Daily Zoo News

Animal News

Today’s Updates

Hippos will not be on habitat today.
Otters, Cheetahs, Cougars, Snow Leopards, and Tigers will have access.
Arctic Foxes will not be on habitat.
White Lion will not be on habitat.
Elephant House will be closed.
Goat Yard and Roo Valley will be closed.
The Discovery Forest Building is now open daily!
Brown Mountain Tortoises will be off habitat for the rest of the season.
Pelicans will be off habitat for the rest of the season.
The Butterfly Aviary is Closed.
The Reptile House will be closed Jan 28 until early March to upgrade the Chinese alligator’s habitat.
Train and Carousel are closed for Winter Maintenance

While our goal is to provide opportunities for our visitors to see all the animals in our care, there are times when an animal may be off view or given access to their indoor space in order for our team to provide the best care possible.

Animal Encounters and Experiences Schedule

Getting Around the Zoo

Food location hours & animal appearances vary by season. Ask us when you arrive for details on how to make the most of your visit!

Zoo Map

Directions

The main Zoo lot is open! It’s located at 3427 Vine Street.

Visitors may enter the Zoo using the Pavilion Entry Building from the Main Parking Lot, equipped with stairs & elevators to get to bridge level.

NEW!! When you’re at the Zoo, find your destination with our interactive mobile app! Learn more here.

Zoo Rides & Attractions

Train & Carousel

Train: Closed for Winter Maintenance

Conservation Carousel: Closed for Winter Maintenance

*weather permitting

More Info

Train Sponsor:

Rides are an included benefit of Platinum and Gold Members. Standard members and non-members may purchase tickets at each respective attraction.

*Hours may vary due to inclement weather, maintenance, and low attendance.

*Rides are Currently Closed Due To Maintenance *

Add A Wild Encounter To Your Zoo Visit

Add a wild encounter to your Zoo visit today! Get up close and personal with some of your favorite animals! We’re bringing you close enough to care with these special animal experiences.

Owls and Friends

Have a hoot meeting the stars of the Wings of Wonder! Get up close and personal with our flyers, squawkers, and raptor friends. You’ll also get a chance to meet one of our ambassador owls like, Ori, the Milky Eagle Owl.

Purchase Experience

$30 per person

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 13 years of age to attend experience alone).

Expand for More Info

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 Welcome Center.
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.

Clown of the Mountains

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.

Purchase Experience

$30 per person

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 13 years of age to attend experience alone).

Expand for More Info

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 the attendant in Welcome Center.
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.

Behind the Bugs

Great things come in small packages. Come behind the scenes with a World of the Insect keeper and learn what it takes to care for the most diverse department in the whole zoo. You will get up close and personal with some of our most impressive bugs and even have a chance to hold some of them! Keepers will explain the details of invertebrate husbandry and share their knowledge of insect biology in this informative and very interactive experience.

Purchase Experience

$50 per person

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone).

Expand for More Info

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.

“Van Goat” Painting Experience

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone).

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

Expand for More Info

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
For this experience, please plan to meet the attendant 10 minutes prior to your event time, 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.

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

Expand for More Info

Days/Times Available – Everyday 1:00pm

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

Upgrade your day with more Behind the Scenes and Virtual Experiences!

Gift Shops & Food Locations Open Today

Gift Shops

Historic Vine Village Main Gift Shop*: 9am-9pm

Mai Tai’s Marketplace Gift Shop: 9am-5pm

*For a wider variety of retail items, please shop our online store.

Face Painting

Location	Open	Closed
Vine Street Village	Closed	Closed
Safari	Closed	Closed

Food

New mobile food ordering allows touchless transactions with food pickup at Base Camp Cafe. From Food Trucks featuring chicken strips, tacos, and burgers to snack stations and Hops, overlooking Roo Valley, the Zoo has something for everyone!

See what is open today!

Location	Open	Closed
Historic Vine Street Village
Hops:	Closed	Closed
S’mores and More	Closed	Closed
Africa & Train Station
Base Camp Cafe:	10am	5pm
Tuskers:	Closed	Closed
Twisted Tracks:	Closed	Closed
Train Dots:	Closed	Closed
Jungle Trails & African Veldt
LaRosa’s:	Closed	Closed
LaRosa’s Dots:	Closed	Closed
Canopy Canteen:	Closed	Closed
The Grove
Cup & Cone @ Mai Thai’s Market:	Closed	Closed
Outpost Cafe @ Mai Thai’s Market:	Closed	Closed
The Coop:	Closed	Closed
Wild Burger:	Closed	Closed
Taco Caja	Closed	Closed
Sweet Retreat:	Closed	Closed

Animal Experiences

Included with Zoo Admission

These Experiences will resume in the Spring

Cheetah Encounter

See cheetahs do what they do best – run! Returning this spring!

cheetah running

Cheetah Encounter Sponsored by:

Barnyard Bonanza

A fast-paced, fun, family-friendly interaction in our Children’s Zoo. Returning this spring!

barnyard bonanza

Blakely’s Barnyard Bonanza Presented by:

Bird Experience

Watch amazing birds mimic, fly and soar above you during this 20-minute experience in the Zoo’s amphitheater. Returning this spring!

More information

Wings of Wonder Bird Experience Sponsored by:

Thursday, January 28th, 2022

Today’s Hours — 10am-5pm

Today’s Updates

Animal Encounters and Experiences Schedule

Getting Around the Zoo

Zoo Map

Directions

Train & Carousel

Add A Wild Encounter To Your Zoo Visit

Owls and Friends

Expand for More Info

Clown of the Mountains

Expand for More Info

Behind the Bugs

Expand for More Info

“Van Goat” Painting Experience

Expand for More Info

The Tremendous Tour-toise

Expand for More Info

More Info

Upgrade your day with more Behind the Scenes and Virtual Experiences!

Gift Shops

Face Painting

Location

Open

Closed

Food

Location

Open

Closed

Historic Vine Street Village

Africa & Train Station

Jungle Trails & African Veldt

The Grove

These Experiences will resume in the Spring

Cheetah Encounter

Barnyard Bonanza

Bird Experience

Daily Zoo News

Thursday, January 28th, 2022

Today’s Hours — 10am-5pm

Animal News

Today’s Updates

Animal Encounters and Experiences Schedule

Getting Around the Zoo

Zoo Map

Directions

Zoo Rides & Attractions

Train & Carousel

Add A Wild Encounter To Your Zoo Visit

Owls and Friends

Expand for More Info

Clown of the Mountains

Expand for More Info

Behind the Bugs

Expand for More Info

“Van Goat” Painting Experience

Expand for More Info

The Tremendous Tour-toise

Expand for More Info

More Info

Upgrade your day with more Behind the Scenes and Virtual Experiences!

Gift Shops & Food Locations Open Today

Gift Shops

Face Painting

Location

Open

Closed

Food

Location

Open

Closed

Historic Vine Street Village

Africa & Train Station

Jungle Trails & African Veldt

The Grove

Animal Experiences

Included with Zoo Admission

These Experiences will resume in the Spring

Cheetah Encounter

Barnyard Bonanza

Bird Experience

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