Touch the stingrays in the lagoon, stop by the Pelican Pier to see duck breeds from around the world, and visit the penguins in the aquarium at John Ball Zoo. The zoo showcases animals representing Africa, Asia, South America, Australia, and the United States like gorillas, tigers, lions, and emus. You'll discover a designated, interactive children's zoo that features camel rides, a ropes course, and a zipline for kids. Adults can try the Sky Trail--another ropes course. Board the funicular tram to the top of the zoo on your way in or out. Parking is free; check the website for seasonal closures before you visit. Add John Ball Zoo and other attractions to your Grand Rapids trip itinerary using our Grand Rapids online sightseeing planner.
John Ball Zoo reviews
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The zoo is well-kept and has many fun play areas for children. I recommend eating before you come. There aren't many dining options, and the couple I saw had very long lines. Overall we had a great...
The zoo is well-kept and has many fun play areas for children. I recommend eating before you come. There aren't many dining options, and the couple I saw had very long lines. Overall we had a great... more »
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Nice zoo, wide variety of animals and has a nice setup. Nice way to spend a couple hours walking around!
Nice zoo, wide variety of animals and has a nice setup. Nice way to spend a couple hours walking around! more »
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We're in the area currently for a concert and needed some time to kill before checking into our hotel, so we stumbled across this zoo. And I will say, it's really nice! Spacious enclosures for the animals, nice graphics that talk about the animals, facts about how endangered they are. The aquarium was really cool, and the penguin habitat was great. They seemed really happy. The animals appeared to be healthy and well cared for. They have a petting zoo as well, which was fun to do. Because of the time of year, only a few places to eat were open, and the one place we went to had a pretty long wait (like 20ish minutes). But the food was decent, normal zoo food. Really enjoyed going here. The price of admission wasn't insane either. Would love to come back in the summer when more animals are out.
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What an amazing zoo!!! So much to see and do. The "extras" are definitely worth it. Never been to a zoo on a forest foothill before. Worth every penny. Lots of shaded areas. Enclosures for the animals were great...lots of room for them and enrichment. We will definitely return the next time we are in the area.
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