Washington Park Zoo

Great little zoo! Really affordable, nice exhibits. The kids loved the underwater tube in the otter area. The aviary was by far their favorite hands on exhibit. So cool!

a great small zoo for young kids where you can get up close to the animals. The zoo does not have the variety of animals or vast grounds LP or Brookfield has, but this makes in manageable for young families! my family is always glad we visited!!!

We had a great time at the zoo yesterday! Small zoo, but perfect size for little ones as it only takes a few hours to walk the entire zoo & see all of the animals. I love that the smaller facility gives you a much closer look at the animals than the bigger zoo’s do. Most of the animals were very active too, which made the trip that much more exciting.
There is a wide range of animals from tigers to bears to otters to farm animals. Our favorite animal was a little monkey who came right up to the glass to interact with us. The farm area is also cute & you can purchase goat food to have them eat right out of your hands. You can also purchase feed sticks for the Aviary exhibit. Nice interactive options.
The cost is inexpensive at $ 7 for adults & $ 6 for kids. They also have a little train ride for an additional $ 2/​ride. My 5 year old loved it! Concessions were pretty inexpensive as well or you can pack a picnic & enjoy it at the beach across the road.
Staff was all very nice & the zoo was pretty clean. Some construction going on in one of the main exhibits, but it didn’t detract from the experience.

The last time we were here my son was only 2, and I remembered liking this small zoo. Yesterday’s visit went the same way. On both trips we started with the Australian Aviary. This is an interactive enclosure where you can buy a stick with birdseed on it and watch as the parakeets swoop down and perch on the stick to eat, or better yet. your arms or shoulders. This is one of the best animal displays at this zoo, but certainly not the only one.
The first tier offers orange and white tigers, both of which are completely impressive. The pair of white tigers have been active both times we’ve been here. pacing, roaring and pouncing. Yesterday the female saw a lady walking by that she lunged from the backside of the enclosure all the way up to the outer bars to ‘try and get at’. The sheer size of these mates is impressive. They used to have wallaby’s with the emu’s but they were vacant on our visit. Not sure if they were off display permanently or not.
Other animals that we enjoyed here included their pair of brown bears that came up to the glass to do ‘bear hugs’ several times, their cougar, bobcat, three otters and lemurs. The otter enclosure offers the kiddo’s a unique view of the animals. a tube that they crawl in so that they can view them from under water.
A sign said that a new wolf habitat was coming soon where the zebra’s used to be housed. We’ll have to get back to see that. We also enjoyed the reptile house, eagles and other animals here. Washington has a great assortment of world animals.
A couple of non-​animal related things that we enjoy about this zoo include the tower that you can climb, and the leveled areas that you walk up into. Both give you second looks at the animals, the zoo and the extended area.
For $ 7 you can’t beat this zoo. It’s one of our favorite smaller zoo’s and we’ve been to many.
Enjoy!

Asking some long-​time area residents, Michigan City’s zoo didn’t have the most sterling reputation. Many people we talked to described dingy facilities, surly staff, and anemic animals. However, we decided to give it a shot and we are glad that we did!
We have two small kids, and, honestly, the thought of dropping $ 100+ for a day at a crowded big city zoo is not exactly appealing. Washington Park Zoo was the perfect alternative for us. We were able to leisurely view the entire thing in about 2 hours and leave time for a pleasant picnic lunch in the park. The exhibits weren’t necessarily exotic, but when you’re dealing with a 2 year old, all they really want to see are monkeys anyway. Everything was clean and well maintained, and all the staff we interacted with were friendly and helpful.
When we visited, there were several exhibits that were under renovation, which was disappointing. But, it’s nice to see that the administration is being proactive in improving the quality of the attraction. We got the impression that the zoo has come a long way in the past few years. It’s nice to see that there’s a decent family-​friendly activity in our area.

WOW! AMAZING ZOO! I’ve been to some great Zoos, but this one is really something special! You can really see — and even interact with — the animals — they all seem HAPPY AND ACTIVE! You can have some amazing close encounters.
The best by far is the gorgeous River Otter exhibit, where kids (and some daring adults!) can crawl through an acrylic tube UNDER WATER and the otters eagerly swim under, over and around the tube, interacting with you! Just so fun!!! Absolutely perfect for a toddler. We cannot wait to come back!!!
Besides the amazing animals, the grounds are gorgeous, clean and well kept!
I think my one piece of advice would be for them to provide more signage/​information to make the experience more educational.
They should put out a box for collecting donations — I would have donated!
Love this Zoo!

the zoo has come along way since last year. it was clean, staff was friendly and yes there was a lot of construction, but it was wonderful to see the improvements being done. shame on the reviews that give the park bad reviews for the repairs. yes it is a small zoo, but it is perfect for small families. lots of charm and historical perks. I applaud the staff for all their hard work, it has not gone unnoticed by those of us who visit there routinely throughout the year.

I realized it was a small town zoo before I entered, so I had a very open mind and I was actually quite optimistic since it looks like a nice place from the outside. I also noted the positive reviews. In retrospect, those positive reviews must be from people who have not experienced much in life or don’t have high standards. For credibility, I have traveled around the world and been to zoos everywhere.
After entering this one, I was quite disappointed. Of course the zoo is extremely small, but what is disturbing is that at least 50% of the exhibits are closed or under construction. As a result, it is not worth the entrance fee. That alone is completely ridiculous and visitors should have been advised of such before paying the fee. You can see this entire zoo in less than 30 minutes.
I have always enjoyed zoos, but the animals there make you reflect on the whole ridiculous and cruel concept of caging wild animals for human viewing pleasure. For example, there were two enormous eagles in an extremely small enclosure. These majestic animals soar a thousand feet in the sky but instead are forever condemned to a miserable existence in this zoo. Extremely sad. Who are we to do this to these animals?
They had 1 small monkey-​like creature, but I can’t tell you what it was because it was behind reflective/​tinted (and dirty) glass! You could not see in! Why — what were they thinking?! People were just walking by, didn’t even know this animal was there. I only caught it by mistake because I was staring (read: daydreaming because I was bored) & I saw something move behind the glass. Again, most exhibits were empty so this one was being naturally ignored by the passerbys. Can you imagine if this animal could comprehend the concept that it is being imprisoned for our viewing ‘pleasure’, yet no one could see in? Talk about adding insult to injury. It makes me sick to think about.
In summary, a very sad place for the animals, not worth the money, everything ‘under construction’, and not upkept very well. A perfect example that not every city should have it’s own zoo.

I love animals so I wanted to check out the zoo in this area. The zoo is on the smaller side but has a nice mix of animals, it looks like it will be expanding in the next couple months as well. I recommend the monkey house, they were adorable and I could have sat and watched for hours! The prices were not bad at all $ 7 each for adults, the gift shop had a lot of cute things for kids. I would recommend it for people who love animals and or have kids!

Really weird. I used to come here as a kid and just recently visited. The only reason they got 2 stars was because the tower is still open. Cages did not seem up kept and the park was pretty dirty.

Very small zoo. Many areas were closed off. Over grown grass and weeds throughout. Not impressed. My son did enjoy feeding the birds though.

Just visited the zoo yesterday. Very sad state for animals. Is it even legal to hold three bald eagles in captivity? Absolutely no way they can fly. So incredibly sad. Enclosures are in a state of flux. Would love to see what the planned changes are but right now there were a lot of closed exhibits and animals in very small spaces.
Although we loved the tigers and bears from a selfish human prospective, they are very limited in space.
This small zoo could afford to take some lessons from another small area zoo — Potawatomie — in South Bend.

Cute little zoo! Love the history to it. Great for the little ones :)

Very disappointing. The cages are small and very unnatural environments for animals. The bears pacing and circling in a stone enclosure, sand flooring for the mini horses and three bald eagles crammed in a small enclosure not even tall enough for them to fly with dead rats on the floor for them to eat along with the flies swarming. Tigers were in a small cage with nothing to climb on, and limited things for them to do but pace the chain link fence. I am surprised this so called zoo is still in business.

What a great little zoo!
We’re from the Chicagoland area, and have been to Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoo many times. We’ve also visited zoos in several other cities. Other than San Diego (duh), this will probably be the most memorable. You get to be up close to the animals and they all look well cared for. I fell in love with a goat! All the employees were nice and they have a really cool tower, too!
This isn’t the kind of zoo you’d go to over and over, but it’s inexpensive (in my experience), and definitely worth checking out.
Pluses: small, so you can see the whole thing, awesome animals and employees, inexpensive
Minuses: not enough bathrooms, you can’t smoke anywhere in the zoo (I understand)

Didn’t know what to expect from a small neighborhood zoo but wow! You can get so close to the animals and hear them make noises. It was great! We will go there the next time. All ages will enjoy

VERY cool Zoo. I’m from California, and this little Zoo was a lot better than some of the bigger zoos near where I live. Hate to say that. but it’s true. O yeah, it’s only $ 5.50 for adults! Nuff said.
Place isn’t the biggest or fanciest but it holds it own. You can tour the entire zoo in about 2 hours. Right across the street there’s a small water park which was way cool too $ 6.00 for that, it was much needed after our scorching, red-​hot, 106 degree trip to the zoo that day. My wife and I along with our daughter walked away from our trip to this zoo very, very, very happy.

I have been to the Washington Park Zoo several times over the past couple of years and just love it! My mom, sister, and I drove up earlier this week to enjoy a day at the beach. The $ 6 entry fee throws me off a bit, but it’s super easy to find parking and it’s always very clean so it’s really a small price to pay for an afternoon of fun. While small, the zoo is a nice side attraction (though we did not visit the zoo during this visit) and features several exhibits that will keep you and the family busy for an hour or two. A great park/​zoo/​beach that is worth my drive from Noblesville!

Even though I’m from Michigan City, I still try to go to the zoo at least once a year. I took my boyfriend last Saturday and it was one of the best visits I’ve had. We must have gone at a good time (2-​ish), because the animals were really active. The tigers were all running around, pouncing on each other, and climbing up the trees in their enclosure. They were probably the highlight of the trip.
I’m really glad the WP Zoo has made some upgrades. A couple years ago it was on the verge of falling apart and, from what I understood, going bankrupt. They have revitalized everything with the additions they have made (the sea otters, revamped monkey house, bird walk through habitat upgrades) and really turned the zoo around.
I love the fact that our zoo was a WPA project. The history in the winding stone staircases fascinates me.
I’m glad the tower got redone because the view from the top, especially on a clear day, is breath taking.
Finally, can you beat the price? $ 4.50 for an MC resident and $ 5.50 if you’re not… plus children and senior discounts. While the zoo isn’t big, I’ve always thought they’ve done a great job presenting quality over quantity.

Just like I remember it from my childhood, pretty much. This is an old fashioned zoo, in a good way. The collections are mostly only mildly exotic, with the majority of the animals being ones an interested hobbiest could keep, which is kind of a good thing; the animals seem well cared for.
The grounds are WAY cooler than most zoos, with steep winding trails, hand-​made looking stairs and benches, and sharp pointy rocks jutting out of cement anywhere you shouldn’t sit, trails that lead stright up to unmarked dead ends. It has that cool old-​fashioned danger factor which is extremely charming, and a lots of shady trees. It’s not a large zoo, but the winding hillside layout maximizes the space, and makes it surprizingly fun to just wander. Wear comfortable shoes! Where Brookfield feels like a 10 mile walk over a level parking lot, this zoo is small, but with steep and twisty paths of hobbit-​steps, up and down and sometimes at crazy angles.
There are goats and other pet-​able animals in the farm area — the goat food is a huge rip off, like 3 pellets of chow for a quarter, but whatever. The other prices more than make up for it — brats for $ 1.75, candy bars for $.50 — that’s cheaper than in my neighborhood! The bathrooms are clean too, and so is the picnic area.
Peacocks and peahens roam around loose, which my daughter loved. The Monkey Island I remember so well from years ago is not covered with maques or howeler monkeys or whatever they were, but a more modest number of lovely lemurs, lounging. Wonderful!
The grizzley bears were amazingly active the day we visited, running around and capering like mad, and coming up to spy at us through the glass. Impressive! The bears are a real highlight.
The reptile house is exactly as cool as I remember too, it’s a little castle, shady and comforting after the climb to the back of the zoo (the whole thing sprawls up a steep-​ish hillside) with a nicely varied collection of snakes, frogs, and lizards.
What else? lots of birds, including a bald eagle, which is always neat, and a cool-​creepy buzzard, and people-​sound-​mimicing parrots, love that! Big turtles, cranes, zebras, one scary aligator.
The big cats are the ones that always make me feel a little sad about zoos, but the tiger looked happy enough — no enclosure I have ever seen has looked big enough for a big cat to me, but this one was at least nice, with lots of layers of cliffs and trees for interest, plenty of deep, cool shade, and a pretty gushing waterfall. I didn’t see any animals (not one!) doing that sad/​angry pacing thing on the day we visited, thankfully.
The otter enclosure is not to be missed! Otters are just so neat and playfully entertaining, and the cage has a great design. The tank is about waist high with glass above, and since you’d have to lift a little kid up to see through the glass into the top, instead of a metal frame on the bottom of the glass there is a big fake rock ledge you can just let them stand on. Perfect! But it gets better — there is a kid-​sized plexiglass tube going under the water, so kids can crawl through, see underwater, and otters being goofballs like they are they immediately swim up and sit on the tube to gawk back at the kids and check them out. So neat!
(Although it’s very awkward to crawl through that tube for a big fat decrepit adult like me, I highly recomend it. Crawl in there and roll over, hang out for a moment, forget about how stupid your legs look sticking out, and take a minute to groove on the otters. My daughter just crawled through and didn’t really look up until I laid in there on my back just gazing out through the water. Then the otter swam up and climbed on top of the tube to hang out by us, and seeing his clever looking little claws and beautiful wet fur up close looking at us — it was magical.)
Nearby is a big otter themed climber with a rock wall and a triple slide, padded below with rubber fake-​cedar chips (which are better than real ones, cleaner and without the arsenic) which could only be improved by adding a sprinkler. We were pretty hot by then.
Some of the big classic zoo animals aren’t represented, no elephants, (I miss the camels!) although some of the enclosures are being re-​worked, so who knows. Despite that though, I adore this zoo, more than the «big 2». It’s affordable and loads of fun. We did see one animal I don’t ever remember seeing before, a bintaurong, which was beautiful!!!
They might have them at other zoos, but if so I missed them somehow. Here there are not so many animals, it’s not overwhelming, but they make the same effort to include ecological and biological factoids about all the animals. I feel like you get closer to many of the animals here too. That and a lack of crowds on a May Wednesday made it extremely enjoyable.