This zoo is great! Flows very nicely, many animals to see. The dolphin show is really cool and a great thing to see. The new baby orangutan is adorable. All of the animals are great and they have a lot of interactive things for children. The conservatory butterfly house is neat as well. Highly recommend this zoo! read more

Amazing Fun Exciting Interesting Exotic Clean Family fun Everytime we go to the zoo we have so much fin read more

First of all, I have to say we always had a great time coming to the zoo. My wife was very excited this time to see the kangaroos for the first time on this visit. We were greeted by a young man who told us the do's and don'ts when we enter the kangaroo area. " Please stay on the path, don't go on the grass, and only pet the Roos on their back if they come close to the path". A few minutes after entering, my wife was petting a kangaroo on her back which was on the path. A female zoo employee working there who was on her cell phone at the time yelled at my wife to stop petting. She pretty much belittle my wife and made here very upset. We were told one thing before we entered and told opposite from this very rude female. I confronted her again to tell her we were told different. Her response was that we couldn't pet this particular kangaroo. My wife lost her mood and wanted to leave the zoo immediately. Please address this with your employee( she had a tattoo on her lower leg/calf). We informed the gentleman who originally told us the rules at the entrance. Not sure if we will return back to this Zoo! read more

I was pretty disappointed the African Plains was completely closed. That's at least 1/3 of the zoo! It'd be one thing if they tell you at the gate but no. It was clean and well kept but we went on a slow day. The walking paths were not clear and it was kind of confusing and not very straight forward how to get to the exhibits. The good thing about going on a chilly day is the animals were pretty active so there few exhibits that were open the animals were out and about. read more

Great place (although very overpriced). Definitely fun if you go at the right times. Can be very overcrowded on event days. Something i do really love is that during the summer they have a really nice splash pad for kids to cool off at. My son loved it didnt even care about the animals . I would be more inclined to go if they would make they're prices more reasonable. read more

As the father of a 1-year-old, the Indianapolis Zoo has now very much become a new staple for our family. If you live in the Indy area with kids, get the membership - it saves you a ton of money (just a couple trips will more than make up for it, especially for bigger families) and includes free parking. Great exhibits, wide variety of animals, and enough change in the programming to keep you coming back. Our favorite is probably the Christmas decorations - we tried Zoo Boo this year too, but there's something about the nighttime light display that just makes the zoo more magical. In the summertime, the Splash Pad is the little guy's highlight of the day, so if you have a water baby make sure you block out extra time on the way out, and maybe plan for an extra change of clothes. read more

Who doesn't like going to a zoo, this place is a great place to bring kids of all ages,and even adults have fun here. There are always new interesting exhibits or various animals to learn abut and watch in their somewhat natural habitat. Anyone with kids who lives within 30 miles of here should have yearly passes and come often. It's a great way to spend a nice day strolling thru the grounds and watching wildlife in person instead of letting kids play at home on video games, haha. Christmas at the zoo with a limo ride is always a great treat. They decorate everything with lights all over the place. Food, drinks, and snacks are a bit expensive, but that's expected for a venue such as this. But the money goes to a good cause and helps keep the flow of animals coming into our Indy zoo. Bring the family here for some educational and fun times. They have a huge parking lot, so don't worry about having to park far away. read more

Many exhibits were not open. Most of the additional attractions were not operating as well. A sub standard facility at best at a very high price. Perhaps if the price was half what they charged it may have been acceptable. Gift shop prices were atrocious as well. You want a great zoo go to DC or San Diego or Mansfield, MA read more

I work at the zoo so I am a little biased toward it. Here's what you need to know coming in. One time visitors need to understand the following. Parking is 5 bucks. Admission is 12.50 Eat before you go. If you must spend money on ride tickets make sure to get the ticket bundles Get to any of the shows (Especially Dolphin) early as possible. Those things fill up quickly! Go on a mid-week day afternoon. Those usually are the best for no one being there. If you go in the summer, take the following - Sunscreen - Water Bottle - Some sort of Powerade or Gatorade, both help with hydration. - Umbrella (Because Mother nature hates us) Other things to remember, Going during Zoo Boo, or Kroger Christmas At The Zoo will yield HUGE crowds. So don't be suprised if you go and there are TONS of people there. Seriously. One last thing, The zoo is a big place, and it's very easy to lose your children. Please please please please please be mindful of where they are. They can get lost in a heart beat, if you do lose your child take 5 deep breaths and find someone who works there. Other than that, have a GREAT time! read more

They allowed an elephant to pet me! Oh, wait, I mean.. they allowed me to pet an elephant! Sorry about that... just a bit cat-like blissed out when I got to thinking about my zoo experience. This zoo has always been associated with the Smoke Free Class of 2000, but now it's so much more! I went on a strange tour of zoos in 2008 across America (yeah... weird... yet true!) and this one was my favorite. Sure in Denver I got to hang out and pet a possum. But here I could pet a Scottish Highland cow, an elephant and a dolphin. Okay, I'm gonna stop 'cus it sounds like I have some sort of petting thing goin' on. Not true... I just think it's remarkable zoos allow so much access! Um, let me get back to the Scottish Highland Cow. It's the most damn beautiful creature on this green Earth. It's in the Petting Zoo section.. Ah gah! There I am talking about petting again! At any rate... this zoo is downtown, in White River State Park and ready for your family occasion! read more

The Indianapolis Zoo is pleasantly surprising. It doesn't compete with places like San Diego, but it really doesn't need to. The variety of animals is extensive, with polar bears, giraffes, rhinos, tigers, and bears (oh my!), monkeys, meercats, on and on. It's a great place to spend the day and definitely check out the dolphin show (which is included in the ticket price), and the shark petting area (yes, you read that correctly). The shark petting area is actually one of my most favorite, just watching them can be entertaining. Then also the walrus likes to put on his own show once in a while. In case you happen to go on a hot day, be sure to bring a change of clothes for the kids. There is a splash pad where they can go to cool down, a creative solution I think.. Maybe go to the splash pad after the petting area since, let's face it, some animals just smell, like, well animals. Then the more hidden but obvious gem would be the White River Gardens. It's included in the ticket price and you can see butterflies, wonderful flowers, and the grounds outside of the greenhouse are quite pretty and usually seem to be missed by many people since it's never very full. A day at this zoo is well worth it. read more

So fun always! We usually spend the entire day here. Love the Adventure pass to feed the animals and ride the rides. It's def worth it for the little ones to get a great experience! We got Handprint animals done and Yasriel who painted them for us did AMAZING! The staff is nice, the bathrooms are clean, the exhibits are great! We love our zoo! read more

I specifically want to review the Dolphin In-Water Adventure for those interested. To be fair, we are both adults - my husband participated, and I observed. The staff was very accommodating, and we felt very well taken care of. It was a lot of fun to learn about the dolphins and get a backstage peek at what happens. But the bottom line is that it's not worth the expensive price tag. Participation is very limited. You pet the dolphin twice. When you give the dolphin a hand signal to do a trick, it's done as a group. There is no guarantee that you will be able to get into the water with the dolphins, as they may not feel like it that day. It didn't happen during our session, which was disappointing. Very little actually happens, and with the price tag, we expected more. read more

Act like an animal! With a highly active 2 year old, a zoo membership is a MUST. We are there at least once a week in the summer to see the animals, play, and be outdoors. Plus when family comes to visit, it's easy and cheap to kill a day at the zoo. Half the time we don't even bother to look at the animals! We just monkey around at the awesome water area and playground. Indy has one of a very few ring tailed lemur breeding programs, so it's great to see all the adorable babies in the spring. The zoo continually works on new exhibits and updating it's spaces so that the animals have the most natural habitats possible. It's a small but great zoo. And having the opportunity to show your child amazing creatures and teach them an appreciation for this world is priceless! read more

When we told people we were going to the Indianapolis Zoo on a cold snowy day, they thought we were nuts. But that is another matter. We paid $8.50 each plus $5 for parking and I think when we got to the zoo, we were the ONLY guests there! A lot of exhibits were closed but that was fine. We got a behind the scenes dolphin tour and the trainers let us pet them and feed them fish and give a few signals to them. We chatted for a long time with the reptile keeper - heaven for us as Lizards Lovers. Everyone we met was so nice. The exhibits were excellent. Go visit the Indianapolis Zoo even in inclement weather. read more

We recently attended Zoo Boo and I had forgotten how much I like our Indianapolis Zoo. This was our first time at Zoo Boo and while our little one is still too young to really participate, it seemed as if everything was organized and there were plenty of things for all ages to take part in. I love how you can purchase your tickets ahead of time and see what the expected visitor attendance will be that day. Parking is cheap and there is an abundance of parking spots. You can bring your own strollers or they have some for rent. I believe you can also bring in reusable water bottles. We also brought in snacks for our little guy but there are also plenty of food and drink options throughout the zoo. The zoo has a nice flow about it. A few favorites are the meerkats in the Deserts, the giraffes, elephants, lions and cheetahs in the Plains, and the tigers in the Forests. We haven't gone to the dolphin show in a while. It's not what I remember from when I was a kid. But the underwater observation area is really cool! I guess now that we have a kid we will be there every summer! read more

If you are under the impression that square footage is somehow directly proportionate to the quality of the zoo, think again. A visit to this zoo will change your mind! This is not a large zoo by any means. It is designed very well to give animals plenty of living space and gives visitors plenty of space to roam. It packs quite a bit of punch per square foot! The grounds were immaculate, very well tended and in very good shape. It is a perfect spot to spend a good chunk of a day while visiting Indy. read more

I'm an animal lover. I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to explore the ins and outs of this particular zoo but with what I saw, I was impressed. What excited me the most is their polar bear exhibit. I'm not sure it this polar bear was male or female but let's give it a name for consistency...how about Cory. Nice and androgynous. Cory was cute and just seemed so happy. I hate it when I go to zoos and the animals appear miserable. Cory was swimming up and around the tank, using its back legs to propel from rock to rock and from side to side...really giving us onlookers a great show. By the way, did you know that polar bears are left-handed? The zoo also has a new shark exhibit that had just opened. It's one of the only (if not *the* only) touch and feel shark tanks. Yes ladies and gentleman, I have actually touched the fin of a shark! Very cool. I wish I had more time to explore the zoo but such is life and back to work and more meetings...definitely check out this place upon a visit to Indianapolis. It is the light at the end of a tunnel for a very dismal, Midwestern city. read more

I adore zoos and aquariums in general so I knew I had to check out the Indianapolis Zoo at least once during my time here in Indy. While I've been told the zoo's not that great, I was actually pleasantly surprised with my visit. Sure, it's not the greatest zoo that I've been to but there are still some good things about it. I came during the winter so around half of the exhibits were empty. There was also only 1 café open with very limited food choices. You would think that if it's the only place open, they would provide a lot more variety. On the bright side, I didn't have to deal with crowds or lots of uncontrolled children. My Favorites// - I absolutely LOVED the Shark Touch Pool! Sharks are probably my second favorite undomesticated creature in the world so I was extremely excited. Did I mention that you get to touch them?!?! One item on my bucket list that I can partially check off. Yes, they are super tiny dog sharks but sharks nonetheless. It was kind of gross that they don't have an actual sink for you to wash your hands though. They have multiple hand dryers and then you have to walk a little bit further down to get hand sanitizer. There isn't an actual bathroom until you're near the exit doors of the building. Even my boyfriend thought that was unsanitary (and I'm the germaphobe in our relationship). - The new Orangutan Center is simply gorgeous. The main area is a 2 story enclosed space with interactive learning areas. They have employees talking about the zoo's orangutans as well as orangutans in general. They were pretty active during the afternoon when we saw them. There are also 2 small areas on each side of the building at the end of the walkways that had an orangutan in each. However, they looked more bored/sad than the ones in the main exhibit. - Being able to see the tiger really close up because the area is enclosed by glass (?) panels. - Bears were oddly super active during our visit, although that was just luck on our part. At first they were playing and then they started partaking in some relatively tame fighting. Some frequent visitors commented on how this never happens because the bears are usually just sleeping or laying around. Some of my not so favorite things// - pretty much only 1 animal of each species - Size: Sure I've been to a zoo smaller than this but I would have felt slightly ripped off if I paid $20. - Christmas At The Zoo: I don't know, maybe I was just expecting too much. I think it's a great thing for little kids but as an adult, it wasn't all that exciting. Another Yelper commented on paying extra for the dolphin show but it was included with our admission. Their website even specifically states that it's included so I don't know if that's changed recently or if they were just super packed that day. Zoo Parking is another $6, which really is not bad. But then again, parking in downtown Indy is pretty cheap in general. As for the zoo layout... I'm on the fence about it. It's not the most intuitive to me, especially since there aren't that many signs around. But the zoo is also so small that it you can't get lost in it anyways. Tips// - Check their website for prices (go to Plan Your Visit Buy tickets) before planning your trip. They use dynamic pricing so you can choose the cheapest day that works with your schedule. They show prices almost a year in advance based on projected attendance. Their website states "Advanced tickets always cost less. Tickets prices will be higher at the gate". However, when we went, the price was exactly the same. - If you're an IUPUI student, the Jag Tag office sells tickets for a flat rate of $18 if you purchase them in advance. My tickets were only $10.50 so you definitely should check their website first. Overall, I would say give the Indianapolis Zoo a chance. If you can be flexible with the date, it can be a relatively cheap family outing or date activity. read more

Indianapolis Zoo - The lone tiger - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Indianapolis Zoo is extremely unethical in the way that they charge their customers. I have never had the price raised on me AFTER I had already paid, except for here. That's right, if you pay X to purchase your ticket on line, they can at their discretion raise their price whatever amount they feel like when you show up to pick up your ticket. It wasn't even a big amount, but the principle of the thing ruined my whole day. Seriously, how can it even be legal to retroactively change the price on a good or service after money has changed hands? I wouldn't spit on this place if it were on fire. As for the rest, the zoo was very "meh". Concessions are way overpriced and the burger immediately gave my friend serious stomach upset. There are only a few attractions, and many of the animals listed on the boards for each enclosure were not present. Maybe they rotate them in and out? It wasn't clear. The little train ride they have around the park is a good way to rest your feet for 10 minutes, and at 3 dollars a ticket is fairly priced. Just make sure you sit towards the back, because you can't hear anything and will get a lung full of exhaust if you are near the front. read more

Okay, here's the deal. The indianapolis zoo is great. And the majority of the negative reviews are bs. But first I'll talk about why I love the zoo. When you first walk in, you see the sea lions (and seals) basking on the rocks. You can keep going to the Oceans indoor exhibit, which is a good place to go if it's a hot day out. Now, I'll admit that I preferred the old tank with sharks and big fish, but the pool with the sharks that you can touch is a good substitute. There's also the aquarium with a concave sphere as a window into the tank - pro tip, if you have a little kid with you, pick them up and put them up on the ledge next to it. When they reach out the touch the glass, they'll get a little surprise when it seems like they're reaching into the tank. Still one of my favorite memories of the zoo from when I was younger and most of the people I've talked to agree. Also in the Oceans is an exhibit for the penguins that goes under the glass on the floor so you can see them swimming underneath you. The dolphin show isn't something to write home about, but the underwater dome is absolutely as awesome as it sounds. The recent change to the tiger exhibit makes them easier to see and it's fun to watch all the little kids go right up to the glass. The deserts is one of the most interesting and educational parts of the zoo. The meerkats are adorable and you can see them digging underground. It's an open area inside, so you see birds flying around while the lizards and tortoises just kind of hang out like they tend to do. The roller coaster is pretty tame but I've seen at least 20 'first roller coaster' rides happen on that coaster to my friends and siblings. The Plains has a few good exhibits - the lions tend to be pretty active considering they sleep for the majority of the day even in the wild, and when they decide to walk around and check out the crowd you get really close to them. The elephant enclosure is pretty nice and you get a great view of the entire thing. Honestly, most people complained about the lack of excitement from the animals, and I gotta say, if you don't come into a zoo knowing that you're looking at living creatures who won't necessarily feel inclined to entertain you, then you really shouldn't be going to the zoo in the first place. The zoo only takes an hour to go through if you're making a considerable effort to glance at each animal and leave. Maybe try learning something while you're there? The Indianapolis Zoo is a great place to make memories with your kids. I don't know what some reviewers were looking for, but I've been consistently satisfied with my visits to the zoo. read more

Indianapolis Zoo - map - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I have always loved the zoo, but haven't been in ages. When the opportunity came up for free tickets from work, I jumped at the chance to relive my childhood memories there with my nieces. Not to mention I had been reading all about the new Orangutan center and was completely stoked to see it. Well, maybe my expectations were too high or maybe it's not what it used to be. Either way we had a nice time but my mind was definitely not blown. For some reason everything seemed meh to me. I held out hope for the Orangutan center, and that was a bit of a disappointment as well. The building is definitely a piece of art... I'll give 'em that. BUT I was a little saddened by the fact that it felt very sterile. There wasn't much (if any) natural greenery inside the area where the orangutans call home. While I'm not an animal expert by any means I found it odd that they didn't have any trees or greenery to swing in. Yes there were ropes and platforms, but it just felt manufactured. So overall the zoo gets 4 stars because it was good, and I'm still holding on to my childhood image of the zoo. read more

Perhaps I'm a bit of a zoo snob, but I have to say I was quite disappointed with my first Indianapolis Zoo experience. Over the past year, I've visited the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, the Denver Zoo, and the Fort Wayne Zoo. The Indy Zoo ranks at the bottom of the list, and by quite a margin. To start, the zoo is not cheap. We had a coupon and even with the discount, for two adults the zoo was over $30. Now I know they're a nonprofit and it's a good cause, but the value just wasn't there. The zoo is poorly laid out and while they do hand out maps, there are no signs throughout the entire zoo. Space is poorly utilized between exhibits and to be honest, there just aren't that many animals! Once you do find the animals, there is surprisingly little information about each. For example, if you go to see the bear, it doesn't talk about the specific species, it's just "bear." It's fairly frustrating to walk around and hear children consistently call animals by the wrong name ("Look at the orangutan!" when it's actually a gibbon), but this is more the fault of the zoo than the kids. If you're looking for a good zoo, this is not the place. If you're down to make a drive, the Fort Wayne Zoo is a much better option! read more

Its a very good zoo. I wish that the membership came with free tickets. You need tickets to feed the birds, ride rides, and other things that tempt children especially. If they are not free at least offer something like 10 tickets per month. These tickets are like 2.40 a piece. Thats the price for a shot of bird food or a 3 minute ride on the carousel. The zoo is a great place to visit. See the dolphin show, the orangutans, tigers, and much more. I suggest spending much time watching the animals that are active. read more

Tickets are a bit pricy. Buy on line save a buck or two. Vey clean. We did not eat or purchase anything at the zoo but a bottle of water $2.99. Makes for a nice time walking around during the school year...ie very few kids getting in your way. Kinda disappointed in the butterfly house. Not very many butterfly's flying today. We were at a butterfly house in Cincinnati about a month ago that was phenomenal. Gardens are well kept. Love the Amazon Lilly's in the ponds. Nice day, go when less kids. read more

My first visit to the Indianapolis Zoo left me pleasantly surprised. Although I am not a fan of caging animals (unless we are speaking of puppies who need potty trained), I am a fan of conservation and realize the necessity of good programs worldwide. That said, Indianapolis is definitely pulling it's weight which is great. Attractions: What I didn't expect was the amount of attractions geared towards children that weren't necessarily animal/zoo program related such as the "water park", 4D ride, Family Roller Coaster, and Pony Rides. The playground near the cafe and carousel were to be expected. That said, the young one really liked the attractions but us adults were left scratching our heads. The train ride was another expected treat but this one in particular was short with no point. We did hear a bit about the programs the zoo supports but it left me with only superficial information. With so much going on I think the zoo could focus their resources more on what they do by educating families (especially the young minds) about the importance of conservation, breeding programs, endangered animal program, etc. (Read: Be more like the San Diego program.) Animals: There are not many exhibits but the animals there seem to have decent space (not all but most). I am one who would rather see a small amount of animals in great environments than many packed into inappropriate exhibits. Riding a pony and petting an elephant seem wrong but you can do either. Food: There are not many food options and the few "cafes" were packed with cafeteria style food. More options here would have been appreciated greatly. Cost was decent for a meal although if you wanted to get a snack then the price seems a bit steep. Overall, the ticket prices are average and part of what funds the zoo so even if they weren't I do expect to pay money there. The parking was plentiful and the layout of the space made sense. I would go back, definitely A-OK. read more

The Indianapolis Zoo was the perfect way to spend my afternoon in Indy. For a college student, the ticket prices are always an issue but the Indianapolis zoo's prices were very fair. The "Flights Of Fancy" exhibit was especially a lovely experience. The sweet birds flying and chirping around us were enchanting to watch. One could feed the birds right there and then. The flamingos were squawking around, penguins were waddling and dolphins were swimming away with a smiling expression. From the lions striding near the glass to goofy meerkats standing funnily, I loved every bit of it. read more

What a disappointment for two young adults at $30.50 + $6 for parking on a weekend afternoon. The zoo has really gone downhill. Most of the cool animals are/were gone. We tried to get tickets to the dolphin show, but they were all gone a good three hours before the 4:30 show. It was kind of irritating. So we decided to got to the "Plains" to see some of the safari animals before they were gone. Too late, we were only able to see giraffes, white rhinos, and elephants...so no lions, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles, or ostriches. The "Deserts Biome" was remained relatively the same over the last few years, with the addition of some pretty cool meerkats. "Oceans" was the most disappointing experience by far. This used to be my absolute favorite place in the zoo for almost 20 years before the Indianapolis Zoo screwed it up. It is SO LAME now. I miss the loud, rushing waterwall as you enter to see a tank of massive sharks that has now been replaced by stingrays. All the moray eels and fish have been condensed to one little wall. It looked more like an in-home aquarium. There is another tank of moon jellyfish that aren't that fascinating as compared to other aquariums. There are also a few seahorse tanks (with a lack of seahorses in them.) What happened to the ginormous lobster and octopus? It's also a shame that they got rid of the Amazon/Jungle exhibit that used to house large snakes, parrots, and piranhas. Instead there is a shark touch pool. Yes, it's neat, but why did they have to get rid of everything else? The new Tiger Exhibit as well as the display of bats are pretty cool, especially for young children. Also, the old petting zoo/farm animals is now completely under construction. The new exhibit won't open until 2012. So unless, the Indianapolis Zoo comes up with something really neat or doesn't charge so excessively, I won't be returning for a number of years. I think it's best to drive several hours to a different zoo and have a better experience. read more

3.5 stars. We found the Indianapolis zoo to be nice mid size zoo that offered a fun day during our trip to Indy. For the 3 of us (2 adults, 1 child) the price of $50 seemed pretty reasonable as it also included the dolphin show. But there's still parking ($6) and tickets inside if you want to ride any rides or feed any animals (10 for $25) Well, taking care of zoos isn't cheap so expect to pay a bit, even for the mid size zoos. (PS, the website shows some days are cheaper than others--like when you are buying MLB tickets--but you only get that price by buying online). But it was a nice outing and we were able to see the usual suspects: polar bear, brown bears, lions, tigers, orangutans, giraffes, elephants. Some pleasant surprises my son's favorite--red pandas and we got to see some of the youngsters the animals had. A new born orangutan and the giraffe and lions that were less than a year old--awww cute! And the dolphin show was entertaining, but I wish they would talk more about the zoology of dolphins than just have them jump and splash. Because the space is smaller, the viewing areas are smaller and in some exhibits you just have to wait your turn to get glimpses of the animals in some exhibits. Some of our favorite exhibits: the underwater dome for dolphins, the plains area to view the giraffes and the reptile house with the sssssssnakes. The bird exhibits were fun. I opted out of going in and feeding them (because you know, that movie "The Birds" ) but my son and husband had fun feeding them. The train is a waste of time, as of right now you only see the back of the zoo--buildings, storehouses, etc. There is some kind of commentary, but I could hardly hear over the conversations other people were having. The roller coaster is small but a fine ride to introduce kids to coasters. The sky tram was closed but since it's a small park, it doesn't go very far, just around a small section of the zoo from overhead. Oh and the icee station lets you mix flavors! YAY! read more

Anything I write would be totally biased. I volunteer at the zoo as a naturalist. I love it! Ask me anything if you need help planning a visit or are curious about the orangutan exhibit in particular. read more

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I honestly dislike zoo's. I feel like the animals are sad to not be in their habitat. But my children enjoyed the experience. They became sad when we visited the lions & monkeys. I must say, the bathrooms were pretty cleaned. Kudos to the janitors. read more

Indianapolis Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

A very pleasant surprise. I've lived my entire 24 years in Cincinnati and have enjoyed many visits (and seasonal employment) to the Cincinnati Zoo. I've also visited the Columbus Zoo and Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. I did not expect much from the Indianapolis Zoo, the reputation in Cincinnati for it is not great. That all being said, I enjoyed my day there quite a bit! The animal habitats are HUGE and to anyone saying they aren't, Im curious as to where you've seen bigger. I think the giraffe habitat here is atleast twice the size of Cincinnati's giraffe ridge. The snake habitats were tiny, but they seem to be that way everywhere. The quantity of animals here is far behind Cincinnati, but the quality makes up for that. Seeing the four reticulated giraffes together was quite a sight to behold as they feasted on nearby trees and shrubbery. 2The zoo is beautifully laid out with large walkways with ample room. I will echo another review. I hate strollers and wish the large double ones were banned from the zoo. This is a very kid friendly zoo, so be prepared for some mayhem. I docked one star for food, which is both lacking in selection and taste but is also very expensive. Perhaps I was just spoiled by a recent trip to Disney. I also did not enjoy the train. The ride shows very little garden or animals, though the price is not bad. read more

It satisfied my live-animals-in-closure desire adequately. That's about it. Highlights: - Touching the dog sharks, remember, two fingers only. - Discovery show was rather lame but mildly entertaining. - Dolphin show was somewhat engaging but I expected more. - Animal petting area allowed you to touch ponies, cows, llamas and goats. Do not bother to go if you are visiting IND. There are better places to go...unless you are travelling with kids. Tip-bits: $5 Parking Located right beside the White River Gardens 10% discount for AAA members read more

The Mommas nest for nursing Mommas is so wonderful! Thanks Riley Hospital for Children!!! It's calm and pretty quiet with the birds chirping. 6 or so changing tables, 3 nursing private rooms with rockers, and a small kids table to entertain toddlers if need be. And there's painting all around from the zoo animals which I think is pretty neat. But seriously, our zoo is pretty bomb right now with all the zoo babies! Go early to get a ticket for one of the daily dolphin shows...you won't be disappointed. Go during the week when it's less crowded to really enjoy all the exhibits. Nice weekends are always crowded and easier to park in the white river lot across from victory field. You can feed the birds and giraffes for a small fee not included in admission. Like $1-$5 I think. I still don't trust the bucket (zip-line like) ride after its gotten suck a couple times last summer, but it hasn't been going the last 2 times we went either. I still need to take the train around the plains, too! Parking is $6 for a carload, or its free if you have a membership! Membership is totally worth it if you plan to come more than twice a year. Plus, Christmas at the zoo isn't just for the kids! It's like an animal light up show when you walk thru...so cool. read more

I've been to this zoo many, many times but I'm basing my review on the last two times I went which were during COVID. Top notch experiences! They are doing a really good job of limiting the amount of people who can enter each time frame. As less people are venturing out, we got a parking spot at the very front. Our goal was to get there early (9am) to be home for nap time, but with much less people there, we saw everything a lot faster than expected. Our timing was also perfect as it matched up with a lot of feeding times. my 2 year old always had front row viewing and didn't have to worry about older kids blocking his view. Dolphin show also is socially distanced and the seats are marked with where you can sit. No exhibit was overcrowded and was overall a less exhausting experience than going to a zoo normally is. You're outside for most of it (don't have to go inside for anything if you don't want to) and the sidewalks are wide enough to keep your distance from others. I felt it was a very safe activity to get out of the house. Highly recommend (during COVID or not)! read more

Last time I checked the Cincinnati Zoo was one of the best in the nation, 2nd to the San Diego Zoo, don't quote me on that, but I think that's the way I recall it. So, I grew up nearby and my parents we're even members at the zoo there for a number of years. So going into the experience at the Indy version at White River State Park, I held my expectations exceedingly low because of my snobbery on the issue. I do feel I should also tell you that the concept of a zoo just is a hot button issue with me. I'm not an animal rights freak, and I certainly won't be bombing any research facilities to break out the rhesus monkeys they're using for research, but at the same time, the whole zoo thing is a bummer to me. Mostly because I think it's wrong to cage up a bunch of otherwise happy animals for the sake of the amusement of the general public. Now, when the purpose of their captivity is beneficial to the research of their species and the perpetuation of an otherwise endangered or protected species, then I'm totally ok with it. As for simply throwing some penguins on a fake ice flow so 3rd graders can throw shit at them, I'm not in. So that being said, here is my take on the Indy Zoo. It was actually pretty good. For a small time privately funded zoo they have some cool stuff going on. I particularly like the exhibit where you can feed the birds that nectar stuff, interacting with real critters is fun and I think everyone should get to play with some funky birds or feed a monkey before they die. The aquarium exhibit (another thing Cincy does very well) was kind of lack luster and I was very underwhelmed by it, though the pet the shark thing is really a cool idea. We ultimately went because the misses is a Koala lover, they are her favorite animal, so we wanted to check out the duo while they were in town. We got right in to see them and they were awake and up and about and just as adorable as we expected and we were very happy with the way it all went down. Though I understand they're mean little bastards. The desert thing was cool and I liked it a lot, other than that nothing else really stands out, I went in with low expectations and came out blown away, so I guess that makes it all good. So donate to the research programs at the zoo and so on, I understand that Zoobilation party is pretty amazing. read more

It's a great zoo. We've had a few to compare it to so I'm not just saying that b/c I live here. For the summer of '13, there is a LOT of construction going on (this for you out of town visitors who aren't members). I don't think they tell you this when you are purchasing tickets and the construction is VERY distracting. I am EXCITED about it though b/c we are getting an orangutan exhibit that will be a permanent attraction. The photos of what it is going to look like is extremely cool. We are getting 7 orangutans and they will be here by May of '14. I don't know why but I think that is super cool. Also very cool features - the desert snake exhibit, the shark petting, the baby elephant (OH EM GEE - so cute!), the sleeping cheetah (those cats sleep constantly), the bird sanctuary (if you like birds) and the butterfly exhibit which is very relaxing and different than what I expected. I have friend who go to the zoo all the time and definitely get their money's worth. I personally don't think you need a membership but expect to drop a MINIMUM of $60 for a family of four to enter, get a drink and ride the carousel. They have MANY attractions that make your kids want to stop and buy and buy and buy. Overall I enjoy the zoo. It makes my kids happy to see all the animals and talk about the different creatures. I find it AWESOME that in 2008 I was avoiding kid places like the plague and today I am yelping only kid-friendly events in town. Oh my, how even my yelp-life has changed. read more

I LOVE the zoo. They have a great aray of animals. Tiger exhibit and the bats were my favorite. If you live in indy I would recommend a membership for.$90 for two. It is $15 a person per visit. Do the math :) the zoo is accessible for bikers so that was key! read more

Workers are always pleasant and kind. Love the new additions such as the orangutans. This zoo is really coming along... all the time. Great exhibits and wonderful variety of animals. Fun rides of the carousel, skyline, and train! (We didn't do the coaster.) Probably seems a bit pricey to those purchasing one time tickets, but if you are local and buy an annual pass, WELL worth the price! Especially when you can pop in ANY time and all the time! read more

I've never been a big zoo guy. Walking around in the heat, looking at animals in cages sit around and pant in the heat is just not my idea of a good time. Knowing this, I tend to judge zoos primary on their indoor exhibits. My experience is quite old at the time of this reporting, and I have no desire to brave the heat to look at two reportedly adorable koala bears, so how much of this is still valid is up in the air. Water-born and nocturnal creatures are my specialty. This zoo did not fail to disappoint. The dolphin show itself was pretty awesome. Sure, these particular dolphins were no more agile than any other group of trained dolphins, but everyone should see a dolphin show every other year or so to stay reminded about how cool they really are. The fish petting zoo was far less awesome. Fish are slimy and dirty and live in cold water; I don't want to touch them. The lizards, bugs and sleeping animals exhibit was the typical experience with these animals. Which is to say, stare into the empty cages and pretend that you can see what's supposed to be inside them. It's honestly enjoyable, if you're in the right mood and have good night vision. Outside of the animals, there's not a lot to do, though plenty of places to spend your money. I recommend eating beforehand so that you won't need to get more than a snack here. read more