john ball zoo

This isn't as grand as the Detroit Zoo or Binder Park, but it's great for what they do have. Volunteers are friendly and knowledgable - they seem to like their 'jobs' and it shows. There are quite a few opportunities to actually learn something here, instead of just looking at animals. It's a great smaller zoo, just doesn't have an abundance of animal species. Great for younger kids who will be ready to go after a couple of hours.

John Ball Zoo has really grown and gotten so much better in the past 15 years. They are constantly upgrading the exhibits and adding new ones. No longer do you feel bad for the animals in tiny enclosures, now you enjoy seeing them live in a much more natural habitat. They are still working on upgrading the old attractions, but with the opening of the tiger exhibit and the playground and adventure areas up on the hill, the zoo is better than ever. The zoo is still relatively small, so it is easy to see the whole zoo in a few hours. And keep in mind, it is built on a hill, so you get your exercise in! But the zoo offers so many different interactive experiences now, we usually go for the whole day. My kids love the different "areas" of the zoo - traveling to Africa and Australia is so much fun! My kids also love the saltwater pool where they can touch the stingrays, or the bird house where the birds come and eat out of their hands. There is also a full rope course and a zip line for older children to enjoy as well. They also offer zookeeper talks at different exhibits throughout the day, and it is always interesting and informative. There is food offered for sale that is a little pricey, so we usually pack a picnic lunch. Overall, it really is a great trip for the whole family and we enjoy going several times a year.

We frequently go to the zoo with our grandchildren. The additions in the past couple of years have really enhanced the visit. The upper level and the tigers were enjoyable. Also the camel rides. Its a great place to visit. Nice staff and zoo helpers also.

Tucked up in the hillside surrounded by John Ball Park is an elegantly staged zoo. This spot on the Grand Rapids map of attractions is for everyone, young and old. Wear your walking shoes and bring a sun hat so you are comfortable. The zoo provides stopping off spots to rest, relax, and have an ice cream while enjoying the surroundings of artfully placed flowers and shrubs. There's plenty of animals to see and learn about. It's a "little slice of happiness" for all.

Enjoy the petting areas and the bears. Finally saw the tigers out, amazing how close and large they seem up close. The layout is interesting since it's quite "hilly" considering it's downtown. Food is typical, nothing special. Kids always like the bird house (finches) and feeding them. Also they enjoy the stingray exhibit when it's running.

We visited on a beautiful, warm & sunny day. Unfortunately several of the larger animals weren't out which was very disappointing. We were told they had vets visiting. It is unfortunate that they couldn't make those visits for after the park closed. What we did see was fabulous! The park employees we encountered were very friendly other than the girls in the gift shop who were too busy talking to realize they had a customer waiting to pay.

Family friendly and easy to walk. Lots of exciting exhibits in as close to nature settings as they can get for the creatures on display. You should really enjoy yourself here! They have a great website with all the information you'll need to make your visit complete. http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/info.php

What a great zoo right here in Grand Rapids. The walking was beautiful, the people very friendly, and lions, tigers and bears oh my!

Great place in a excellently maintained facility. It is great for a Sunday walk or a weekend stroll. The Animals are great and they have visiting exhibits yearly. My wife an I are members. in the summer and fall we go about every two weeks. I didn't get to see my Bald Eagle over the Grand Canyon, but I did at the John Ball Zoo.

We visited the zoo on a beautiful day in May with our very vivacious grandkids. The exhibits were simple and lacking in adventurous variety.With variety being the key word.The most entertaining exhibit was the bear as it held my grandkids attention for some time.I wouldn't recommend this zoo for a short walk in the park, as exhibits are spaced out and at times confusing to determine and find. But to conclude, I will say we had a good day and a good cardio.workout , making memories and sharing the animal kingdom , with our very vivacious grandkids.

I've taken our grandkids here twice & never been disappointed. They especailly loved the zip line and the camel ride. Take your own food, as concessions can be pricey for a large family. It's a great place to spend a great day.

Great outdoor location with a new Siberian tiger exhibitI hadn't been here since childhood decades ago but it was a lot of fun

We buy season passes and go at least 5-6 times a year. The kids love it and we love it because they do. For season tickets holders though I'd recommend that they reduce the price of the activities and concessions to half.

The John Ball Zoo has been around for decades. Unfortunately, it is very land locked. They have tried to improve it over the years, but a city of the size of Grand Rapids should be ashamed of the lackluster zoo. Toledo, OH is close to the size of Grand Rapids and I would drive hours to see that zoo over GR. The zoo employees have really tried hard to make this great, but the size and location is failing them. Several years ago, there was proposal on the ballot to get a new zoo with land donated from local grocery store giant founder, Meijer. I voted in favor for the new zoo and apparently the rest of GR was too busy to vote (or too cheap). The ballot failed and years later, we have a land locked zoo that is struggling. Way to go GR.

The zoo is well laid out and easy to get around in. There are lots of displays and activities for young children as well as adults. Food is available. The zoo is consistently adding new displays.