Add a VIP Animal Experience to Your Visit!

Get up close and personal with some of your favorite animals! We’re bringing you close enough to care with these special animal experiences. Book yours today!

Winter VIP Experiences

The “Van Goat” Painting Experience

Come on down to Blakely’s Barnyard and meet our some of our friends on the farm. During this experience you’ll hold the canvas as our goats paint you your very own masterpiece. This new and exciting experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the animal-loving child – or adult!

Purchase Experience

Days/Times Available – Wednesday through Sunday 3:00pm

Capacity – Up to 6 guests for each program; slots will be filled by units of 1.

Age Restrictions – 5 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)

Cost – $50 per person

More Info

Please note:

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non- refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
This experience is ADA accessible
Goat Encounter FAQ
Goat Encounter Waiver

The Tremendous Tour-toise

During this experience, one of our animal care staff members will introduce you to our resident Galapagos tortoises, and fill you in on everything that goes into taking care of the largest species of tortoise in the world! Guests will get a hands-on experience while they learn all about the history of these amazing animals, as well as the conservation efforts that the Zoo supports to help preserve their precious native islands.

Purchase Experience

Days/Times Available – Everyday 2:15pm

Capacity – Up to 5 guests for each program; slots will be filled by units of 1.

Age Restrictions – 8 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)

Cost – $50 per person

More Info

Please note:

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non- refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
We cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs on this experience.
Tortoise FAQ
Tortoise Waiver

Kea Encounter

Fly on down to our free flight aviary for an up-close experience with our Kea, the world’s only alpine parrot! During this experience, our keepers will take groups into the aviary for a private interaction with our Kea. Guests will learn all about the natural history of these beautiful ambassadors, as well as the conservation efforts the Zoo is involved with to support these birds. Each guest will walk away with a premade one-of-a-kind masterpiece painted by our Kea.

Purchase Experience

Days/Times Available – Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 1:15pm

Capacity – Up to 10 guests for each program; slots will be filled by units of 1.

Age Restrictions – 5 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)

Cost – $40 per person

More Info

Please note:

This ticket is only good for this program and, a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the front of the free flight aviary located next to the Wings of the World Birdhouse
This experience is non- refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
Kea FAQ
Kea Waiver

The Incredible Insect Encounter

Get up-close-and-personal with some of our residents in the World of Insects. This encounter allows you to meet some of our planet’s most amazing invertebrates. You’ll learn all about how our keepers care for these incredible insects.

Purchase Experience

Days/Times Available – Wednesday, Thursdays, Saturday & Sunday 2:00pm

Capacity – Up to 6 guests for each program; slots will be filled by units of 1.

Age Restrictions – 5 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)

Cost – $30 per person

More Info

Please note:

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non- refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
Insect FAQ
Insect Waiver