Blank Park Zoo
Blank Park Zoo

Open Daily, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$18 adults, $12 children
 

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Open Daily, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$18 adults, $12 children
 

View All Rates ›
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Behind the Scenes Tours

Behind the Scenes Encounters

Reserve your spot in one of the Blank Park Zoo's exclusive behind the scenes tours. Each tour interacts with a different group of animals and their habitat. Spend one-on-one time with a zookeeper and have the chance to see some of your favorite animals up close. Choose from nine opportunities. Availability varies by experience. 

Tours must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance to accommodate staff scheduling. Call 515-974-2563 or email Janie to schedule your private experience today. People age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All participants on the tour must wear closed toed shoes for the entirety of the experience. Please call for more details.

PRICES
Ages 12 and older: $120 non-member / $80 members
Ages 11 and under: $60 non-members / $40 members

 

Harbor Seal, Sea Lion & Penguin Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 12 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30 p.m.

See these magnificent marine mammals up close! Join the keepers at Hub Harbor for a pinniped training demonstration, and experience a feeding session with the Magellanic penguins.
 

Reticulated Giraffe Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 8 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 2 years or older
Time of Tour: November - March: 2:30 p.m. and April - October: 8:00 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.

Get a rare glimpse behind-the-scenes of the reticulated giraffe, duiker and okapi barn, chat with zookeepers, ask questions and learn about how Blank Park Zoo is making a difference for these animals here and in their natural habitats. *See okapi add on experience below.*


Okapi Add On Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 8 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 2 years or older
Tour Details: $120 flat fee for non-members, $80 flat fee for members.

Meet Romakari the okapi, who shares the barn with the reticulated giraffe.
 

Rhino Barn Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 12 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30 p.m. and Memorial Day - Labor Day, 8:15 a.m.

Get an up close look at the zoo’s endangered Eastern Black Rhinos on a visit through their indoor barn. Chat with a zookeeper and observe a training session. 
 

Tortoise Experience (Offered Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 6 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30 p.m.

Step into the Aldabra tortoise habitat and meet Barnaby, Flapjack, Quinn, Kihanni and Q. Chat with zookeepers, ask questions and learn about how Blank Park Zoo is making a difference for tortoises here and in their natural habitats. Please remember that closed toed shoes are required, and staff will ask you to be conscious of your footing.
 

Ambassador Animal Meet and Greet

Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 2 years or older
Time of Tour: 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.

Get an up close visit from ambassador animals and discover how they play an integral roll in conservation efforts locally and globally. When booking an ambassador meet and greet, guests will have the ability to select a primary and secondary choice from a list of the ambassador animals. Please note that preferences are not guaranteed, as the animal always has the choice to participate or not.

 

Aquatics Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 6 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 8 years or older
Time of tour:  11:00 am or 1:00 pm Tuesday- Saturday

Dive into the world's waters with a Behind the Scenes tour of our Aquatic department.  Explore different oceanic ecosystems by getting a close up look at tropical fish and rescued coral, which is part of the Florida Coral Rescue Plan.  Witness a coral feeding and then head over to one of the reef tanks to feed the fish. Come out and see what all the comm-"ocean" is about!

 

Papa the Donkey Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 2 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30pm

Get an up close and personal experience with our very own Miniature Donkey, Papa.  Get a behind-the-scenes look of his barn, chat with the zookeepers, and get the opportunity to see Papa put his skills to the test with a training session. There's even a possibility to feed and brush him, too!

 

Cassowary Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 6 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 12 years or older
Time of Tour: November -  March   2:30 p.m.

Meet a descendant of a real life dinosaur on a Cassowary tour. Get up close and have the chance to feed these prehistoric looking animals while catching a glimpse into why they are so vital to the rainforest ecosystem.

 

Vet Building Experience

Maximum Size of Tour: 20 people
Age Restriction: None
Time of Tour: 12:00 p.m. on Tuesdays

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a veterinarian at a zoo?  Go behind the scenes with Blank Park Zoo’s very own vet staff, who oversee the care of all the animals here.  They will answer your questions about the medical facility, show you some cool biofacts, and tell you about an “average” day in the life of a veterinarian.
(There are no live animal encounters on this tour)

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