Reviews of John Ball Zoo (Zoo)

Devansh Chowdhary

Lots of interesting animals & fun for the whole family. Bring some snacks and beverages though cause food is not cheap there. Overall good experience.

Lonnie Elswick

We visit at least one zoo on our road trips. However, it's nice to visit our local one from time to time and be reminded how good it is in comparison to a lot of them out there. The exhibits are well made, the animals seem to be healthy and well taken care of, and the zoo is always trying to stay relevant.

Derek Ketchum

This is an awesome mid-size zoo located on a very shaded hill. Even in mid-June, all of the trees around the zoo made for a relaxing outdoor experience. They have a good variety of animals, and even a small indoor aquarium. They also do a great job of adding in some additional interactive activities for kids, such as a ropes course, a unique playground at the top of the hill and a camel ride. Parking is split between a few different lots and is free. As of June, masks were not required for entry and tickets could be bought right at the gate.

Dan Hodges

A ton of bees were chasing us around no matter where we were. Eating was very hard. Other than that, they have made a lot of improvements from when I was there as a kid

Kenneth Miller

Reservation recommended

Justin Jean

Red Pandas are so cute. The babies will be leaving to breed but the parents will remain. Also Lions, Tigers and Bears; Oh My.

Emily Stienburg

Took our grandkids and had a great time! The kids loved the Lego exhibit! We rented a wagon which developed an issue but the super-helpful staff brought us a replacement quickly and were so nice!

Ben P

There are now new Lego built animals spread throughout the zoo. There have been many positive changes made in the last several years.

Tiffany

Staff is very informative and friendly, with a special shout-out to the goat petting staff. Great animal sightings, awesome Lego animals to captivate the kids.

LV Teach Me

Went with my girls and grandkids. They loved it. Very good zoo. Grizzly bears were active, pretty cool.

Ross Washington

Went to the illumizoo. Very nice, a good night out. Would have liked to see some animal though.

Todd Mitchell

They have truly made some amazing changes to the entrance and all the way above the eagle's area, I thought the entire area around the meerkats was a great change too! It was exciting to see the Zoo looking at the future and not only keeping everything fresh for the eyes but also trying to make it more accessible for everyone. Hopefully they keep the momentum going and keep making this an even better Zoo than it already is! Also we really loved the Lego exhibits, I think I missed one or two pictures...

Chris Gilreath

We had a great day! So much fun!!

Nick Len.

This is an awesome place to spend the day with family and friends. I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over the yesrs it has been nice to see the upgrades, expansions and additions. They have done so much to improve the zoo for the animals and visitors. Do yourself a favor and skip the fast food in the zoo itself. The playground and picnic areas are shaded by enormous oak and maple trees. Lay claim to a table and a grill and enjoy a brat, hotdog or burger. It will be a day you will remember for a long time!!

Jesse Graves

Went during Brick Live exhibits. Kids loved it. Very impressive habitats, structures, and park design. However, not very handicap accessible. Several paths were gravel making it difficult to wheel through.

Samantha Baar

The night zoo walk was really cool

Noah French

Amazing zoo! Really well kept and the scenery is beautiful!!! The staff is also super nice and knowledgeable

Shirley M Johnson

Beautiful zoo,lots of family activities and tons of animals! Great for the whole family! Currently have different animals made out of Lego's!

Ezekiel Chojnacki

We haven't been to John Ball zoo in 4 or 5 years and wow has it changed! We always love going to zoos in general but John Ball is definitely a top tier zoo for me. With all the new additions and future expansions the place is really starting to go over and beyond! Pricing is great for entry fees and concessions are standard for a park of any kind. The highlight of our trip was being able to feed the birds!

Andrew Burick

Absolutely stellar! I've been to a LOT of zoos and aquariums, this is by far one of the better ones! The animals have decent-size enclosures, and have clear enrichment provided. My daughters and I attended the Kids Day at the Zoo on 5 August 2021. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The animals seemed very happy and comfortable.

Elizabeth Pilkinton

This is the best little zoo! It was established years ago in the middle of a woods and still retains that charm though the exhibits are being constantly upgraded, added to, and made more humane for the variety of animals there. This is especially a nice zoo for younger children.

Anthony Bohn

Fun family place. Something new and exciting every time. Had some great set ups for Halloween. Favorite part is seeing the friendly tigers up close. Looking forward to the new meerkat exhibit.

Marwa Wright

My son 11, 3 foster kids 8,5,3 and myself all loved it.

Cruzeto

Nice, smaller zoo. My favorite park of the John Ball Zoo was feeding the budgies.

Ingrid Ellcey Follett

What a beautiful Zoo!! I would highly recommend everyone to come and see the exhibits and the zoo in its overall setting!! We had a great day!!

Tracey Park

We brought our 2yr old son here last weekend. We had a great time but it's so frustrating when a group of people block the walkway and have no idea of their surroundings. MOVE out the way ????

Kim G

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the John Ball Zoo! Animals were very accessible up close in well-shaded exhibits that encouraged the animals to remain visible. Great use of space, and the wooded walking trail retains the appeal of natural habitats.

Kira Hamly

Was great seeing all the changes.. haven't been there since I was a kid...

Averill

A fabulous zoo for kids that features play areas, a zip line and rope bridges. For adults it is a very nice smaller zoo with several enclosures where you can view the animals up close. The outside cages are beautiful with many having flowing streams or even small waterfalls and lots of beautiful foliage. Interior cages are not nearly as nice and in some cases too small. The zoo is built on a hill so expect steps and some climbing or at least walking up and down sloping paths.

Suzy Schmaltz

We love this zoo! Small enough and reasonable admission so if you only go for a little while it's worth it, but enough stuff to keep you busy for awhile too.

Emily Witteveen

Beautiful shaded zoo in the woods. Full of gardens, with exhibits built in to the natural landscape. Nice assortment of animals. A zipline and ropes course are fun features. You can also ride a camel! Plan to spend around 3 hours.

Erik Krautmanis

Very nice zoo, compact enough to bring small kids without wearing them out completely. Great exibits.

Sena Hermiz

This zoo is quite a workout. I was very disappointed at all the construction going on during zoo hours. A lot of the animals weren't available due to construction and cleaning of cages.

Jose Rodriguez

Such a great zoo to have I'm the middle of GR!! They have continually been working on updates and improvements! The staff is friendly and everything seems to be clean and we'll maintained!! We visited for Zoo goes Boo and my 2+5 yo had a blast collecting candy and we even got to see a magic show!!

Demi Snow

Great zoo, lots of animals, staff is always friendly!

Daiv Barnhardt

Very nice, small zoo. The environment had a very natural feel to it, the animals were well takwn care of and the employees were kind and helpful.

Paige Biek

I love John Ball Zoo. This summer my girlfriend and I bought season passes and it was well worth it. If you live in the area that's the way to go. You can use the park to take a stroll, relax, and get some joy out of seeing the animals. For anyone traveling into Grand Rapids this Zoo makes for a nice trip. It's not the biggest zoo in the world, but they keep growing. Each season John Ball Zoo adds something new. The recent tiger exhibits is one of my favorites.

Desi Carpenter

Beautiful zoo! Puts the Detroit Zoo to shame! The funicular ride is a must and the Brick( Lego) display was a bonus!! Well worth the trip, looking forward to visiting again the next time we are in GR

Dawn Boertman

Really surprised me with how nice this zoo was. I just moved from about a mile away from the Detroit zoo, and I went often. I went to the John Ball without expectations but it blew me away! It felt big, there’s plenty of animals, and the staff is extremely friendly. I went with friends on Labor Day and it wasn’t incredibly crowded.

drprotv

Very cool ????

Rachelle Sole

Weekday

Josh Jepkema

Great place to take the whole family. Our kids love it! If you live in the Grand Rapids area, the annual family pass is the way to go. Make sure to see the red pandas and penguin house!

Melissa Farthing

Not sure

Nathan Choler

Illiumizoo was pretty cool. We liked the Lego animals too.

Christina Murphy M

My son and nieces loved the zoo, but we did all notice how sad some of the animals were, especially the gorillas. They are the closest to humans then any other animals there yet they lived in the most filth, were the saddest, exhibited strange behavior and had very little stimulation. The lions seemed depressed as well along with others. Some cages were way too small as well. I lived in Grand Rapids for 27 years and that was the first time I walked the zoo.

Lukas J Steel

Fantastic zoo. One of the best I've visited in the nation. Staff was superb, food was delicious and animals were well taken care of.

Sheri Campo

Not sure

Leona Heinrich

Wait time

Hailey LMB

Loved the Lego sculptures throughout the park. It was a great family excursion. My 9 year old loved the zip line. So much to see and do as we walked along the exhibits.

Andrew Barnum (Andrew B.)

Amazing animals well kept enclosures great food would recommend

Alexandria McCurtis

Love the lights.. it was so dark so all the animals were sleeping but definitely coming back

Mr. Henry

Very friendly and accessible zoo- brought a stroller and there was easy ramp access everywhere we wanted to go. The employees and volunteers were very cheerful even in the cold and told my son a lot about all the animals. A great experience, and a good activity that also allows for social distancing.

Rashmi Kulkarni

Awesome zoo, the area looks like they built a zoo within the existing landscape so it has a very forest/woodsy feel to it unlike other zoos where they would level land down and build upon that. Very fun and the kiddos had a blast.

Kyle Knapp

Kids had fun...the activities and food were very expensive....I recommend packing food and drinks to take in! The zoo is all up hill so wear your hiking shoes! Overall we had a good time and will likely return ????

Nick Piotrowski

The night zoo walk was really cool

Kristina S

They got cool Lego statues

Kindra M

We drove an hour and 20 minutes to visit this zoo and it was well worth the trip! Every staff member that we encountered was so friendly and knowledgeable. They made our zoo trip so much better! All the animals were pretty active and my girls loved the Lego displays. We will be back again very soon!

William Peters

Very clean and nice inside. Animals seem happy and had tons of fun during adult night. This was my first time at the zoo in many many years and I had fun!

Tony Felder

John Ball Zoo is wonderful place to go. I took my granddaughter there on Friday. It was supposed to storm, but the sun came out and it turned out to be a beautiful day. Social distancing is handled appropriately. It wasn't super busy because they limit the number of visitors. I do think it should be a little more affordable for seniors.

Zach Bekampis

Great zoo! The food is a little pricey, but that's to be expected.. just eat before you go haha. I have to say I miss the stingrays and the reptile house, but still always a fun time!

Emily Mullauer

Wait time

Hannah Jewell

We did a Behind the Scenes close encounter with the bears for my husband's birthday. This was astounding and I wish I knew about these sooner. What a spectacular experience! We got to set up the food and enrichment in the bear den, and had staff and a zookeeper to answer all our crazy questions. More people need to experience this.

Cathy Reith

I was delightfully surprised to see how nice this zoo was. I really enjoy the wooded and shaded feel.

Elizabeth B

Wonderful zoo and love being a member there.

Tobiah Howell

Enjoyed a day at the John Ball Zoo. Lots of exhibit and animals look comfortable and have spacious enclosures for their general size. Giftshops and many bathroom and concession locations throughout the park grounds.

Brooke Ambrosio

This is a nice zoo medium sized zoo. I wasn't expecting it to be as hilly as it was, so expect to get a workout with your animal viewing. The hills also made it tricky to see some animals as they were up high in the exhibit. Overall I was a little underwhelmed on the amount of animals they had compared to the size of some of the exhibits (great for the animals to have extra space though). As for parking there is ample parking in the lot connected to John Ball Park, so no issue there. Timed tickets are still in place as of this visit.

Sue Barnaby

I love going to the zoo and I love the joy it brings my daughter seeing all the cool animals. However, a lot of the animals here when I visited last (Oct 5th 2021) they just walked back and forth ,back and forth in their enclosure. They didn't seem very enriched. Its been years since the last time I went before this, and a lot of the animals seem to be unhappy. I try my best to give the ones I can interaction and love when I visit, but there is only so much I can do as a visitor to enrich their lives.

Mikki Sharp

$6–10

Bill DeRooy

Not a great variety of animals. They have no elephants, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, and lacking in the monkey variety. I was kind of disappointed. But on the other hand, they have the zip line and the ropes course which is very cool. My daughter enjoyed it.

Tracy Sievers

Just a fun family experience. Love being able to motivate my kids to not only learn but to keep it moving too

trent rossi

Very fun. Went there with my cousin and had a blast!

Michael Bloem

It's pay like a kid week! Every ticket is $10. We went thus morning to beat the heat and had a great time. It's always fun to see the animals and I love all the improvements they have made. Side note I wish my naps were as satisfying as this sloth's midmorning snooze ????

Tim Kamradt

Small but a very nice zoo. Easy walking and you get on 1 path and it loops around to all areas, lots of benches to sit on along the way, and snack shops located at different points thruout. I like that you are not forced to go thru gift shop upon exiting. Easily accessible via hwys. I96 and US 131.

Ethan Post

Nice Zoo to bring the family and spend some time small but not too small still lots to see and do. Petting area for young kinds . Train ride, zip line, obstacle coarse , camel rides all cost extra except petting zoo is free wide variety of animals concession stands thru out. To get the best value buy an annual pass well worth it .

Joshua Ramirez

We have so much fun every time we go to the zoo. We got a membership for the first time this year and it is totally worth it. We normally don't go until it is warmer out, but we went today and a lot of the cats were much more active than in the warmer weather.

Jason Eule

John Ball is a wonderful local zoo. They've really done so much work to renovate the grounds and animal habitats over the past decade. My kids love spending the day here. The Lego exhibits have been a huge highlight the last couple years. After wandering the zoo, we also enjoy picnicking and playing at the new playground just outside the zoo. We have also participated in their summer camps for several years and the kids have had a blast with all their classes.

Cheryl Milliman (Shadoegirl19)

No wait

Lauren Costa

Great local zoo. Love the keepers and their willingness to chit chat about all the different animals in the zoo or point you in the direction of someone who will have the information you want. :)

Lauren Costa

We been numerous times and always enjoy visiting our animal friends. It’s a great place to take our small family for an early morning stroll.

Sonny Davis

It was enjoyable. However, I recommend you go early so the animals will be awake. We went around 3:30pm and most of the animals were sleeping.

Christian G.

We are not from the area but was willing to get a membership from John Ball because we visit multiple times a year. Its completely worth the drive. We had an amazing time as we usually do. There was a company event being held and it still didn't feel overcrowded or overwhelming.

Kayla R

Staff is very informative and friendly, with a special shout-out to the goat petting staff. Great animal sightings, awesome Lego animals to captivate the kids.

Sunny

Love the zoo it's small enough to see it all in one day by large enough to keep it interesting.

Sunny Side of Life

Haven't been here in a few years and it was nice to revisit. The zoo is built into the side of a large hill so it might be a bit of a strain for some people, but it's not too bad. The animals were very active and looked well cared for. Mountain lion was definitely the highlight of the trip. Also nice to see some fun landscaping with pretty flowers.

Alfredo Gonzalez Lopez

It has more animals than binder zoo in battle creek

Jake Moore

We went to the illumizoo event and it was amazing. What an innovative way to bring in extra funds to the zoo! The lights and atmosphere were fantastic. The only thing I would like to see changed is an option for those who have to leave unexpectedly to be able to exit the walk. We attempted and kept getting questioned and told to turn around and head back up.

Moriah Gill

I will suggest you check the website for hours. During the week they do close at 4pm and they stop selling tickets 30 minutes p8to closing. We did get to visit the zoo. But I did notice that they revamped the entrance and from what I could see from outside they do have many Lego sculpture of animals around the zoo. Once we are able to visit ill rate it again with pictures.

Debbie Buckner

For being during covid it was a super nice experience. We got to hear the lion roar, see the tiger and a few other things we didn't think would be available. The employees and security were amazing and it seemed everyone was following social distancing. It was almost like we had the place to our selves. There are cleaning stations all over the place as well as having some bathroom doors propped open so no one needs to touch them.

Angela Wells

Went to visit as the snow owls were placed on exhibit. Staff was amazing. Zoo is kept immaculately clean.

Richard Norton

It was so wonderful to see all the new additions to the zoo Had a great time.

Traci Reinhart

The staff is sweet and the animals are usually active and friendly. Highly recommend, a fun visit. Lots of walking. You will be exhausted at the end of the day, but very grateful. Fun for kids and families. Good date idea.

Angie Quezada

Great place for family and friends. Lots of things to do

Dorothy Ankarstran

Clean and welcoming, animals looked well taken care of. Will be going again.

Kerri Barnes

Very nice zoo well kept the kids really enjoyed it.

Joe Bergthold

Cute small zoo where you get to see all the animals up close, but also in a safe distance. Feeding budgies was pretty fun to do and seeing the chickens run wild by the petting zoo put a smile on my face.

David Phillips

I have been going to John Ball zoo for more than 40 years. It has not really changed. More places to spend money, but fewer animals in unchanged habitats. I know the zoo has some limitations, but it should work on making the enclosures better rather than adding another money grab facility. I have been to many zoos, and this one is truly nostalgic, but it lacks the visual appeal of most places. The animals are often hidden in places that are "invisible" to patrons. Great, maybe for rehab, but a real bad idea for a zoo. They have a long way to go if they want to compete with other zoos, but they are the only game in town and it shows. The Lego exhibits are nice, but once you see all the fairly common critters in their fairly outdated enclosures, Lego won't fix the ills.

Julie Ball

Always love the zoo, but sometimes feel like it is becoming less and less about the animals and more about the $$$. Seems like there are more non-animal attractions every year. Sad to see the once pretty pond neglected and covered with algae. They don't even clean up the acorns so you can sit at the benches without breaking your neck.

Elisabeth McConnell

Love love love this place!!! The entire grounds are beautiful inside and out of the zoo we can't wait to return!!!

Zachery Lloyd

The new renovations are amazing! We all really enjoyed the beautiful Lego creations throughout the zoo.

S Kennedy

A lovely visit. Haven't been in years so it was good to see the Zoo again.

Jackie Chiles

We had a great time here. Zoo was clean, fun and very welcoming. We loved our trip to grand rapids and the zoo was no different. A great stop in Grand Rapids to see the town.

Stacey Smith

Didn't cost much to get in and has lots of cool stuff. We got a bag of dirt with gems to wash in the sluice which was neat and also cheap. We saw the red panda and my wife and son rode the camel. It was as fun as when I was a kid and I rode the camel, and not much more expensive than it used to be. A fun day trip for the family.

Debi

My husband and I came here for photos and a nice stroll during Covid-19. The park is easy to navigate, bathrooms are clean but I really didn't see much staff so it was difficult to ask questions. I would give this park 5 stars for the gardens and flow of the park. I give it 3 stars because all animal views are obstructed. Overall we had a very nice time despite Covid-19. We would come back for their beautiful gardens and flow.

Christopher Fountain

A great little zoo, takes about 2 hours to walk and good arrangement of animals. Great place to spend with the family no matter what age

Charlie harr

Weekend

David Ensing

How can you not love a zoo? Clean, organized and attractive layout. Many unusual animals. My absolute favorites are the flamingos, penguins and otters.

Raven Griffin

A fantastic zoo in downtown GR. They host many events, have done a great job with safety, and have excellent exhibits (including the brick animals, which is a recurring feature). They do tremendous work with their animals and are very involved with care and conservation - this is not like the zoos of old. West Michigan is quite fortunate to have both this zoo and Binder Park to the South. The food and gift shop are not terribly different than other medium size zoos, though thanks to their location, they have an above average beer selection and some good ice cream. Best advice is to go on a summer day that's cooler than most or early in the day - animals are more active when it's not the hottest and they can get good shade.

Brutus

Yes

richard (ukchard)

They have upgraded so much since I've been there. I recommend getting a membership, it's cheaper. There will be lots of lines, you have been warned! Still a fun trip.

Jim Peterson

$16–20

Bryleigh B

Many positives since my last visit many summers ago. As a Grand Rapids West Side native I have watched JBP evolve and it's very exciting. This visit I love BRICKLIVE! Wow, due to numerous reasons many of the animals were not out and available and the BRICKLIVE helped redeem the $14 entrance fee. The positives are the fabulous walkways through the park and many of the exhibits are conducive to the animals exercising and staying healthy EXCEPT the Grizzly Bear! Please do something to create a healthful environment for this bear! The Pond is dirty and surroundings are not healthful. The benches through out the park are nice as well. I can see a bright future especially when the Grizzly cage is better managed.

Heather Crosby

Reservation recommended

Angie Hultberg

The family membership is worth it! Come and go as you please and the discounts at other zoos are great— especially for a larger family!

Barb N

Wonderful as always. Every time we go there they have something new. Today was even better with the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beast stuff going on. So many people dressed up and people even playing Quid ditch...

Joshua Gatiss

Illumazoo was magical. I applaud the concept of appointments to see it,as it was not overcrowded. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Fanar Azzou

We've been members here at the zoo with our family of six for a few years now and it's been worth every penny. Every year they change things up a bit and make improvements. We love the special events they host throughout the year as well.

Charlene Raymond

Great zoo! Not crowded at all. All the animals were out walking about, Tigers, Lions, Snakes, and Red Pandas. The Lego exhibit was awesome.

Diane Blakeman

Nice small zoo alot of uphill walking to get to the animals. The zoo has a train that goes up the hill and down the hill. There's alot of pinic areas and food stands you can bring your own food into the zoo.

Vicarious Rides

Illiumizoo was pretty cool. We liked the Lego animals too.

Teaira Adams

Lots of people. They really have done an excellent job over the past few years with improvements for the park and for the animals.

Kristi Torres

A great little zoo to take a day trip with your kids. We have a yearly pass and visit quite often. Lots of little activities for the kids to do and burn off some energy. The tiger exhibit is fantastic, something you need to check out when you visit. Also taking the train to the top of the park first is a little trick we learned. Right before you enter the park all the way to the right is a train you can take a stroller or Wagon to the top and walk down.

Derrick Noordyke

We used the Jump pass and had a great time..

MarQuita Marie

Going to John Ball Zoo in the summer has long been a family tradition. Some of my earliest memories are at John Ball and I still enjoy coming back every summer as an adult. I’ve kept the tradition going with my niece and hope to do the same when I have my own kids. It’s a lovely size zoo that you can easily get through in one day with little ones. Yet there’s enough variety to keep you coming back for more! There are options for refreshments and food throughout the Zoo. They also have feeding times posted so you can view animals being active and eating their favorite snacks. The facilities are well maintained and clean. While I wish the zoo had more land for each exhibit so the animals can run more freely (John Ball is rather land blocked by the highway near by) they’ve done a fine job of maximizing the space they do have. John Ball Zoo offers plenty of opportunities to get involved at the Zoo (volunteering, kid programs/camps, etc…) and if you’re a huge animal fan you can even rent out the jungle top gazebo for special events and weddings. The staff is always friendly and they’re usually knowledgeable on the information of each animal. Asking the staff questions about the animals can be quite informative, but if you’re not one for socializing or human-interaction they have a fair amount of information posted in front of each of the species exhibits. I highly recommend John Ball to anyone new to Grand Rapids. It’s a staple and it’s a great place to take kids to to get them excited about animals and their protection; and to help properly educate them about the importance of every species.

Robert Hankins

Great out door activity to go see and do with the whole family. Very educational.

elizabeth Argersinger

Price for adult entry

JJ L

Fantastic place to bring kids. Due to Covid they have social distancing and indoor mask rules in effect. So buy the tickets online and avoid the line ????

Nathan Choler

WOW, haven't been here in a while. Amazing and clean

Donna Rucker

I like that they always have some new exhibit

Nelynn Rodriguez (Nena)

Great Zoo, from what I saw! Easy to navigate. Fun attractions. Great for kids and not too big! Perfect for a day trip!

Cris Mattoon

My son 11, 3 foster kids 8,5,3 and myself all loved it.

Dan Cassidy

Really great zoo! Many animals to see. Big cats, reptiles, aquatic animals, insects, etc. zoo is clean and ticket fee is not bad. Of course like all places like this, the concession stands are a rip off. $4.50 for an 8 Oz. fountain drink!!! So my advice would be to bring your own drinks. Other than being rip off, which is to be expected of places like this, unfortunately. I would highly recommend this Zoo for both adults and kids.

denise knox

I really like the John Ball Zoo, but it is a small town zoo without a something to differentiate it or make it special. Probably the most special thing about it is their educational programming for students, but average visitors cannot experience that.

Pat Hansen

We had a great day! So much fun!!

Amy Akavong

Great zoo, not too large but arranged with lots of walking trails. Good zoo for young kids. Food is expensive. Playground also on site.

SIR

Reservation recommended

Nikol Stephan

Weekday

Christie Crabtree

We bought a family membership today. It's been many years since I was at John Ball Zoo. The improvements are plentiful and beautiful. The landscaping, use of the surrounding forest and wide walkways make for a relaxing stroll amongst the animal exhibits. One draw back today: an improvement near the entrance is taking place. The noise from driving the piling was unbelievable. Even the animals were obviously uncomfortable with the noise. Maybe an update on website when it's taking place or done? I would not go again on any day that I knew this was taking place.

Psyclone Winds

We enjoyed looking at the animals and the lego statues they have. We were a little disappointed the train was closed for the day and the zip line was closed for the season. The kids did get to ride the camels and they loved that. Food and drinks were overpriced like most places of this type. The bathrooms and park were clean and all the staff we spoke with were friendly and help! We will definitely be back for another visit.

Aaron Merritt

Small zoo, but well-organized and clean. The morning we went was a crisp, cool day and almost every animal was out and active. It was Halloween themed throughout, and they were having the little trick or treaters waiting for candy. That, was a huge bonus for an older adult without children, because we were able to view up close the animals and longer without the little ones underneath.

Kelsey Klekotka

Had a great time. Nice to see the improvements being made.

Ashley Morris

Not a bad zoo at all. There is a nice spread of animals there. They have lego statues built of animals all throughout the zoo with information about them.

Rachelle Sole

Employees/volunteers are always super sweet and knowledgeable. I love this place

Eric Knapke

Wonderful zoo and love being a member there.

Stefanie Abderhalden

We all loved the zoo and the animals. Definitely would come here again

Roxanne Bell

The John ball zoo is fantastic. Built into the hillside so expect a little up and down walking to see some of the animals. It seemingly has expanded and gotten better from ten years ago. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff as well.

Cathy Barger

It was fun going there at night with the lights, the Lego-like exhibits, with my kid and my friends with their kids. Just know you're going for the candy and the night time experience. Not to see animals, which I thought was a missed opportunity with the nocturnal animals, but it was still a pretty good time if you're just sight seeing and happy to watch your kids get some candy.

Kevin N

Not sure

David Brown

What a great time with the kiddos. It was a beautiful day here at the zoo. Clean restrooms with air conditioning. Lots of food stands and doing hand art in shade area. Lots of new animals. I haven't been here in years.

Norman Cole

We have been members for a few years and always appreciate the cleanliness and frequent upgrades of our zoo. There are many different kinds of critters accompanied by educational boards that often tell why and how the animals came to be at the zoo. That's important because many are part of breeding programs or rescue efforts whose aim it is to increase the numbers of animals in the wild. Besides education opportunities there are special shows, public feeding times, animals to pet and feed, some to ride, zipline, ropes course, tram, face painting, and many spots to quench your thirst or snack needs. Lots of zoo personnel are available to answer your questions. The zoo can be explored fully in 4 or so hours. DON'T MISS: chimpanzees, tigers, penguin house, wallabies, otters, red pandas, and bears.

j rich

I've been going to this place since I was a kid it's fun to see changes all for the better looks so nice.

Heaven B.

Loved the Lego critters. Wish they had more tables by the eating areas. Very clean, people were friendly. Enjoyed our day.

Molly Fowler

I feel that this is no longer a zoo but more of a nature walk. A bunch of hiking hills and trails small habitats for most of the animals. The habitats that need the most improvement is the Eagles, their space is to small. This isn't even close to the experience me and my family had a few years ago ???? The Otters Were The Only Ones that had sufficient space and we're very active. Oh and all of the animals are always sleep and not very active

Jessa Challa

Excellent zoo! The animals have plenty of room and seem very happy. This is a beautiful place. They also have a ropes course, petting zoo and zipline. We had a wonderful experience here.

Anthony Hood

They don't have as many animals as I remember. Didn't see reptile area, aquarium was pathetic, many animals gone. The one's they had were sleeping or not out. The park was not put together and animal area's either. It in my opinion was a nasty disaster. Was disappointed ☹️

Kathleen M.

I went go John Ball Zoo for IllumiZoo. This is a seasonal event and this year (2020), it ends November 15. It was very safe, there was little to nothing that you needed to touch, and the lights and attractions were beautiful!

Andrea Lamfers

First time. Lovely zoo

Kathryn Cornell

Even in poor weather we had plenty of time to go through the exhibits and see most of the animals. Really clean!

Cory Kraai

Great place to take the kids, we saw lots of animals from across the globe. We had a great time, it’s a lot bigger than the Potter Park zoo here in Lansing.

Thedrick Scott

It nice to enjoy fun outside animals were little actors too

Katelyn Kelley

Visited on

Amy Mercer

Reservation recommended

rooster0327

Weekend

Katie Marie

Loved this zoo! Interactive for kids and each place is so cool! Definitely a new favorite.

Ron Presley

For a smaller zoo they have quite a lot! Several exhibits you cant find at Deteoit Zoo, and loads of not-too-outrageously priced activities for the kids! We got stuck waiting for staff at some activities, tickets are pretty high and the food prices are very, VERY steep but the day was fun! A must see for an out-of-towner

Vandit Patel

Well laid out modest sized zoo. The setting is very natural; you feel like you are in the forest/jungle with the animals. They are in large natural enclosures, not cages. Well made Lego animal creations help tell the story. They have most of the usual animals, but no large mammals like elephants or giraffes. You can get up close and personal with bears, lions and tigers (there is glass panelling between), interesting and unusual animals like red pandas, go inside the budgie aviary to feed the birds (tuppance a bag?) They have activities like a zip line, a harnessed rope walk course, a funicular railway and camel rides. There is a small aquarium. There's also many activities Expect to spend 4 hours.

Shondreka “Doozy does it xoxo” Lott

This was a great experience! The animals were super cool, my kids rode a camel for s small fee. My "big" kid got to do a rope obstacle course for a small fee. Inexpensive gift shop with great find. Food was pricey, but it's a zoo. Great time!

Christine Warner

Went with my two grandkids and had a great time. The kids got little stuffed animals that were not to pricey 9.52, we had to re stitch one. The little doughnuts are a great treat. The pizza was not so good. Be prepared to walk. The Lego creations were super cool. Also for a fee you can mine gems. The animals were interesting and pretty active.

Uobrims

Weekday

Mikel Yingling

The kids loved the face painting.

Desiree Rosema

Beautiful night for a stroll through IllimiZoo. It was fun seeing how the lights were used to illuminate the zoo. It was inventive and a mix of pretty and spooky. The quotes were fun to read and some of them quite thought-provoking. I wish I were a better photographer. You'll just have to go and see it for yourself!

Shay Lowe

Reservation recommended

Faith McKenna

One of my favorite Michigan zoos. Hadn't been in a few years. Was excited to see how it had changed. Was not disappointed! Everything looks brand new. Very walkable zoo. Parking is easy, a little walk from the entrance. Very friendly staff. Accessible exhibits. Definitely a must visit.

Arnie Suigussaar

Went with my girls and grandkids. They loved it. Very good zoo. Grizzly bears were active, pretty cool.

Stephanie Constant

No long wait getting into the parking areas or the zoo its self. The incline right at the entrance is gone creating a very pleasant entry. All the things we've always enjoyed are still here and lots of new areas too. The adults enjoyed a wine and ice cream float beverage at the deepest part of the zoo, it was yummy, just a bit pricey. Over all a fun visit ????

Beth Hagger

No

Jasmyne

John Ball Zoo is always a summer destination for me (and spring and fall). More so now that there are 2 (2!) Red Pandas! Wasabi is a great draw alongside Wyatt; their enclosure was crowded both times we visited. It was worth the shoving, growling, grunting, and snarling to push our way to the front to be able to see the little darlings milling about their enclosure. The rest of the zoo is equally amazing. The baby surgeons are also great; I didn't really think fish could be...cute? But they are. And they are pretty hypnotizing to watch. The toucans and the lions were also a happy site, although it was super hot when we visited and the mid-day lazies seemed to have hit everyone, so I can't blame the animals for having a chill out session. There really isn't a part of the zoo that is a downside. The zoo is clean (even if there is a little bit of sticky cotton candy left over from some rambunctious kiddos on the sidewalk), the animals are really happy and attentive, and the staff is friendly and approachable. Why not visit? You're doing yourself a disservice to not even consider it if you are thinking this is something you wouldn't want to take your family to. Pick a day, pack a picnic, and spend some time with your family having a blast learning about animals.????

Vince Richardson

Relatively small zoo. Perfect for a day trip getaway. There are plenty of things to do and animals to see. We were fortunate enough to hear a tiger roar while observing them!

HC Way

Very much enjoyed it. I love zoos that show how they educate the public AND help the animal's wild cousins. This zoo does both. With volunteers educating about bat houses, a group of kids going to the zoo camp, and numerous educational tidbits about how they acquired the animals, this is one of the better zoos I've been to. Also, they have tunnels that the lemurs and monkeys can use to walk over the paths, and they still protect you from getting pooped on!

Sel

Had a good time here! Was a bit hot but we survived! There Lynx was very cool!!

Curtis DeJong

Such a great zoo to have I'm the middle of GR!! They have continually been working on updates and improvements! The staff is friendly and everything seems to be clean and we'll maintained!! We visited for Zoo goes Boo and my 2+5 yo had a blast collecting candy and we even got to see a magic show!!

Sara Blackwood

We were very impressed by our visit to the John Ball Zoo. We were visiting the Grand Rapids area and decided to stop here and had a great time. It's a great zoo for kids with plenty of shade and an amazing outdoor play area. We have a membership at our local zoo and it allowed us to get half off entry which made the already affordable entry even better. It's definitely not so big that you'd spend all day here, but it's a perfect half-day activity!

Reid Savard

Weekday

Tammy Doll

We loved this zoo! Much bigger than I expected. The kids really enjoyed the Tree Tops course and the Zipline! Plenty of great animals to see. Even caught the penguin feeding at 3:30pm. A definitely stop if you're in the area!

Phloppy Bunny

Friendly staff and great exhibits from the chimpanzees to the grizzly bears. Plenty of activities for kids as well.

Aaron

We loved the zoo so much!!!

William Krcatovich

Weekend

Nonhooman

I come here at least once in the summer and if we can now in the fall for Halloween stuff. Everything is well set up and great for walking so bring good shows. Great information on the animals. Would highly recommend

Rae Werdon

Was there one of last two days open. It was fun seeing animals and getting some great exercise. Grandkids loved it even more ????

Carlos Valencia (Ñangas)

Very great zoo!! The zoo keepers are VERY nice, their animals are very beautiful and are in good spacey cages! Very nice. Very roomy also. Not rushed at all, have a lot of space to walk and enjoy! 100% recommend!

Susan Gillihan

Always love going to John Ball Zoo! They’ve increased capacity and masks are not required outside. Saw plenty of people still wearing masks outside though especially in busy areas. Animals were active and the team members friendly!

Crystal Bax

Had a pretty decent time today. Saw a lot of cool animals. The lions were very active. ???? I just wish the attractions were open. We weren't able to ride the zip line or use the high ropes course... May have been weather related though. Also, they are offering free admission to Snap/Food Stamp recepiants. You simply need to bring your Michigan Bridge Card and your ID to the ticket office.

Vince Vincent

Wait time

Steve Johnson

What a gorgeous zoo! Very well maintained and inexpensive. We all had a great time!

Megafilm Studios

No wait

Michael Turner

Who would've known a ZOO set right in a neighborhood! Wide variety of animals and exhibits.. Face painting, gift shop and food stations. As well as Hand washing stations, loved this! Staff friendly and very knowledgeable on where exhibits are. Maps are provided to Explore and Enjoy.

Keah D

They have a awesome light show! At night it starts in Sept and go to the first week of November. Take the family it is so cool!

Jennifer Smith

Like how they remodel the zoo. Walkways are easier to go thru and lot more stroller friendly. Thought they did good job with the pandemic we are in. They have signs where they say "frequently touch area". Many wash stations for hands.

Ryan K

Really nice, medium sized zoo with interesting design and some interactive features.

Shelley A

We enjoyed seeing the unique animals, beautiful flowers and Lego sculptures! The Zoo is very accessible for children in strollers and guests with wheelchairs.

Heather E.

The illumizoo walk was actually jaw dropping. So inventive and fun. Great for little ones. But. We're seniors and just as great for us. Don't miss this out-of-the-ordinary opportunity.

Debbiy Watson

Such a great atmosphere and place to spend the day with the family. Staff was very friendly.

Mila Rivera

No wait

Lunar Zodiac

Great local zoo. Love the keepers and their willingness to chit chat about all the different animals in the zoo or point you in the direction of someone who will have the information you want. :)

Aqua Link LLC

Price for adult entry

George Weiner

I truly love the new entrances to the zoo! It's beautiful! And some of the new exhibits! But, still an oldy but goody is the otter exhibit. The lego animals were truly inspirational!

Jeanette A.

It was nice spending time with my family at the zoo. We had a great time.

Doug Eby

Wait time

Melissa Verner

It's a good zoo with a decent amount of animals but parking can be limited so try to get there at a reasonable time

Patty Fasbender

This was the second zoo we have been to this summer and this one was much better than the first with so many more animals. The lego decorations were awesome. For the first time ever we rode the tram up and walked down. My son and I rode a camel for the first time ever together. We plan on going back in the fall when it's cooler so maybe the animals will be more active.

Tis Rachel

There's a decent amount of animals here. Nothing to crazy. There seems to be more things that been added throughout the years that are more gimmicky, but never new animal enclosures. The red pandas are new, but I don't remember the last animal that was added. Also the red pandas habitat sucks, I feel bad for them.

Charleston Burks

Very much enjoyed it. I love zoos that show how they educate the public AND help the animal's wild cousins. This zoo does both. With volunteers educating about bat houses, a group of kids going to the zoo camp, and numerous educational …

Kirk Narmore

Lots of walking up or down hill, great zoo. Very clean with friendly staff.

Melissa Fischer

Always a fun experience going to the Zoo with our girls and seeing all the different species of animals! They've updated a lot of the park since COVID-19 shut down, and looks a lot nicer!

steve jessop

We had a great day! So much fun!!

scott hawes

4 visits in 5 years and every single time the entire zoo seems to be on lunch break or something, including the animals. Very unprofessional. Most exhibits are under construction or maintenance or cleaning, or the animals are sleeping in some hidden location. To summarize: not a good zoo to go to see animals at. 4 times I have tried to show my family the animals here, and 4 times we left wondering where all the animals were . . .

Dustin Hinkle

Such a great atmosphere and place to spend the day with the family. Staff was very friendly.

Shaun Chu

A fun zoo to visit with a wide variety of animals and a good flow of foot traffic theough the zoo. I really enjoyed their current lego sculpture exhibit showing scaled up models of small animals. A heads up for parents with kids who are sensitive to sound: many of the indoor exhibits have poor sound dampening and it can be very overwhelming. The penguin exhibit in particular would be one to watch out for.

Sherry Stevens

Adult night at the Zoo was a blast, all the animals were very active. I wish they had more adult beverage locations.

Laura L. Thomas

Wonderful zoo.. trendy has a lot of animals, activities for kids and adults, prices are good.just absolutely love this zoo top 5.. will return, rare animals..

Chad Thrush

What. A. Fantastic. Zoo. I’ve been a member for many years and I love all the things JBZ does - from adult nights to illumi-zoo. Every visit, even for an hour or the whole day, is worthwhile. However I think the aquarium building is a bit tired.

Witchy Weeb

So much fun with the Illuma-Zoo attraction! Such a great fall feature!! Love it!!!

Ross Vander Klok

Zoo is decent. Not the same size as the one in Detroit but still holds a variety of animals. Great place to spend a few hours. We were in a time crunch so we kind of hurried through but we were able to see everything in around 3 hours.

Ashley Monroe

Always a great time, and it seems every time we visit there is a new special event. This time there were Lego creations of different animals spread throughout the zoo as a fun discovery.

Kara White

What a FANTASTIC zoo. Very clean, well maintained and such friendly staff. We had a great time

Dennis Merryman

Loved it, beautiful place, and friendly staff.

Chris Robotham

Is a great place for the kids and is very clean

Monica Marasigan

Clean, friendly staff, awesome animals and it's always a hit for the family!

Jaime Pletz

It has more animals than binder zoo in battle creek

Beck Family

It was an amazing zoo. I absolutely loved the Leggo animals.

Sierah Watt

They have really expanded on this zoo since last time I have been! Throughout there were lego statues of different animals, which was pretty neat! We definitely enjoyed walking throughout and seeing some great creatures! Will definitely be back!

Rashmi Kulkarni

Great place for family and friends. Lots of things to do

Ian Jones

Really nice, medium sized zoo with interesting design and some interactive features.

Kelli Scheiner

This zoo is wonderful. It feels like a botanical garden and zoo combines. All the paths all full of plants and flowers. All the animals were out and easy too see. My 8 year old walked the whole park see everything in about 4 hours. We got food. It was expensive and good. The loaded fries and pulled pork nachos were good. Great way to spend day with family. All the benches are made of recycled materials. The zoo has lots of information about animals that is easy for kids to read. If you have a Michigan Bridge card, you can get into park for free.

Kimberly Terry

Hands down the best zoo I've been to!! Family friendly, friendly staff, clean restroom facilities, awesome on site activities, and they also have a zipline and obstacle course. 10/10 will be going back. If you are in that area definitely check it out!

Amy Lopez

LOVE this zoo!!! Well built with nice habitats. Food could be better, and I hope they get giraffe some day, but overall, a really great place to take the kiddos!

Kassandra Hanson

Visited during Wizarding weekend and was a great trip for the family. Very clean and nice zoo with alot to see.

Chris N

Got a membership for my family this year and it was more than worth it. What a treat! Everytime the kids have a blast and so do the adults. Be prepared to walk or take the tram to the top to make your way down. Visited the Zoo goes Boo! Event this year for the first time and will definitely be back. Thank you to all the friendly staff and volunteers!

Zombri Stoel

Fun! Animals didn't seem particularly stressed, which is very important to me. Not a huge zoo, but clean. Can be a little tough to navigate.

Joe Gee

Went with our daughters family and little grandson. We all had a great day, but our grandson (age 1-1/2) really enjoyed it!!! Will gladly go again!!

Jeffrey Decker

Our family came for the Wizarding weekend and had a great time. The zoo did a great job with all of the "Harry Potter" type decorations and exhibits. The kids loved it. The animals were all out as well and saw so many up close through the exhibit windows.

Mothervee762 “mothervee762”

So much to do at the Zoo. Flamingos, monkey's, lions and fish. Just a few. Eyes wide open so much to see. Everyone having fun from 1 - 100.

Warren Schuitema

Lots of cool animals and fun exhibits. Fair pricing, except at the gift shop, obviously

Tyler Belcher

My kids loved it and we had a great time. I have 4 kids and they each got a souvenir cup, a gold animal coin, a giant pretzel, cotton candy, ropes course, face paint, we rented a canopy wagon for my toddler, and animal masks for each, I spent a little over 280 for all of that, plus sifting for gems. Well worth it for the ammount of fun we had today

Susan Hicks

First time in this Zoo and was beautiful day to enjoy here...a few animal but natural places for the animals and enjoy to walk around like in the Forest places...Zoo has also a penguins too.

Matt Lopez

Fun! Animals didn't seem particularly stressed, which is very important to me. Not a huge zoo, but clean. Can be a little tough to navigate.

Ashton Brandow

Went yesterday and was very pleased with my visit. Everyone were friendly and polite. Handicap parking and easy access to the entrance. There was some construction going on but nothing that would disturb your experience. Some exhibits were closed but all in all it was a great experience. The Legos art work is amazing!! They are spread out throughout the entire zoo. And the waterfall was awesome, it was pretty tall and nice on a hot day. The funicular was my favorite! Highly recommend this place.

Suzanne Charity

Just visited recently, fairly clean, the animal looked pr we try happy, fun events to get people to come out.

Angelina Densham

Lots of great exhibitions at a super price. A great day of fun.

Danny Thomas

It was exciting every step. They have Legos that built to various animals, an aquarium, vendors galore and so many different animals. The employees were very helpful and knowledgeable about their section of animals. Really enjoyed it. Thought it was going to be packed because of the amount of vehicles but it was hardly. If you have not been, I would definitely go.

scott hojnoski

Great place to take the family. I would love to see the zoo expand and bring in more animals. I will be a returning customer.

Matthew Allen

Absolutely excellent. The price was great for a zoo of this size and put together so well. Bravo for everything you have done and all the stuff for the kids. We will be back

carl kridler

$1–5

Melissa Boverhof

We enjoy coming to this zoo seeing all the animals and the set up .

Kate Amaezechi

Really cool place to take the kids. Wasn’t super crowded. Could use some renovations but they are adding/renovating some of the habitats. Rivals the Detroit zoo in some ways. You can watch the animals be fed which is awesome. You’re not always on flat pavement, theres hills, boardwalks and dirt trails. They have a zip line, high ropes course, camel rides, budge(parakeet)feeding, a petting farm, and tons of things for the younger kids. Definitely plan to be here the whole day. Pack lunch, water/juice and snacks. Bring extra $ for zip line, high ropes course, camel rides, budge(parakeet)feeding and any souvenirs.

Susan Kruszynski

Loved experiencing this little zoo today. It isn't nearly as big as the Detroit zoo, but that only helped it to feel less overwhelming. Every staff member we interacted with was extremely friendly and you could see the animals are well cared for. The otters were especially friendly and playful. Loved seeing all the Lego sculptures.

Stacy Decker

First time there since the renovations we're done. Still a wonderful place to spend an afternoon!

Michele Mellema

Little zoo but friendly and family oriented. Fun and affordable

Rory Strand

Each year we continued to purchase a family membership. It is the perfect amount of walking (about 2 miles for the entire zoo). It is mostly shaded in the summer. Always clean and well cared for.

Miranda DeZeeuw

So much bigger than I remember!! Awesome lego sculptures all around. Kinda stupid the concession stand up in the lions area closed half an hour early and wouldn't even just refill my bottle I payed for and only got to fill once. Other than that loved it!! Red panda is super cute and the bears are much easier to see now.

Matt McCullough

I like that they always have some new exhibit

Brian R (NaturalMagic)

Great day at the zoo. Much larger enclosures for the cats than what were found at zoos 20 years ago. Awesome Lego Sculptures on display, great food, pop, and adult beverage options. They have a really cool zip line and camel rides for the kids too! Zip line and camel rides have an extra fee. After the zoo you can enjoy the park where you will find a lot of greenspace & covered areas for picnics.

Andrew M. Travis

Was my first time and was a great experience with the family

Adonis Pointer

The kids loved the face painting.

Emily Milan

Had a good time with the family here. Lots to do for a smaller zoo. Social distancing was in play and everyone seemed to respect that. Food and beverages where a little pricey but that's to be expected. Zip lines, skywalk, panning for emeralds still in play though. Animal exhibits where pretty good we had birds saying, "Peak a boo" to us walking by and lions and tigers where active and impressive. All in all for a small zoo I give it 5 starts for cleanliness, nice staff, good walkways and lots to do with the kids. No complaints at all

Colonial Tinker

Kids loved it. Go during the evening when the animals are the most active.

Gary Shetler

No

Chasity Lynn

One of the better zoos. I recommend getting a map and plan your path ahead of time. I took the monorail to the top and thought it was a straight single path going down and that's not the case. The path splits off into many many little trails and pass which requires backtracking a lot. It takes a good amount of time to see it all and possibly a few trips if you live close by.

Travis Wiley

They have made a lot of wonderful improvements since the last time we were there. The habitats are small, so I feel somewhat sorry for the animals. Because of their limited ability to move, they are not very active. It's a fun day out for smaller children. The park where the zoo is located is large, and is a great place for a picnic. Right now they have an animal lego display around the zoo which is very impressive.

Jon Nagle

Love this zoo! Whenever I’m visiting the west coast of Michigan always make a visit to JBZ. Great small little zoo, love the penguins!

Marie “Mia” Palmer

Wonderful zoo and love being a member there.

Mark Moerdyk

Great day to go to the zoo! We had fun, a little pricey for the food, but delicious. The camel rides were cool too but again, pricey for the pictures. The zoo should consider a platform to view for people not paying to ride. Overall great time!

David Hazeltine

Was a great zoo with alot of attractions. I really wish everything was open such as the zip line and rope course. Still vary enjoyable with great staff that seems to have alot of knowledge about the animals and attractions.

Alyssa Kate

First time. Lovely zoo

Laura DeLange

It was an amazing zoo. I absolutely loved the Leggo animals.

Tiffany Matteson

Awesome... beautiful zoo

Ethan Couch

Great little zoo in a great little Midwest town. The enclosures are very nice, even compared to much larger zoo's. Great place for kids. You can get through the whole place in just a few hours without even rushing. Many interactive stations with the animals as well, from petting farm to camel riding and urchin garden.

Mike Brandes

Great for groups with small kids, lots of things to keep them busy. Food was above average but high priced. Bathrooms were clean but no towels. They were very busy when we arrived but parking and entry were handled nicely without any long waits. It's worth it

Greeky

Good activity for a couple hours. Fun play area for kids up by the tigers, but long walk without much to look at on the way. Small enclosures for the animals so they usually aren't too active. 3.5 stars

Derek Johnson

Always a nice walk through to see the animals, staff is knowledgable and patient with all of my children's questions.

Jack Jack

Fantastic experience here, we had a group of 14 and no hassles getting in. A modest amount of animals and the majority of them were at least visable if not fully active (very hot day today so most animals were being lazy) the park was clean and staff was friendly. Even had a good experience when i realized my keys were locked in my car, staff were helpful and came out with stuff to help. Great experience, I highly recommend for families of all ages.

Amanda Villanueva

Reservation recommended

The Outsider

Excellent collection of animals, packed in a spacious, yet not so huge area. However, the attractions are not arranged on a flat surface. So it's all ups and downs to climb. So, tough on the legs with that perspective. I found the viewing areas of many animals to be designed in a very nice way that I was able to see them very close. They also have a small petting zoo that lets kids up close with goats and sheep. One of the best zoos I have seen

Awesomely Aimless

I love the zoo, this is a decent size zoo for the area it's in. Lots to see and the staff seem to be friendly. Some fun activities and attractions. It's missing a few of the bigger animals but they seem to grow more and more each year. So you never know what to expect... Edit: just so people are aware, the animal living quarters are called enclosures not cages.

David Gould

Really nice zoo, been a few times, of course everything is pretty overpriced but the experience was nice and they have some cool animals and that’s what matters.

kristina kohler

No wait

Mariah Curnutt

Id never been there before. It was so awsome.

Sam Marcus

Nice smaller zoo in Grand Rapids. Love the monkey exhibits and all the sights to see. Check it out, they also have a lot of events at the zoo!

Bruce Lindell-Meinhard

Always a nice walk through to see the animals, staff is knowledgable and patient with all of my children's questions.

Jim Van De Wege

Great day with the kids. Half price "Toucan Tuesday" all August 2019. All you have to do is bring 2 cans of Non perishable food on Tuesday per person and you get Half off admission! Donations go to Feeding America West Michigan. So the donations say in our neighborhood! Great day of fun for a great cause!

Chris Cooper

Great zoo in Grand Rapids. Prices are fair. Not too crowded

Samantha S.

Great zoo! I took my grandkids to the Illumizoo and as usual John Ball did not disappoint! Free and plenty of parking. The lights and sounds were perfect, bathrooms clean. They did not have as many concession stands available as last year however we still had a great time!!

Joe Baber

I was surprised at how big this place actually was and how nicely done the themes were. They just added a butterfly exhibit and also you can enter a giant cage with birds and interact with them. It was a cool experience. Although the aquarium is lacking a bit, I still give it a good rating. Walking around + gift shop, total time at the Zoo would average 2+ hours. They've got many different animals you can pet like a Wallaby, sheep, goats, birds, ect. K They have zip lining and lots of interactive things for kids.

Davind Taylor

Wait time

Duane Anderson

They got cool Lego statues

Candice Berlin

The fall folliage here was so exquisite! We loved talking to the volunteer staff - so knowledgable!

Janet M

Amazing animals well kept enclosures great food would recommend

Ashley Sepanik (Ash)

No wait

Michelle Jackson (MJ)

We've been to the John Ball zoo during the summer and day time as well as in the Fall for illumizoo. We love it every time!! The staff is very kind and helpful and the grounds are well maintained. It's a favorite place to visit when we are in the area. We will definitely be back again!

Bettie Lee

Always a fun trip. Took some students here on a field trip today and we saw all the animals in about 2 hours although 2.5-3 would have been more accurate if we'd had the time to really stop and enjoy everything.

Joey Afienko

Overall okay experience. No huge signs to point you off the freeway into the zoo. Would expect a giant welcome sign or something. It came upon us abruptly. Our maps had us turning around in residential neighborhoods. For the amount of animals that are not out because of the cold, you would think they would adjust admission appropriately. This zoo doesn't have elephants or giraffes, which I would think is a staple. One of the park keepers explained that the zoo is on a hill and those animals need flat land. Cost of refreshments were ok. 30$ for a stuffed monkey was absurd, but I have a 3 year old and we were not going to leave the park without it. We will travel further for another zoo next time.

Brandi Van Houten

Very fun but not as much fun as i thought it was as a kid.

Racheal Palmer

This is a great zoo! Nice clean paths all around the zoo with plenty to see. Watching the spider monkey get fed was an engaging and educational experience.

Josh Trzinski

Great pricing for admission. Good prices in the gift shops. Due to the cold some animals aren't available to see. Fun day

Mary Kate Ronan

It's a very nice zoo. There just seems to be very few animals and a lot of washed space. We do enjoy it when we go though.

M A

Awesome... beautiful zoo

B

Visited on

Michael “Gator's View” Telgheder

Great zoo with all the updates, albeit a little small. Prices for food and beverages are really high, would recommend bringing your own food.

Moosifer Axdorff

What a beautiful day at the zoo! So many new and exciting additions. The only bummer was admission price don't match what their website says. For families on a budget I suggest calling for admission prices ahead of time so there are no surprises at the ticket window.

Jacob Ritenour

It's a great zoo right in the heart of the West Side, built into one of the biggest hills in town. The exhibits are top quality, activities are fun for both kids and adults, and prices are reasonable. The zoo is on the smaller side, but they do a wonderful job fitting the exhibits in the space they have. If you're local and have kids, I definitely recommend getting a membership. It pays for itself in two visits, plus 20% off all concessions and experiences in the zoo. Also, they now have beer and wine available at a few of the concession stands, another perk for adults!

Carlos Montalvo

The park is clean and most of the attractions are open. I have a health condition that won't allow me to mask up and they were understanding.

Richard Reyes

It's been Years since I have been there. It looks Awesome!

Bridget Smith

Price for adult entry

Kris Herman-Young

The forest trail was new since the last time I was there... Loved that! Consider putting a border on your camel pictures. For $5 I would expect a picture that has more of a souvenir feeling to it. I have this same picture of me as a kindergartener... Thanks for serving generations!

Elena Elizabeth Zoerman

Let me start saying that this zoo is not bad just sad zoo, almost all the animals in there were sad, I can notice the lack of green ( no trees to cover ) where they where placed, the flamingo water was green green an smelly, the bears looks sad and skinny, etc, is not good, they just keep them in there for our entertainment but in the reality we dont see their feelings we only see us having fun with them, sad. But for does in need of ENTERTAINMENT is good. The interesting part is they dont were a mask. Jajajajjajajajajaja lmao

Stacy Hooper

My 1 year old son had a blast visiting the zoo, lots for him to see and he loves animals. My only disappointment was that a section of the zoo was close for renovations and no one at the ticket booth mentioned it.

Stephanie sherman

It was a good day. Haven't been there after the new constitution. During covid it had a few things that weren't available and being a hot day not many animals active but still a good day.

Mike Gardner

$11–15

Caitlin Reed

Weekend

Carley

Wait time

Jared Harmon

As far as zoos go, this has a lot to offer for it's size. If you like art and animals, then this is the zoo for you. The lego created animal sculpture s & exhibits are superb in information and design. The zoo staff is ubiquitous - at least on the day we visited - and friendly and knowledgeable. It's a small zoo, but that makes it a doable zoo, a one day visit that is a complete visit. Oh yeah, they have great Red Pandas!

wierdawgg

Very nice little zoo. Love the red pandas, tigers and the new wallabys Jack and Diane. Price of admission was reasonable considering how much it costs to feed and maintain the animals.

Heather Bultman

Yes

Ryan Gajewski

Always great times at the zoo. Red pandas are active now go check them cute guys out. Be sure to hit the zip line for a quick ride. Awesome lego creations as well.

Shakeyda Israel

This zoo has changed a lot over the past couple of years, for the better, but it's still not that great. It's good for little, little kids, but older kids (4th grade and up) get bored quickly. They've had several animals die, and sadly they do not replace them for some reason.

Momdalorian Mom

Beautiful place can't wait to go back and see the animals. I went during night with the lights so there were no animals out.

Dorothy Morrison

We love JBZ! We visit weekly. Membership is very affordable. They do an amazing job updating and taking care of thier animals. You can see by their behavior they are happy!

brandon bailey

My son had a lot of fun. We are never disappointed and they bring new animals in every year

Ryan Melinn

One of my favorite Michigan zoos. Hadn't been in a few years. Was excited to see how it had changed. Was not disappointed! Everything looks brand new. Very walkable zoo. Parking is easy, a little walk from the entrance. Very friendly staff. Accessible exhibits. Definitely a must visit.

Tuhin Mitra

Beautiful zoo! We loved the Lego statues of animals as we wandered the trails and took in the amazing scenery around us. It wasn't too busy either which made stopping and visiting the exhibits that much more memorable.

Shannon Phillips

The kids loved the Halloween visit and my visit to the Tree House wedding reception was great 8 years ago!

Alex Marquardt

Great little zoo tucked away in a neighborhood. Lots of ups and downs in the zoo, gives your calves a workout. Great place, must see.

Cedric H

Weekend

Cameron Shawcross

Great updates! We had a great time! The only thing we missed were the red pandas. There was an event happening and it was blocked off.

Jamila Reece

They're putting a lot of work into making the enclosures more friendly and comfortable for the animals. It's really cool to see them making progress! Everything looked great! Tons of things to do and see!

Darlene (YOWBABY)

We went on a perfect weather day not too chilly and not too hot! I was hoping the animals would be moving around more...however, we honestly didn't see that many animals at all! This has become more of a nature walk and less of a zoo. With that being said I will still support the zoos efforts to protect and preserve the animals it does have, just disappointed in what it's becoming. Also, absolutely no covid prevention measures going on. Which is a little concerning considering children still can't be vaccinated. I thought the tram would at least be cleaned in between rides and it wasn't....so to protect your kids make sure you bring you're own cleaning supplies. I made sure my kids were masked up in the exhibits....to each their own though.

Katie Vanlinder

Went there for the illumizoo in October. Kids had so much of fun, there were a lot of awesome lights.

Cori Lynch

What a phenomenal zoo! Short distances between each section with plenty to do in between for the little ones - including this year's Lego exhibit of animals throughout the entire park. Amazing display!

heather bultman

Price for adult entry

Ashley Dean

This is one of the most enjoyable zoos my family has been too! We loved the small aquarium at the front with penguins, starfish, little sharks, lobsters, and a few more fish. This zoo is shaded well with beautiful trees and the landscape is beautiful. There is great accessibility with ramps as alternatives to stairs. There are water fountains around and drink machines as well; along with food. The animals are some of the healthiest and happiest I've seen (to be confined). The staff is very friendly and the zoo is well laid out. We were able to enjoy the entire zoo in about 1.5 hours, doubling back to see the grizzlies before leaving. The gift shop is nice with lots of buying options. I love that you can leave without going through the gift shop like with some zoos that force you to visit the gift shop! ????. Other things it has but we didn't partake: camel rides, Zipline (closed dieing our visit), and rope course. LOVE this zoo! Hats off to the staff and volunteers! ????

Alexis Bates

Was great seeing all the changes.. haven't been there since I was a kid...

Melody Rhoads

We had a great time. Wish we would have bought tickets ahead of time, because they were at max capacity for 2+ hours out. We got there at 2 and the earliest tickets available were 4:30. So we played at the park, which was fun! Someone was having a birthday party (good idea!), there are little park grills to use, lots of shade and picnic tables. Once we got into the zoo, the animals were out and very active. One of the workers said they are most active at the end of the day because it's almost feeding time and most of the animals prefer the cooler weather. Awesome experience, our 3 year old and almost 1 year old loved it! If you have a MIBridges card (EBT or WIC) you can get in free!

Donna Helsel

Same small zoo animals from 50 years ago and they currently have Great Lego creations. They are Over the top with the covid precautions for being outside. Nice job with the landscaping and it looks like the expansion will be great when finished.

Mandy Tuin

We had a great time at the zoo. Just wish the tram that takes you to the top was working, it was a hor day to walk up.

Jennifer R

Visited on

Daniel DeRoos

The place is very clean and safe to visit whit family and friends, the animals you can see will depend of the seasson the personal working there is very friendly and have all the information you may need, it is recomandable wears comfortable shoes to walk.

Tawanda Griffin

I love John Ball. We get the year long pass & just go anytime we want. It's great exercise & you get to see some animals.

Katie DuVall

John Ball Zoo is a magical place For kids and fun for adults. We are annual members for many years and love supporting this zoo. We are here for night lights and they did a great job. Highly recommend a pass and coming just to walk the hills and enjoy the animals and atmosphere.

Joshua Gardner

So much fun family had a good time .

Patti McConnell

First time there since the renovations we're done. Still a wonderful place to spend an afternoon!

Andrew Workman

Price for adult entry

Alex Maki

Went with my two grandkids and had a great time. The kids got little stuffed animals that were not to pricey 9.52, we had to re stitch one. The little doughnuts are a great treat. The pizza was not so good. Be prepared to walk. The Lego …

Vinod T.R.

Very nice, clean zoo. Small but a nice assortment of animals, some I've never seen before in person. The enclosures were spacious for each animal, I like that. I also liked that the signs told the stories of some of the animals including how/why they were in a zoo. My favorites were the eagles (bald and 2 golden), the grizzlies, and the reptiles/amphibians. Didn't get to see some animals because of the heat, but that's pretty normal in a zoo. Would have loved to see the snow leopards and somehow we missed the red pandas. There were some beautiful Lego displays of animals throughout the park, mostly at the entrance, that were fascinating.

MaynardHood

Wait time

J G

Ehh, was not impressed. I've been to better zoos that were similar in size. Many of the animals weren't out and active even though the weather was nice. Really enjoyed the meerkat and chimpanzee exhibits. The trolley to the top of the zoo was also a nice touch. This zoo would be a good one-time destination but I couldn't imagine getting a membership here. Also, sunscreen should not cost the same price as zoo admission. Like come on.

Sam Sachs

$11–15

Christina Espiritu Barnett

Great place to visit! Day out with the family, beautiful animals and pleasant nature centers, plenty of food and drink areas! Most importantly hand wash stations and sanitizer stations all over. Mask ???? required to keep us all safe & healthy! We always have a great time. They also have zip lining. ????

Thompson Ganduri

Beautiful exhibits, nice well laid out path, lots of hands on activities for children....it isn't a big zoo however it is well worth visiting

Gerid Adams (Wired4Sound)

Thankfully I like heights so the hill-side location was great for me. I also enjoyed how close you were to a lot of the animals in the exhibits.

Christine Toner

So much fun family had a good time .

Doug Eby

Always great times at the zoo. Red pandas are active now go check them cute guys out. Be sure to hit the zip line for a quick ride. Awesome lego creations as well.

Brian DeRushia

Great place for the family. There are a ton of animals and attractions. Here are a few of our families favorites: Otters, tigers, red pandas, bears, flamingos, monkeys, and a ton more. Playgrounds surrounding the outside with great (free) parking.

Gerardo Jilote

Great zoo. Camel rides were cool! Now that the Funicular is operating again, the trip around the zoo is much easier!

Danielle Needham

Visited in late August 2021. We have 2 boys, 10 and 12 and they really had a good time. We have been to much larger zoos across country which have far more to offer than this one, and also zoos of similar sizes, some better , some worse. But this one offered some encounters with animals that seemed closer than others. That was nice. The park itself is in good shape, with an expansion being done near the front. It is very walkable and the layout is done well enough. Some of the exhibits are showing signs of wear, but it seems that they are working towards renovations. The one star knock was due to the ropes course, zip line, and every food option being closed with the exception of one. We had gone with the intentions of doing these. The entry fee is not inexpensive and I felt like I would have skipped it had I known these were closed for another local option. It may have been, probably was, posted that these were not open, but I did not bother looking before hand...we were committed to going to the zoo at that point. Once we were there, there is no turning back with the kids. All in all, a decent zoo, and really the only option in the whole area. Kids had fun, I enjoyed what we did get to do. The Lego builds were one of the highlights for the kids. We spent about 2.5 hours there and visited every animal exhibit and had lunch at the monkey cafe. If I could offer one suggestion that has always been a huge hit at zoos we have been to, it would be to add a splash pad. It's good for all ages... I did appreciate that you did not have to exit through the gift shop, but my boys made us anyways...

Angel Lara P

We love the zoo!! We were gifted a membership and we take full advantage of it! We go once a week and are even having my daughter's party there! The staff members are always welcoming and willing to answer questions about the different animals/exhibits. I also love that JB Zoo makes sure they have animal habitats and not just enclosures/cages.

Karen McDaniel

The zoo changes a little from year to year with something new but is always a good experience. Making the climb up to the tigers gives a nice place to relax away from the rest of the zoo. The only complaint is the layout is a little weird so it doesn't all flow without a detour or two.

Chelsea Bledsoe

It was a beautiful fall day???????????? I went with one of my besties and we had a very enjoyable afternoon! The majority of the animals were very active, so that enhanced our visit incredibly ???????????????? I appreciate the efforts that are being made to improve the zoo for both the animals and human visitors alike. I do hope that the improvements continue, especially for the animals, since their lives are spent in captivity. They deserve as many enhancements and enrichments as possible! God bless all the zoo and animal caretakers, volunteers, administrators, et al ????????????✌???????????? Thank you for your hard work and dedication...you "all" rock!! ???????????????? Peace ????

Jeffrey

Great family activities. They have a new lego display set up throughout the park (hopefully it sticks around causes its legitimately awesome).

Shakira Mongar

Had a great time at illumizoo.

Roberta Davis

Visited on

justin restivo

Animals appear to have very little enrichment and looked absolutely miserable. This zoo looks like they provide the bare minimum for the animals. Criminal exuse for a zoo. Will not recommend or visit again.

Richa McCoy

Love this place! Absolutely, loved the Lego sculptures!

Stephanie Petersen

Very enjoyable. Nice zoo. Has Grand Rapids highest spot.

Rebecca Gerhard

Nice zoo. Had a wonderful time. Nice to get out of the house. Enjoy all the updates they have done since our last visit. Liked the mercats and Tiger. Granddaughter got a great shot of the ????. Didn't get to see all the zoo. But most of it. Good family time.

Ë

The BEST Zoo in Michigan!!! I have been going there since I was a young child. We take our kids as many times as we can a year. Can't wait to see the hippos when they arrive!

Natasha Stanley

Definitely worth the two hour drive. It's a beautiful well maintained zoo. More personable then the Detroit zoo. I highly recommend it.

Jeff Rozema

Amazing experiences for the whole family. Animals are more active when it's a little cooler also.

Craig Ward

Very nice little zoo. Love the red pandas, tigers and the new wallabys Jack and Diane. Price of admission was reasonable considering how much it costs to feed and maintain the animals.

Elizabeth Fryer

Wait time

Brianne Murrell

Some of the exhibits need updating. They have been the same since the 80's! But other parts are awesome!! Overall a great small zoo that can be covered in half a day.

Renbow Danh

Had a great time, the zoo keeps changing to stay fresh and fun for families. Everyone of the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. The only critters I didn't see, which did surprise me, was no Mosquitos! :)

Rachel Potter

Our family came for the Wizarding weekend and had a great time. The zoo did a great job with all of the "Harry Potter" type decorations and exhibits. The kids loved it. The animals were all out as well and saw so many up close through the exhibit windows.

JohnWick's Wife

Another zoo. This one is pretty cool. We spend just over 2 hours and feel like we covered it all. The tiger was really cool and active. Not sure we would return, but it was definitely worth a visit.

Kaycee Bylsma

Great updates! We had a great time! The only thing we missed were the red pandas. There was an event happening and it was blocked off.

D mitten

John Ball Zoo is lovely small zoo with lots of treasures throughout. The tiger exhibit is large and the tigers are always out. The red pandas and the three triplets are hilarious to watch run around and play. The animals in the reptile house are fun, and the zoo keepers are kind and informative. This zoo is definitely worth a visit.

Erin Massie

We hadn't been in awhile. Lots of nice little improvements. $15 for adults. Lots of stroller friendly paths. Plenty of free animal smells included with admission.

Ethan Frashier

We always enjoy our visits to the zoo. They are working hard to bring new and exciting exhibits and events for this year. The staff is always friendly and the grounds are clean. One of our favorite weekend activities!

Richard Carmichael

Lots of great exhibitions at a super price. A great day of fun.

Jason Gribble

Fantastic place to take the kids. We visit yearly during the summer. I love seeing all the birds and such, truly amazing. But I will say that it has not changed much over the years, perhaps some things need to be spiced up. Still a fantastic place to go though.

Gina Keel

This place was very okay. Just okay though. A few things that could be fixed or atleast acknowledged: ■ Many of the animals had less room than they should, and considering the amount of space the zoo as a total occupies its unreasonable to not give them more space. LOTS OF WASTED SPACE that could be used on better and bigger habits. ■ Specifically Capybaras must be kept in at least pairs, they had 1 in with a pair of birds, while yes the capybara is not alone it is not the same as another one of it's own species. ■ The animals don't have much or if any at all enrichment. ■ Venomous reptiles and snakes shouldn't necessarily be kept in captivity, i feel its dangerous for the keepers and there are better reptile and snake species that could be kept, even interacted with possibly. Prices are as you'd expect. Walking distance was pretty fine, I'd imagine it would get tiring for others especially for the disabled and elderly. One nice thing is that mostly all the food packaging and other things were recyclable or compostable. Would like to see many changes, id imagine funding would be difficult though, but will go again probably.

Mike B

Visitors of all ages can find something of interest at the zoo. Restrooms, water fountains, and sanitizer stations are plentiful and easy to locate. Several vegan (allergy friendly) food options available. Double check ingredients with the helpful friendly food service staff! The lady who served me was very accommodating.

Matt Seifert

One of the better zoos. I recommend getting a map and plan your path ahead of time. I took the monorail to the top and thought it was a straight single path going down and that's not the case. The path splits off into many many little trails and pass which requires backtracking a lot. It takes a good amount of time to see it all and possibly a few trips if you live close by.

Jose Uriza

I love the super easy to navigate paths and the awesome views of the array of caged or non wild animals is quite extensive

Colleen Jeruzal

It was so... fun! We saw a lot of animals! It was super duper fun because we got to take a lot of pictures of animals. We got to brush goats!

Jennifer Giancotti

No wait

D G M

$16–20

Matt Robinson

Very fun but not as much fun as i thought it was as a kid.

Maria

Be prepared to walk a lot. This place is much bigger than expected. Loved it all!

Kelley Wrozek

It's a pretty good zoo, lots of fun activities for kids, camel rides are pretty unique, currently doing some construction. I'd like to see some water bottle refill stations.

Carol Rummelt

Lions and tigers, snow leopards and mountain lions and bears were all active. Lots of cool animals outside. Was only $5. Excellent place to take in God's creation and walk while doing it.

Sarah Bailey

The zoo itself is nice, but my family went and visited the petting part of the zoo. Well there's logs where the animals are which is fine, but my 3 year old daughter tripped over one of the logs and fell. The worker had the audacity to laugh...I couldn't believe it. I told her it's not funny and all she could do was look away. I'm not against the logs being there or anything in that nature, some kids are clumsy and my daughter is one of them, but don't laugh!

Original Ideas Real Lif3

Very neat Zoo the closest I have ever been to a Tiger which was the highlight of the visit. Very stroller friendly lots of walking up hill.

Samantha Palmer

Fun times. Careful getting back into your vehicle, its a warm one

Sara VanHorn

Great place to get away with the family. The animals are always sleeping, makes it difficult to see and enjoy them.

Greg Reynolds

It was pretty but a small zoo. Had some really cool Lego sculpture. Makes fora nice day trip.

Chloe Bell

Great place to visit! Lots to see and do. Information about each animal at each enclosure. The Lego replicas are amazing!

Sophia Schramm

Great zoo in Grand Rapids. Prices are fair. Not too crowded

Maranda Bialas

Always a great time here. If you have a bridge card you can get free entry. Extra items like the camel rides are expensive for what you get but I cant tell my kids no ???? Covid specific: Be sure to reserve your ticket in advance online. The petting zoo aka the hobby farm and also the ropes course at the top for kids were both closed due to covid ;(

Katie Xerri

It's been five years since I've been there and it's gotten so much bigger! My favorite part is probably the tiger exhibit.

Anthony Roy

Amazing new thing's to see and fun to have with family seeing the wonderful animals.

A

Great zoo for all ages. Large variety of animals. offers extra activities too like camel rides, petting zoo, Zipline, ropes course, etc. Some of the animal areas could have more attention to the cleanliness of water and more space for the large animals.

Anita Kuske

Great to have the zoo open again to see all the animals. Also congrats on the possibility of bear Cubs next year. Can't wait to see them.????

Gerald Gregones

Wait time

Nick

Well maintained and a good hangout place for a family

Tiane Napilot

I love this zoo, I come here pretty often if I have friends visiting because the atmosphere is really great and the prices arnt bad either, plus I love the petting zoo.

Nicole Prins

$11–15

Brad Tompkins

I had alot of fun all the animals I want to go again

jodi borton

As with anything to do with Grand Rapids, I live this zoo. This is my childhood zoo and I will ways love it.

Janette Dwyer

Such a wonderful zoo, with plenty of fascinating species. It was much larger than I was expecting, and I was also surprised how many red pandas they had. The penguin exhibit was a highlight as well; you could get within a couple feet of them.

Jeffery Wilkinson

Great zoo! We took our 9 and 4 year old and we were able to see everything. It was one of the hottest days of the summer. We used the non-gendered bathrooms as a Family bathroom and they were SPOTLESS and air conditioned. I recommend taking the trolley as soon as you get in and working your way back to the exit. Some of the exhibits are air conditioned which was such a nice reprieve from the heat. It was during the day and during the week, so it wasn't busy at all. My only complaint is that there are a LOT of wasps. If you have a can of soda or juice they will be more attracted to you so keep that in mind around certain exhibits. Highly recommend! We will definitely be returning in the future.

Wanda Atkinson

Illumizoo was a wonderful experience of the zoo at night. Although we didn't see any of the animals the light show and natural walk of the zoo was great. This experience goes on until Nov. 15th and you don't wanna miss out.

David Powers

Excellent zoo with a wide variety of animals, knowledgeable, friendly staff and we loved that every few steps there is something to see, you won't walk for miles without something to keep you entertained. Very clean and well maintained with no shortage of snacks and drinks throughout the park. Loved the camel ride and aquarium! Only thing I would have liked to see that they didn't have was giraffes! Still an awesome experience!

Eddie Alberda

Very fun for the whole family!! We really liked the Lego animals that were on display throughout the park. I would definitely recommend going when it's not so hot and humid. The kids enjoyed the reptiles and amphibians as well as the areas where they had petting zoos.

Jake Willis

We had a wonderful time visiting this zoo. We rode the funicular to the top and worked our way down through the exhibits. Our family loved all the shade, fun areas for kids to play, and how we got to see so many animals close up. We enjoyed the camel rides, face painting, and petting zoo area as well. A lot of unique things about this zoo and definitely worth the trip if you’re in Grand Rapids!

Kesha Dowdell

No wait

Natalie Bustillos

Been coming here since I was a kid. The zoo continues to evolve and improve year after year. The brick sculptures are absolutely incredible and worth a trip in and of themselves. The animals are happy and healthy as well. My kids love it, and it's a great trip for the grown up kids too.

Jeff Mier

We attended the illumi zoo goes boo and it was definitly memorable our kids loved it as did we.

Katlynn Kern

Reservation recommended

Janice Flouncy

Had a good time with kids staff was helpful and friendly. The 2 young ladies that were renting out the wagons and strollers today 9/18 were very helpful with questions about the exhibits and locations

Jon Quist

I bought tickets online for IllumiZoo for 10pm a little over a week in advance. Showed up at our time and was told they closed at 9:30 and was not allowed in? Not sure why the website would offer tickets up to 10:30 pm if they close at 9:30. I checked and they still sell tickets all the way up for 10:30 pm. Was a bummer because this was the only reason we passed through Grand Rapids. So if you plan to buy tickets for IllumiZoo, make sure it’s before 9:30, despite what their website says.

Andrea Morris

It was nice spending time with my family at the zoo. We had a great time.

Chad Miller

The pelican and chimp experiences were amazing.

Olga Longberry

The zoo has done a wonderful job reconstructing the zoo to make it so much more enjoyable. They have done a great job bringing in fun stuff for the family!

Laura Whitbeck

Always love this place and the red panda is super awesome! We were here all day as a school trip. Staff helped us the best they could on our amazing race with answers. Thank you John ball zoo!!

Tina Simpson

Visited on

Steve Kersjes (HomegrowN)

Visited on

Richard Fritz

Zoo goes Boo was a great time and they have definitely made changes to the zoo for the better

Ptaszek Maan

Visited on

Adonijah Henderson

Visited on

Cynthia Hopkins

Had a Blast at the Zoo Boo, rain and all! What a great experience for the kids & adults. All of the zoo staff were so friendly and excited to see the kids! This will be a new yearly thing for us! Can't wait to go back tonight for the Illumizoo!

Sue Ann Hook

Fun little zoo that you can probably walk all the way through in about an hour, hour and a half. If you rush at least. They hold extended hour events for the kids and some adult only events. As of writing this they're doing some remodeling and I'm excited to see what comes

Don Moler

Great zoo!! The lego animals are great! Food & drinks are outlandishly priced but thats expected at any public attraction. Loved our visit. Would recommend going when they open at 9 because we went at like 230 and most of the animals where sleeping or just laying around and not very active.

Gary K

Reservation recommended

michael creg

Field trip day. A lot of animals not out because of cold temperatures. New construction was just finished up. They hire the cheapest bid. Saw some painting in bathroom. Tape still on ceiling. Saw no stingrays. There is a few camel's to ride. Take your cash!

Brook Baragar

They have a pretty nice variety of different species of animals. It marked the first time in my life I've ever seen a grizzly bear up so close. Only minor complaint about the place is that pizza slices at $4 and a small boxed water at $3.50 is a bit on the pricey side. But, I certainly expect that It's probably no worse in price than any other zoo in the United States for prices of thongs within the zoo. At any rate, the place is nice, and pretty large in size to walk around. 5 stars out of 5.

Rose McCallum

Weekday

Chris duMond

This place is amazing. The animals are so different compared to the Detroit Zoo. They have Lego sculptures of various animals with fun facts, how long it took to build, etc. Their benches have been made with almost 900 recycled milk jugs each. Their bathrooms are amazingly clean. A must see when visiting Grand Rapids or the surrounding area.

Whitney Smith

Small but special. I grew up going to this zoo and it will always hold a special place for me. In the last few years they have added a ton of new features and are still adding more. I've also seen an emphasis put on making good habitats for the animals as they have been working to enlarge their spaces. Fun day for kids and adults.

robin borde

John Ball is a wonderful local zoo. They've really done so much work to renovate the grounds and animal habitats over the past decade. My kids love spending the day here. The Lego exhibits have been a huge highlight the last couple years. After wandering the zoo, we also enjoy picnicking and playing at the new playground just outside the zoo. We have also participated in their summer camps for several years and the kids have had a blast with all their classes.

Hiba Hamed

Fun Zoo Experience ! There are lots of animals to see. Lots of places to take a break if need be. Numerous food and beverage outlets throughout the zoo. There are many add ons you can purchase as well, like a ropes course, camel ride, zip line, and a funicular that goes up the hill or down the hill or both. There is also a newer gift shop to pick up souvenirs to remember your trip. Quick tip - Purchase your tickets online and skip the line when you arrive.

Michelle Fabricatore

Had a good time with the family here. Lots to do for a smaller zoo. Social distancing was in play and everyone seemed to respect that. Food and beverages where a little pricey but that's to be expected. Zip lines, skywalk, panning for emeralds still in play though. Animal exhibits where pretty good we had birds saying, "Peak a boo" to us walking by and lions and tigers where active and impressive. All in all for a small zoo I give it 5 starts for cleanliness, nice staff, good walkways and lots to do with the kids. No complaints at all

Tommy Jacobs

The visit was mostly good everything was ok but when I went on the zip line in the zoo I hit the fencing behind it and injured my upper stomach but I'm pretty sure its just because of my weight. Anyway the animals were never threatening and my whole family had a good time.

Jersey Groulx

Reservation recommended

jorge alvarez

This is a great Zoo! First, I've been to it a couple of times with some years in between and the animals always look well. I like that the animals are relatively accessible to look at (not too far away to be unable to see them). There is a nice variety of animal species and other activities (seasonal Zipline, rope adventures, etc). I also liked the accessibility for strollers (and wheelchairs, I guess). Overall a great Zoo.

Jacob Wale

Loved it, beautiful place, and friendly staff.

Jenny Kihn

I spent a wonderful Birthday with family there. The animals were nice to see. I loved seeing all the Lego Animal Sculptures. The Staff were friendly and helpful, I hope to return soon.

Sweety B

Well laid out modest sized zoo. The setting is very natural; you feel like you are in the forest/jungle with the animals. They are in large natural enclosures, not cages. Well made Lego animal creations help tell the story. They have most of the usual animals, but no large mammals like elephants or giraffes. You can get up close and personal with bears, lions and tigers (there is glass panelling between), interesting and unusual animals like red pandas, go inside the budgie aviary to feed the birds (tuppance a bag?) They have activities like a zip line, a harnessed rope walk course, a funicular railway and camel rides. There is a small aquarium. There's also many activities Expect to spend 4 hours.

Jorge Yamil Martinez Marquez

The zoo has always been good family fun but in these pandemic timed we are even more grateful. With new landscaping and the new lego exhibits it was a hoot to see the redesign and some old favorites like thr the penguins.

Jeffrey Lewis

This is a great zoo! I would highly recommend.

John Balks

I am proud of the ground our zoo has covered and improved. Really enjoyed our morning there! The best feature was the knowledgable staff. Added terrific value to our visit! Going back soon, guaranteed!

Chenoa Rugg

Kids love our visit! Clean, staff are helpful and nice. Kids enjoyed the interaction with the goats were they can brush their fur. Wish they could add more activities for kids.

Ashley Cain

Great experience! This is a small zoo but worth the trip. The exhibits allow for close viewing of the animals. I wish the had more personal encounters offered.

X X

A very average zoo. It's a compact place so easy to see the whole thing in 2-3 hours. I'm always underwhelmed by the exhibits and the animals here. Probably best for younger kids. The Lego animals are probably the coolest part.

Vicki Driesenga

Visited on

Michael Siuta

Friendly staff and great exhibits from the chimpanzees to the grizzly bears. Plenty of activities for kids as well.

Kelly Norton

The woman at the gift shop showed me ALL the rocks and walked me through their purpose. She was more helpful than people in spiritual rock shops. Never again will I go anywhere else for rocks. A little overpriced but worth it for the nonprofit.

Eric See

So much fun! My family and I love to visit! I've been going to JBZ since I was a little girl and it's only gotten bigger and better! My kids LOVE it!!

Robert Carr

What a wonderful day with the kids and family, lots of animals and plants for everyone to see

Linda Monroe

The new entrance is great! I love the flow now. We visited during illumizoo/Boo at the zoo/Brick animals. It was great to experience them all on the same visit. We did not see many animals as it was quite dark. Would love to go back during the day and visit the animals again.

Sarika Mehta

The zoo is extremely beautiful, the funicular ride to the top of the zoo so you don’t have to walk up hill is great! Lots of activities within the zoo, large animal exhibits and the reptile and aquarium were amazing!

Brandon Allee

I've been visiting John Ball Zoo since I was a kid! I love all of the additions and events that they've done over the course of the last few years.

Sharon Tucker

Illumizoo wasn't as exciting as last year. The best part was the magic bubble tunnel. Too crowded, and too many people stopping for Instagram nonsense. Disappointed.

Rachel Krotz

Price for adult entry

A DeBoer

This is an awesome place to visit! The staff were extremely knowledgeable and responsive to our questions. The natural habitat design was quite appealing, and the trees and flowers provided shade and beauty on a hot day! I loved seeing all the animals, who looked very well cared for! The brightly colored block sculptures of animals displayed throughout the zoo grounds (temporary display until end of Sept, I believe) added to the fantastic experience we had at this zoo!

Julian Lanning

A lot of displays are under construction plus the time of day that we arrived was a lot of animals rest/nap times. So not a whole lot of animal movement going on for my 2 yr old grandson to see on his birthday...

Brent Smith

Price for adult entry

Chuck Hoehn

This is a nice zoo medium sized zoo. I wasn't expecting it to be as hilly as it was, so expect to get a workout with your animal viewing. The hills also made it tricky to see some animals as they were up high in the exhibit. Overall I was a little underwhelmed on the amount of animals they had compared to the size of some of the exhibits (great for the animals to have extra space though). As for parking there is ample parking in the lot connected to John Ball Park, so no issue there. Timed tickets are still in place as of this visit.

Rebecca Merten

It's a beautiful little park and an easy walk all the way through. The only downside is that this is not a big zoo. But that could be a perk if you're looking for a quick visit.

Matt Trebing

Went to see Illumizoo. The whole family enjoyed the interactive displays. Beautiful lighting and music throughout the zoo. Check it out!

Christina Lake

2.5 hour drive totally worth it. Our grandson was so happy that he could actually see the animals. Loved the layout and extra kid activities. Staff & animals were equally wonderful! Will go again!

Justen Concord

One of the cafe is too pricey to be messing up your food orders. For pull pork nachos and a cheese burger it was roughly $24. Which is expected for convenience at a zoo however all we got was cheesy nachos and a plain burger. Food aside though it's a great place to be with younger family members (nieces, nephews and children.)

Nicole Henry

It has been over a year since i last went, stopped going and taking pictures of animals and people, because it was becoming like blah. But lots of nice improvements have been made. Design and lay out seem to have improved. So much so I renewed my membership plus one. Now to find and make new friends to photograph he again. This one experience was a much needed renovation. It was a beautiful day, and staff were seeming to be as happy as people who visited. Took hundreds of pictures. But these pictures were all i had left on my phone to share.

Star

We been numerous times and always enjoy visiting our animal friends. It’s a great place to take our small family for an early morning stroll.

Lynn Gibson

Nice zoo, look forward to the "mini hippos" (forget their name, half standard size) section being completed in a year or two, I'm not sure. Was only disappointed by many of the most consession stands being closed and having to look further.

Jessica McMullin

Price for adult entry

Jeff Heeney

So great. Easy to see all exhibits. Most animals were out. Great variety of animals!

Darrell Dupuis

For someone who is in a wheelchair due to a motorcycle truck head on accident. This zoo was hell. It's all one big hill ???????????????? try pushing yourself when you weigh 280. Ended up having to rent a electric scooter.. other wise it would have been a nice visit

Jeff Berry

So many cool animals for a smaller zoo. Very clean and well maintained with large areas for the animals to roam. Get out there and support the zoo, you won't be disappointed!

Ashleigh Justin

For being during covid it was a super nice experience. We got to hear the lion roar, see the tiger and a few other things we didn't think would be available. The employees and security were amazing and it seemed everyone was following social distancing. It was almost like we had the place to our selves. There are cleaning stations all over the place as well as having some bathroom doors propped open so no one needs to touch them.

Judy Jackson

So many animals to see! The Brick animals on display were very neat too. The kids loved the snakes, chimpanzees, and snow leopard!

Jim M

This is a great Zoo! First, I've been to it a couple of times with some years in between and the animals always look well. I like that the animals are relatively accessible to look at (not too far away to be unable to see them). There is a …

Monique White

I have been to a lot of zoos but this was by far my favorite zoo of all time the animals look like they’re being treated really well they’re super happy the bear was walking behind me while I was walking next to it the lion was making noises the Penguins were happily making noises everything in the zoo seem so active and alive and it was so wonderful!!!! I was visiting from out of town and I was so surprised about how amazing it is they have the school zip line you can ride a camel and they have the school course that’s like a obstacle course for kids of a safety line and then they can go through it and it’s really cool!! Also they were these super cool Lego exhibit and a bunch of really interesting animals I’ve never seen it is you before like a red panda there was a tiger or a lion a bear beautiful penguins and a snow leopard and a lynx cat!!!!

Ashley Boguth

We went to the Illumizoo event. We had so much fun. The staff was helpful and friendly.

Richard Holland

Yes

Neight “King” Renegado

Great zoo with a great variety of animals. They have some classics that everyone loves to see and some animals that I have not seen anywhere else. Definitely big enough to make multiple visits, or make one full day of it. There are food and drink stations around, but they don't stop you if you want to bring outside food in to eat on your trip there.

Alan Czarnecki

Great zoo! Some exhibits feel dated, but there are many interesting animals both large and small. A fun time for all ages. Pretty solid food options that are less expensive than I'd expect.

Michael Alberda

It's a different kind of set up for a zoo with a very good experience and lot of fun for kids

Shawn Northrup

$16–20

Samantha Lane

Great zoo!! Family oriented experience with plenty for the kids to do. Bring plenty of cash as they nickle and dime you every chance they get...

Spencer Knight

Went for the summer music series. What a great program! I’m thankful for any chance to see the animals and also The Crane Wives ❤️

Cindy Lombard

I visited here as a child and love that I can share it with my kids. We haven't been here in years so we loved the new exhibits and all the extra activities!

Cindy Lombard

Fantastic place to bring kids. Due to Covid they have social distancing and indoor mask rules in effect. So buy the tickets online and avoid the line ????

Shawn Starr

Employees/volunteers are always super sweet and knowledgeable. I love this place

Brad Dobber

What an amazing day. We went right when they opened. I highly recommend going when they open. They get packed in the afternoon and the lines are very long. Animals were great, staff was informative and kind. No masks required

Linda Edwards

Visited on

Erin Fouty

Fun times. Careful getting back into your vehicle, its a warm one

Sarah Smith

Was my first time and was a great experience with the family

Heather Marler

We like this zoo for the most part, but a lot of the exhibits are set up in such a way that you can barely see the animals and it's not great for people who have a physical disability as it's all in a hill. Otherwise, the variety of animals is nice and the current Lego exhibits are really cool.

Chao Moreno

No wait

Jenna Engle

I love it here! This is the first family outing we have had since before the pandemic started. It is very safe and although I felt a little strange around other people it was nice to get out of the house! The environment is very family friendly.

Shari Wilson

Recently renovated, the Zoo is a great place to spend the day with the family.

Nadine Collier

We enjoyed the Lego exhibit and beautiful scenery. We spent a few hours here, which was well worth the price of admission. Parking was free, and the food was also reasonably priced. A few of the extra attractions were closed understandably. They had a limited amount of things to choose from in the gift shop though.

Jason Gray

Our family has been going to John Ball Zoo for years, the animals are happy and well cared for! Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the animals. We highly recommend getting a Dole Whip from Tiger Paws! Highly recommend!

Nichole Marvin

It's a zoo, what more can be said? Decently priced, well maintained exhibits, lots of pokestops. 10/10 would recommend to anyone who lives in or visits GR.

Mark Stewart

So much fun. Great place. Reasonable prices for big families too! Kids loved all the fun block sculptures.

Peter Simmons

We had an awesome time. ♡ The Lego Animal Builds were An Amazing Addition to our visit.

Wolf Clan

Loved the Illumizoo! Was a wonderful walk and allowed us to see the zoo in a new 'light'.

Stephanie Mommaof7

It's a pretty good zoo, lots of fun activities for kids, camel rides are pretty unique, currently doing some construction. I'd like to see some water bottle refill stations.

Welder 170

Weekend

Nic G

No wait

Jeff Johnson

Decent, not the Detroit Zoo, but if you're around there and you've got kids definitely go. Aquarium was really nice. An Alligator would have been nice though.

Christine Schultz

Clean, friendly workers and the animals were active! Beautiful zoo!!

Doug H

It's quite a nice little zoo the enclosures are decent size so that nice to see. Prices are quite fair compared some other similar attractions

Nikko Martinez

A fun zoo to visit with a wide variety of animals and a good flow of foot traffic theough the zoo. I really enjoyed their current lego sculpture exhibit showing scaled up models of small animals. …

Gloria Alberta

Love this Zoe. My family and I come here very often and find something new every time! The animals are clean and the staff is always 100% amazing! This time my youngest noticed the chickens walking around free over by the petting zoo. We also seen the schedule for feedings and were able to watch the penguins be hand fed by staff as another staff member told us facts and fun things about the penguins. Thank you for being here for a funfamily day.

Mollie Griffin

It's a great zoo, I love the elevated pathways, its like we're among the trees and the canopy on a hot day. I wanted a camel ride but I was scared to be so high & conflicted that I may hurt them. This is worthy of a revisit.

Lonijoy Gardiner

It's nice But why is everything going up hill. Lots of places to take a rest. Very nice zoo.

Lisa Gregory

Sad, the animals all looked sad and uncomfortable. The enclosures were so small for the amount of animals they kept in them. The animals were clearly a display, not happily living there. Please don't give your money to them.

Tyler Kooiman

$21–30

Alex Pierce

Always a great place to walk around. They have done a lot of remodeling since I was there last many years ago. A very family oriented place! Ive been coming since I was a kid and now Im bringing my kid!

Robeto Ramirez

Fun day at the zoo!

Melinda Wentworth

Get a membership. Also the highropes and Zipline are worth it, and feeding the budgies is always really cool. Pack a lunch and eat it at the little park next door, food prices in the zoo are pretty crazy.

Jacalyn Barbour

Great pricing for admission. Good prices in the gift shops. Due to the cold some animals aren't available to see. Fun day

Jennifer Jerome

It was amazing how much it has changed and see all the animals and a Lego exhibit through the whole park

Chris Norton

Great place to spend half a day. It is a nice big, spread out zoo. Easy to navigate. The animals have large enclosures and do not seem stressed. They have shade and are able to get away from crowds and people, yet are easy to be seen of wanted. The parking lot was very busy, yet inside it did not seem to busy except in a few places like feeding birds, ropes course and other interactive areas. The staff are very friendly and kind as well as knowledgable and willing to talk about the animals and show they care about them. It is a nice park with lots to do and a nice area outside to picnic and relax before or after visiting. Look forward to returning.

Khristianne Menardie-yokom

Had a great time at illumizoo.

rick wells

It was ok, didn't get to see much as all of the animals were asleep, food next time we will eat before we go. If you like high priced food that not really that good then ago head but if you must eat there get the hot dogs. The burger tasted like the ones i use to eat in elementary school. Good ice cream tho.

Shawn MacCready

Its a amazing zoo. The animals have great enclosures, a good variety, plenty of really fun attractions like gem panning, ziplining and a fun rope course. The food is tasty and reasonably priced for zoo food

Dawn Johnson

Not sure

Brenda Walton

When I was a kid I would go to this zoo every Tuesday, going back nothing has changed and everything was so amazing. Somethings had been repaired and renewed, but everything is the same. The animals are the best part, they are so sweet toward one and other. You need to buy the year long membership! It’s worth it, it makes going every other month cheaper,

Naveah Smith

Awesome trip, spent about 5 hours walking around and was able to see most all exhibits. Staff was very friendly and polite. I thought the food prices were slightly pricey, but nothing crazy. I got the free refill cup which was well worth it. Overall great experience, will definitely come back.