John Ball Zoo: Ideal Time to Go + 2,000 Amazing Animals to See

A trip to the zoo can be a great way to spend an afternoon, no matter your age. Seeing the animals, learning about plants, and spending time away from the screen are just a few of the perks. 

If you live in or are traveling to Michigan, the John Ball Zoo is well worth a visit. There are over 100 acres to explore and 2,000 critters to see! Located in Grand Rapids, this zoo has something for everyone.

Let’s take a look at the ideal time to visit and look at which animals you can expect to see. 

Best Time to Visit John Ball Zoo

Fulton Street connects John Ball Park to central Grand Rapids in under five minutes. The zoo’s location makes it a convenient place to visit. You can easily stop at restaurants, run errands, and check out cool shops all in one trip! 

The zoo typically opens its doors at the end of March. It stays open through November. The John Ball Zoo’s summertime hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., although they may change during the off-season. 

There are single and group memberships offered in terms of season passes. You can buy tickets online or in person. Children younger than 2 are always admitted free, while admission for adults is between $11 and $14, and admission for children between 3 and 12 and seniors 62 or older is between $9 to $11.

Check online to see if there are possible discounts available. There are many parking places available in the zoo. Although you are unable to bring snacks or food to John Park Zoo, there are a number of places to eat there.  

Special Events at John Park Zoo

There are many events to attend at this Michigan zoo throughout the year. Locals have been buzzing about the adult-only nights where the zoo serves tasty cocktails. You can also host personal events there such as birthday parties or weddings. 

The zoo observes Star Wars Day at the beginning of May. Visitors can come in costume as their favorite character. The zoo sponsors a Party for the Planet in April, where you can learn about conservation measures being made to enhance native behaviors from zoo staff members. 

The event additionally involves a cleanup of the neighborhood. Another must-see is the Grand Rapids Lantern Display. Over 50 different Asian lantern exhibitions starting in mid-April light up the zoo.

John Ball Zoo Attractions

While we know you’re itching to find out what animals you can see here, let’s first take a quick look at the attractions available at John Ball Zoo. 

Sky Trail Ropes Course

Take up the ropes course on the Wild Way Trail if you find yourself brave enough. It has two climbing stages, over a dozen difficult challenges, and is four stories high. This attraction is open on the weekends, as long as the weather cooperates. 

Zip Line

Taking a ride on the zip line is a great way to get your adrenaline going! This four-story, 600-foot zip line, which is along the Forest Realm Trail, transports you to a separate ridge by crossing a cascading waterfall. 

If you want to get the most out of the hands-on activities, you can get package tickets that let you enjoy the zip line and the ropes course. 

Pan For Crystals! 

At John Ball Zoo Gem Company, you may search for your own unique jewels or go fossil, arrowhead, and shark tooth digging. You get to pick one of three bags, then dump sand on the surface of the screen to expose the hidden goodies! This is a favorite among young kiddos! 

Ride the Funicular 

The funicular gives zoo-goers a chance to rest their legs as the vehicle takes you around the zoo. You’ll be at the top of the zoo with a stunning view of Downtown Grand Rapids, ready to explore, as you make your way back down. For visitors using strollers, this is ideal!

The funicular can be used to travel to the main entrance as an alternative. After visiting the Zoo, visitors should board the funicular at the end of the Forest Realm Trail, close to the red pandas and the Bissell Tree House. 

Visitors can save time by using the Funicular to return to the main entrance.

Budgie Aviary 

Get up close and personal in this engaging display! John Ball’s Budgie Aviary, which is close to the waterfall and Hobby Farm, lets you stroll through a display with more than 150 multicolored Budgies, four cockatiels, and 18 white-winged parakeets. 

Even better, you can get a feeding stick so you are able to feed birds directly! Although strollers are not allowed, Budgie Aviary is handicap accessible. 

Animals at John Park Zoo

There are over 230 different species at John Park Zoo. The layout of the 100-acre outdoor adventure is separated into distinct areas to make it easy for guests to see their favorites. 

Entry Valley

Starting us off is the Entry Valley portion of the zoo. When you enter the zoo, you will first be greeted by an aquarium. This exhibit will take you to a variety of locations, including the Patagonian shore, a waterway in Michigan, and the Northwest Coast. 

It has a 40,000-gallon tank with penguins, eels, seabirds, aquatic invertebrates, sharks, and peculiar fish. Don’t worry! There are a bunch of plaques that teach you about the critters in the water! 

In the entry valley, you can see bald eagles, hippos, and beautiful black swans as well.

Africa Exhibit

Next is one of the most popular exhibits at the zoo! Africa is jam-packed with primates, animals, and birds. Here you will see camels, big cats, warthogs, and chimpanzees. Guests who are feeling adventurous might try camel riding or see the various lions in the nearby exhibit. 

One of our favorite parts of the Africa exhibit is the Meerkat and Cape Porcupine area. It’s a great opportunity to see how these animals build tunnels and burrows in the wild.  

The Americas

Next, venture to the North and South America exhibits. You can observe exotic birds such as flamingos and toucans. There are a variety of monkeys here as well. Don’t forget to stop and check out the anteaters and capybaras in the South America section. 

You’ll notice more recognizable animals in the section about North America. In this section of the John Ball Zoo, you can witness river otters, eagles, bears, and big cats like mountain lions! In the summer, you can watch as Monarch butterflies come to life and flutter around right in front of you! 

Forest Realm

The Funicular railway or walking are both options for getting to this woodland nature trail. You are then taken to the zoo’s back area, where you may see maned wolves, massive grizzly bears, majestic snowy owls, elusive tigers, and cheery pandas! 

Wild Way Trail

This temporary display is located along a woodland path that connects to Red’s Hobby Farm. On the Wild Way Trail, you can spot lemurs, monkeys, and barn owls. There are several birds like cockatoos and crows flying around here as well. 

Try to spot a camouflage tree frog and a red-footed tortoise along the Wild Way Trail! 

Hobby Farm

This engaging children’s zoo attraction concentrates on farm birds and other domesticated animals. Throughout June until September, this exhibit is often open for tours and immersive experiences.  

The Hobby Farm at John Ball Zoo has owls, cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens. This is a favorite among toddlers who are just learning about animals! 

Final Thoughts

The John Ball Zoo has plenty to satisfy everybody, whether they want to explore the entire zoo to see a magnificent array of animals or get lost in various adventures. You can visit the zoo at any age, and the experience will make you joyful and want to go again.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Igor Anfinogentov/Shutterstock.com