Mention zoos to people in this area of Michigan, and most of them will probably first think of the big-city offerings in Detroit and Chicago. That’s certainly not a bad thing, and it’s pretty much a given with West Michigan perched as it is on the line between the metro areas to our east and west.
Sure, we have local options. There’s John Ball Park in Grand Rapids and the highly respected Binder Park Zoo near Battle Creek. Even Lansing weighs in with the Potter Park Zoo. A little further afield are zoos in Toledo and Indy.
But the sleeper of the bunch may well be the Fort Wayne’s Children’s Zoo, pegged by Parents’ Magazine as one of the ten best in the land. Saddled with a misleading name, Fort Wayne’s zoo may not get the attention it deserves from adult zoo fans. Because it’s definitely not just for children anymore.
Today, the zoo in nearby Fort Wayne has some 1,500 animals: Surely not everything from alligators to zebras, but a very impressive collection nonetheless. Of course, there are the obligatory concessions, the inevitable gift shop and a few rides.
The Sky Safari is an aerial tram that lets visitors soar over the zoo’s African Journey display. Fort Wayne is in good company with its Zoo Train. Most zoos have a train ride of some caliber. There are also pony rides, a carousel portraying endangered species and a river ride in “dugout canoes.”
The zoo’s season runs from April through October 11. It reopens from October 16 through the end of the month for its Great Zoo Halloween, a celebration during which the entire 35+ acres of zoo grounds are transformed by thousands of carved pumpkins and related decorations.
During its six-month season, the zoo crams a surprising number of special events into regularly scheduled hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Admission charges for adults are $12. Children (ages 2-14) are admitted for $8.00. Seniors (60 and older) pay $10. Parking is free.
The zoo first opened to the public with 18 exhibits spaced out over about five acres. The year was 1965. Within six years, the zoo was attracting nearly 300,000 visitors annually.
By the early 80s, more than 500 animals called Fort Wayne home. In 1987 the Australian Adventure opened. Next was the Indonesian Rain Forest, the first phase of which opened in 1994.
The 90s zoo expansion coincided with lots of positive public exposure. The Fort Wayne Zoo caught the attention of Cosmopolitan, the New York Times, Child magazine, Good Morning America and ZooLife television.
The zoo was soon generating more than $10 million in tourism dollars. Attendance figures hovered around 500,000 annually. Not bad for a smallish Indiana city.
Previous: The Gilmore Car Museum: How one Pierce-Arrow hit the bull’s-eye
Next: Alliance protects and defends our Great Lakes treasures.
Like what you are reading? Get our latest articles via e-mail every week!
No information will be given to outside parties. Unsubscribe
Article Comments
Leave a Reply