile walk to get around and see most everything. Just a beautiful set up with lots of great animals. Enjoy coming in late October and there’s no crowd whatsoever.

Sea lions were probably my favorite! A lot of the animals were inside for the winter or not there. But it is November, so I can't blame them. Still had a lot to see. Very kid friendly.

The kids absolutely love going to the zoo, we've been rain or shine. It's a nice size to be able to walk the whole zoo in a couple hours if you just want a quick walk through, or take your time visiting a little section at a time. The kids especially love that there's a park in the kids zone, where they can get their wiggles out. We've been to soo many different events, and they always do such a nice job at exciting the kids. The animals seem happy in their enclosures. Overall a great experience and definitely worth a family pass.

I am from the Philadelphia suburbs. We frequent Philly, Elmwood, and Cape May zoos. This zoo is comparable to Elmwood and CM. It's totally walkable for children, and you feel like you are part of the experience. Although I have to admit, I didn't bring my kids because some of the older cousins visited for Brew at the Zoo. We had a wonderful visit and would definitely return again. We went on a family membership, so admission was free but we definitely bought our share of beer as we perused the grounds.

Was a great experience and had lots of workers/volunteers that were VERY knowledgeable and WILLING to talk to you about everything they knew about the species. This trip was a lot of fun!

M Love it! You can afford to go every day if you get a membership. It's a lot cheaper, you can go every day and see a little bit each time, then do it again! Fridays are field trip days for lots of kids.

Feeding the alpacas and giraffes was so much fun! (You have to pay extra for them and in cash to feed the giraffes so, bring some money for the giraffes!!) The park is set up well and adults and kids alike had a blast