Reviews of Racine Zoo (Zoo)

Joyce Latz

Really a nice little zoo. Animals & grounds seem well-cared for and they seem to have new exhibits fairly often. People are always surprised when I tell them Racine has a zoo. ????

Heather Parker

Visited on

Christopher Klein

Visited on

Kali Berlik

I've been coming to the Racine Zoo for almost 40 years now, and it's still amazing. It's such a great value and some pretty great views as well. Covid has been it a bit awkward but still a blast none the less.

Benjamyn Giordano

Small zoo, but beautiful. Apparently holds elaborate events, too.

Dean Blobaum

Not sure

Kejennai Stubbs

They have all kinds of events at the zoo. Be sure to check out the Chinese lantern event running thru dec 2019.

Tania Huycke-Phillips

Price for adult entry

Marque Rogers

Used to go here on the weekends back in 1989-1991 when my family had a boat at Palmer Johnsons Marina. As small as the zoo is, it is a decent zoo.

Jeannette VanKanegan

Went for the lights...kids loved the show.... the lady taking the money tiara was absolutely a sweet heart.... the candy cane lady April my kids won't ever forget her thanks for a great experience ???? ????

Monica Nichol

Price for adult entry

Emilio Wilson

The exhibits are very cool but there's not very many of them, it is a very small zoo. Very clean very well kept, it's nice but it's very small. If we went straight through and didn't stop at the playground and eat lunch we could have done it in an hour easy with an almost 3-year-old.

Kiersten Litzau

Beautiful grounds of the zoo. There were several large animals, and many smaller ones; you can pet these. It was interesting to see warm water penguins. Some animals were in their shelters resting. I won't tell you what animals reside there and let you discover this gem as a delightful local option for kids.

Jessica

It's a nice zoo kind of small. Was upset because the giraffes were not out due to construction being done on their site but they did not disclose that on their website.

Jim Snyder

No wait

Ryan Bazan

Smaller zoo, but great for families with smaller children. We spent 2.5 hours and are ready to go back. Animals have potential for being up close. Petting zoo as well. Very clean as well!

PandacornAsh

Great place for the family. Good price, and great spots for pictures

Chris Richardson

Absolutely loved the holiday light show!

Lori Bankson

Small local zoo. Great place to introduce children to animals.

Lauren Paterson

Just visited, first time in the winter. Still fun, much less crowded and much more enjoyable. Canadian lynx felt right as home in the snow!

Aisha A. Tahir

If you take it as a large "park with animal exhibits" and a kids playground pthen 4.. or so stars. Not a full zoo. Limited animals and small habitats. .. nice for kids to run around and play freely while looking at animals... shrt train ride.. nice for adults to walk through .. the free roaming kangaroos and emu were fun to see..

Philip Hegarty

Even with half of the zoo still closed it was well worth three five dollar entrance fee to stretch our legs and see three animals available!

David Showers

Adults are $10, kids are $9--Free with Zoo membership; we went to Boo at the Zoo and it was VERY crowded but the kids got a cookie decorating kit, a small pumpkin to decorate and some other goodies, plus we got to see some animals. Overall, it was a food experiences, but if you don't like crowds, I would avoid this event.

Nichi

Went here for the CNH employee/retiree picnic. Stayed to see the animals and the gift shop. Haven't been here since I was a kid - they've improved it a lot, I'm glad to see that they're cleaning up more regularly than they did when I came as a kid. It doesn't stink anymore.

Ken Wolf

Nice, reasonably priced small zoo. Has some areas where you can experience emus and wallaroos up close. There's also a "Barnyard Safari" where little ones can feed and brush docile goats.

Amanda López

This was a great experience! Feeding birds and being so close to the kangaroos. Great for the littles!!!

Nathan Thompson

The zoo is well kept beautiful location.

Witte's World

Weekend

Amy Johnston

I have attended similar Lantern displays in Milwaukee yet even as the Racine Zoo doesn't have near the size of other area displays, somehow it felt larger and even more spectacular. Exceptionally well done. It shouldn't be missed.

Melanie Hinchey

Friends of ours hosted a baby shower here. It was a beautiful spot, with a great view of the lake. A little windy there but the pavilion is equipped with canvas walls to roll down and break the breeze. Zoo staff were very helpful and accommodating with transporting party supplies. The Zoo itself is small to mid sized, with a few exhibits but lots of open space. They have plenty of activities for kids with a playground, train ride, and active exploration area. Great spot!

Dean Brady

I love this zoo because it's small and compact yet has enough to keep you interested easy parking easy access I enjoy being up close with the animals more so than at bigger zoos and they have a variety of interactive cages such as with goats a parakeet cage you can actually walk with 90 parakeets flying around you it is just a fun time that can be seen in only a couple of hours it also has a great park for the kids to play and something new within the last year they have beer and mixed drinks which is nice if you enjoy a cocktail.

Lydia Alberti

We enjoyed Glow at the zoo very much!

Rhonda Lynch

No wait

Joseph Zanotti

Wait time

Charles Mather

I've been going here since I was born...the renovations that they've done over the last ten years are so are superb. The price is very fair, ten dollars for adults and down from there. There is a good handful to look at, play area for the kids, ton of picnic tables, you can carry in lunch...it's literally right next to the lake so the view doesn't get any better. It's large enough so even if its a busy weekend you don't have to stand on top of people; there is plenty of room for social distancing and as of the date of this post, masks were required. My kids LOVE it here, and even though zoos kind of make me sad, this one is well attended too and the animals are super cared for (it seems). Definitely worth a visit. If you have time before or after there is a nice beach south of the zoo on the shoreline.

JoWyo21

Weekday

Vanessa Bracero

This was such a fantastic deal for the price. While the zoo was on the smaller side, it offered very intimate interactions with the animals that you won't find at a larger zoo. Their reptiles were especially friendly, which I have yet to see in other public observatories, and I was also thrilled that we were able to not only get so close to the lions but also that they were so interactive. For $4 military admission, this is just such an excellent experience. To top it off, their gift shop was not outrageously priced either. We will definitely be returning.

Dan Neubauer

An enjoyable small zoo, spacious for its size. Nice landscaping and gardens. Good activities for kids. Would be nice to see more info about each particular animal--names, ages, and birthplaces of the giraffes and primates for example.

Mark P.

Enjoyed two buildings (one: included fish, reptiles, and bats) (two:. various types of monkeys, and was able to see some feeding of the monkeys). Kids loved playing on the slides, etc in the snow!! ❄️❄️❄️

Matt Clausen

Really pleasant zoo. The animals were very interactive.

ChicagoSeb

Small zoo. Some areas allow for minor interaction with the animals, such as bird feeding and petting goats, etc. My family always enjoys being there. The playground is so much fun! There are plenty of beautiful things to see there.

Bailey Batronis

Nice facility, great staff. Would like to see some support for the staff and work to fix the exhibits. Beautiful kangaroo exhibit and rhino exhibit! Great designs. The location along the lake can't be beat!

Barry Erichsen

Visited on

Selina Ducksworth

Good place to take a walk and see the animals. It's not busy on the Sunday that we came. It's a good inexpensive place to take the family. Adult $8 and Child (Until 15) $6.

Alexis Wallraf

We understand that a zoo like this needs funding, but what you don't understand is this... Your bartender decided not to show up today. Sunday before labor day. We would have spent on excess of $300 in drinks. Our kids were checked out the moment they walked in. We were in and out in one hour for your admission fee. We love your zoo. But you need more tours, and your lazy bartender needs to show up so we can let our kids play for hours in your awesome play places. I was tempted to ask for our money back but we really want your zoo to make it!

Mallorie Wisowaty

Public holiday

Jesus Seeger

This zoo is full of some exotic animals I haven't seen before! Some of my favorites were the giraffe, zebra, rhino, orangutans, penguins, tiger and the lionesses !!!

AG Lopez

$1–5

Jennifer Ortiz

We always enjoy taking our grandchildren to this zoo. Never overcrowded, easy to see everything, and great kids play area. I know there are staffing shortages everywhete now. The food areas at this zoo are no exception. I highly recommend you pack your own food/snacks. Food took forever after ordering and was not very tasty.

CMB tv

Such a sweet little zoo! Better than the big zoos I feel. We were able to pet kangaroos, emu, goats, pig, sheep. We fed parakeets and giraffe too! Super inexpensive, but also didn't have too many animals. Right on the beach so it makes for beautiful views and a great experience!

Spot Thinker

$1–5

ashlee jensen

No wait

SoranTheSky Sky

No

Deanna Peterson

This was a great experience! Feeding birds and being so close to the kangaroos. Great for the littles!!!

Daniel Guerra

Great place to visit especially with children. The bird exhibit was really fun with baby Dylan. He loved feeding the birds! Bring a lunch though the food and drinks are very expensive but the $8 adult cost to get in is definitely worth it. We'll be back!

Lea Brusha

The Racine Zoo is fabulous! It is super clean and inviting. Animals appear to be healthy and happy. The variety of animals is vast with many different species and exhibits. What we like the most is the hands on areas such as the ability to feed the giraffes and mingle with the birds. The cost is affordable and worth the price. The location is beautifully located right on Lake Michigan. We highly recommend this attraction!

Thomas Guentzel

Great zoo for a short day trip. Especially good for younger kids that get over stimulated or easily tired. The whole zoo can be seen in less than half a day.

Melinda Kusters

Close up views of tigers and lions. Not too crowded so it was easy to see. Small but just the right size for small children.

Nathan Schmitt

Wonderful little zoo. Family enjoyed our day. Little overcast for the day. They serve adult beverages it you're looking for that. Very good overall.

Mark Sliozis

Price for adult entry

BRIAN Wilbur WILLIAMS

Wait time

L Ward

We went up for the Lantern Festival, had a great time! A little cold on the lakefront, but we came prepared - hoodies w/winter coats over, Long John's & jeans, gloves & hats. It was 36 degrees, but with the dampness from the lake...

Mike Davis

$11–15

Hannah Martinez

Fun experience! Watching the zoo staff feed, play, and pet animals was great! The playground with adult beverages was a plus!

Tammy Malik

Reservation recommended

Logan B

Great little zoo! A good selection of Animals. It has built up over the years and we went on Mothers Day when mothers were allowed in Free. Very Clean.

Joseph Chang

Very up close and intimate experience with the animals, the keepers take great care of them and a great place to bring your family. Looking forward to our next visit!

Angela Sneed

Price for adult entry

Bad Betsy

I havent been to the zoo since it was free. My 19 yr old decided it was a family fun day and honestly we were heading to the Milwaukee zoo when we got a flat tire. We decided to stay in town n since we havent been to the Racine zoo since my oldest was very little we decided to go. My daughters, 19 and 2 and my sons, 17 and 9 months all had a wonderful time! It was definitely worth the trip. It wasnt too expensive and there was something for everyone. Some of the exhibits were the same, but they had a LOT of new exhibits and new animals in their habitats. I definitely would reccomend the Racine zoo as something fun for the whole family!

Tony Rodriguez

We loved coming to this zoo. It was very beautiful and right off the lake. It is set on 28 acres and hosts a diverse variety of animals that we did not expect to see. It is fairly handicap accessible, but there were a few obstacles and places that someone in a wheelchair would not be able to see. Overall it was a beautiful campus with well maintained walkways. You can pet giraffes, go for a "train" ride, and pet goats!

Malissa Marie

Small and intimate but has all the animals you could ask for. We visited on a very cold and windy day so most of the animals were sheltering in place. They have many animal friendly programs which have explanatory signs and placards to keep visitors informed.

James Bennett

It was a great zoo and had many great exhibits and animals but their were many empty exhibits that were empty and their was was several things that cost extra money once inside the zoo which I felt was excessive especially considering how many empty cages they had in their. Otherwise it was a great experience although I probably wouldn't go back unless I knew they had all their animals back and in their habitats

Naomi & Wendy

Granddaughter had a birthday party there. Wish the zoo had more animals. If you want to donate to the zoo, it would be very appreciated.

Jennifer Vosejpka

Visited on

Andy Lui

Reservation recommended

Jason Foster

Animals were away when we went but Racine zoo is a great experience wish the Halloween lights would have lasted longer

Angel Wolf

Great place to take the little kids to get a closer look at animals of all types. I will definitely recommend you to go see the lions and giraffes exhibits.. plus bring bug stray and money for souvenirs too.

Shawnee Ardies

It's a nice little local zoo. Not huge or anything like Milwaukee or Brookfield but nice spot to bring the kids for a day. Only $7 to get in. I liked the updates with the bird sanctuary, that was a big hit with the kids! You get a popsicle stick with birdseed on it and they can pretty much hold a bird and see it close up. Nice little "show and tells" throughout the day with the animals. Nice area with the goats too to feed and brush them if you want and a new park with tons of activities, that was a nice little break to do at lunch time. My son really enjoyed it!

Amanda Linn

Loved it! Great walk around the zoo, along with a view of Lake Michigan and animals. Super good time. Parking is atrocious.

Camryn Jean

Visited on

Frank Prince

Excellent place for family they let you feed the birds and pet some of the animals

Mrs. Bobo

I attended a very unique event call animal crackers at this zoo which really contributes to the beauty of this area. I don't know who picks the bands but the style of music really wasn't too entertaining cause I witnessed a steady stream of people leaving. Also have to add that it was our first challenge evening for summer. You just can't beat the views of the lake just outside the east perimeter fence. Such clean grounds and beautiful landscape.

Chris McCarthy

They seem to do a good job taking care of their animals for a smaller zoo. We enjoyed walking around and seeing the various exhibits. You can get really close to some of the animals which is pretty cool.

Glee Lehmbeck

Great zoo with lots of eye catching exhibits. The animals are usually easy to spot and active which makes them more entertaining.

Rachel Whitman

Weekday

Nancy Bultman

Sweet animals small but definitely a place you want to go in the winter more no one around and most animals inside but close enough to where you can hear and see them

Anthony Koterbski

Fun zoo that let's you get close up with the animals. It was easy to walk through & all the animals seemed happy. There was a wedding taking place the day we went. It looked like a nice venue. Being located on the lake made for a great backdrop. It was cloudy when we first got there but the sun came out & it warmed up. The breeze from the lake made it very comfortable! The sounds of the waves were very refreshing! Being able to walk through the kangaroo enclosure was so fun! It was my favorite part of the experience!

Michael LeRose

Inexpensive family fun near Lake Michigan. This is a small, but we'll maintained zoo.

Eric Ebler

No wait

Nicki Urbanio

$6–10

Tara Szymandera

Wait time

Caitlin R.

We love the lions here and love to watch how they are cared for. I've always had mixed feelings about zoos in general ( the captivity of wild animals not wanting to live in a cage for life). My first visit here was a turn off, i thought it was small, and the animals looked depressed. I talked with my husband about it and he suggested i give it another go, only this time asking lots of questions about each animal. I was surprised and impressed to find out the animals are rescues and they do not breed. We really like this zoo now, are members and are backing the education they do. We love you little Racine Zoo!!!

Dustin Morrison

Even as winter comes the lake offers beautiful sunrises. Such a great way to start the day!

Dylan Collier

Winter time zoo visit! It was not at all crowded as can be expected I. The winter months. Many animals were not I. Their exhibits due to the cold. There was a reduced winter rate which made it worth it. $9 for a nice walk around the zoo. Got to see tiger and lions, kangaroos, zebra. Good way to kill an hour or two.

Cathy Cullen-Benson

Small and doesn't have a ton of animals. You can tell the animal exhibits are lower budget, but it was interactive and a lot of fun still. Gave it 4 stars because it was expensive for the experience.

Nolan Tremblay

There aren't a ton of animals during the winter, but the playgrounds are pretty cool, and staff were masked in all of the buildings with habitats in them

wayne copus

Reservation recommended

chris deschler

We had a blast today with my son, saw some cool animals! Can't wait for everything to be back open in the future.

Jennifer Peterson

Cute zoo. Very clean. Nice to walk around for a few hours. The kangaroo habitat is fun to walk around as they can roam freely. The penguins are close enough to watch and enjoy. The habitat where the stork resides is beautiful. Great place for small children.

red hellix

Yes

Christopher Seeman

Small wonderful zoo only $10.00 per adult. Restaurant and gift shop. Smooth paths that are tarmac and concrete make it very barefoot ????friendly.

Pualani Kros

Wait time

David Straub

We did the igloo's. Our group had a lot of fun. The staff who came in and showed us our animal (we had a snake ) was very nice. She took her time and let us all take pictures. She answered every question and gave us some facts about the snake and even told us about the zoo and where the animals were kept in the winter. Great food, great service, great experience. I would 100% recommend doing the igloo's.

Pam Secret

Absolutely loved the holiday light show!

Tania Tania

An affordable afternoon. Plenty of animals, including giraffes, rhinos and a white tiger. Lakeside benches for resting. We did enjoy our day.

clarisse stelzl

Weekday

Cheryl Wiedel

Wait time

Chris Jasniewski

Zoos generally make me sad. This one was no exception. The fruit bat exhibit, for example, has a terrible roach infestation.... they're everywhere in there. It was lovely seeing rare animals, however, and since it's the middle of winter the roos and wallabys weren't out, neither were many others. The make lion had an illness that was being treated and next to him was a Fossa.... If you've never seen one, go see this one. He's a cool guy with enormous eyes and he just hangs out. Plus the orangutans came up to say hey. Overall it was with the $4 to get in.

teresa miller

No wait

Kingdom Warriors RV Adventures

Have always loved the Racine zoo!! Very very clean. Never overly busy. Everyone is friendly that works there. The playgrounds are fun! No matter how many times we go, we end up seeing something new! Most recent visit we got to see the Lions fed enrichment in their enclosure.

Sarah

What a hidden gem! Even with some exhibits closed or "aged out"/some structures needing some TLC, this little zoo has so much to offer! They offer so many opportunities to get closer looks at the animals and you can even enter some enclosures (the small birds and the barnyard). I have never experienced anything like the creek walk or the water deer enclosure and it felt like a mini safari - it was SO cool! They also contribute to conservation and species protection. There were so many more animals than we expected and it's a beautiful location, right on the lake. Would definitely recommend and urge you to support the keepers, the grounds and the animals. We had so much fun!

Alayne Wickert

Awesome zoo at an awesome price! Love that they're on the ball in different ways to cut down on plastic! Adorable animals. Fun playground for the kids and a beautiful setting! Must go!

Ellen Waldmer

Reservation recommended

Pete Wahlen

Great small zoo, worth the drive. Reasonably priced. The animals are well taken care of. Perfect for younger children. Only zoo you can get up close and person to lions, monkeys etc without feeling rushed by a crowd of people. We love this zoo! Missing a star because is small and not a huge array of animals

Debra Trout

Had such a great time. The family and I loved this zoo and at such a beautiful location right next to Lake Michigan. The staff are very nice and welcoming.

Sean Campbell

Its a nice small zoo. Cheap admission and friendly staff. The winter rate is cheaper because some of the animals are away for the colder weather, which is perfectly understandable and makes sense.

Pat Boehme

The Christmas light show was well worth the $5 It cost. Not crowed and you could take your time driving through. You should go if you have the time.

Brian Cohen

Nice little zoo right along the lakeshore. Animals seem happy and the was lots of enrichment in their cages. Only $4 for winter admission.

Mary Weaver

This zoo is just the right size to see in couple hours. It's near one of the most beautiful beach that can make it an all day activity. I've enjoyed music, beer tasting and recently invited a total of 8 to dine in an igloo.

Paul Weiser

Visited on

Jonathan Hill

This is such a cute zoo, that I had no idea existed until Saturday. I attended the Pancakes With Penguins event Saturday morning, then walked around the zoo with my Aunt and uncle. We had so much fun. It was a perfect way to spend a fall Saturday afternoon.

Junk Inbox

My little guy loved it. Hes only 8 months old and I loved that it wasn't overwhelming. Easy to get around and the walk through area where you can be close to the animals was so much fun.

B&J P

I love this zoo because it's small and compact yet has enough to keep you interested easy parking easy access I enjoy being up close with the animals more so than at bigger zoos and they have a variety of interactive cages such as with …

Ceil T

No

Valerie Harvey

Reservation recommended

Carlos Ponce

Fun Father's Day at the Zoo. First time here and it's a nice Zoo for the Family. Small yes, but not the craziness you get at the larger zoos. Parked with 100yrds of the entrance even. Lots a families with small kiddos.

Heather Kearney

Weekend

Lori Tiegs

It was great! Especially the train conductor, Grace. She was very informative and knowledgeable about the whole zoo! Just wish they had some elephants.

glenn stoll

Price for adult entry

Donald Damaschke

Great walk, for kids and family, fun time seeing the animals, and very clean

James Slarzynski

Not sure

Krista Wolfer

Great place for the family. Good price, and great spots for pictures

Karen G

Wait time

Tamara Dowhower

Most of the exhibits were closed today, 8/21/2021. Place is run down, weeds over running most of the exhibits. Sadly disappointed.