In the June/July 2004 issue of Child Magazine, The Toledo Zoo was ranked as the 8th best zoo for kids in the US. Encompassing the area between the Anthony Wayne Trail and Broadway, the Toledo Zoo is located just 4 miles from downtown Toledo.
About the Toledo Zoo:
Balancing historic buildings with innovative exhibits, the Toledo Zoo highlights classic favorites such as the African Savanna, featuring the Hippoquarium, the first exhibit of its kind in the world; the Kingdom of the Apes and Primate Forest; and newer attractions like the Arctic Encounter, which houses three baby polar bears born in 2006, and Africa!--a natural exhibit with giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and more, living together in an open-air setting. The Toledo Zoo is the most visited attraction in Northwest Ohio, with nearly 1 million visitors each year.The Zoo's History:
The Toledo Zoo got its start by a simple donation of a single woodchuck to The City of Toledo's Park Board in 1900. From there, the zoo has expanded and changed, but has managed to maintain a historic feel with many of the WPA-era buildings still intact. The aviary, aquarium, and reptile buildings were part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and while they have been renovated over the years, they have the same feel and features as when they were first built. Another historic structure on zoo grounds in the amphitheatre, which hosts many big-name musicians during the annual Summer Concert Series.In 1982, ownership of the zoo was transferred from the City of Toledo to The Toledo Zoological Society. Since this transfer, the zoo has made many improvements, most recently with the creation of a new parking lot which leads to the entry complex, complete with gift shop and featured ramped pedestrian bridge over the Anthony Wayne Trail.Visiting the Toledo Zoo:
The Toledo Zoo is open to the public year-round, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. From May 1 through Labor Day, the zoo is open from 10am to 5pm, with shortened hours of 10am to 4pm from Labor Day through April 30. Visitors are permitted to stay on zoo grounds one hour after the gates close, though animals may be off exhibit. The zoo is now a smoke-free facility, with designated smoking areas available for visitors.Admission:
Admission to the Toledo Zoo is $10 for adults and $7 for children 2-1 and those over 60. Children under 2 and zoo members are admitted free. Group rates, for groups of 20 or more, are also offered. Those with a valid military ID are welcomed to the zoo for free, with immediate family members receiving the group rate discount. Lucas County residents get free admission to the zoo every (non-holiday) Monday between the hours of 10am and noon, with valid ID.Tickets are available online at the zoo's website at the discounted rate of $9 for adults and $6 for children and seniors.
Parking and Other Facilities:
Parking at the Toledo Zoo is available in the Anthony Wayne Trail lot for $5, where members can park for free after presenting a membership card. RVs, campers, motor coaches, or any vehicle that takes two parking spots, are charged $10 and may be asked to park at the rear of the lot.Rental facilities are available at both entrances with the following equipment available: wagons - $5, strollers - $3.50, wheelchairs - $5, motorized scooters - $20. Scooters must be reserved in advance by calling (419) 389-6561, and ID will be held during the rental of a wheelchair or scooter.
Contact Information:
The Toledo Zoo2 Hippo Way -or- 2700 Broadway
Toledo, OH 43609
(419) 385-5721
(Updated 6-02-08)
