John Ball Zoo
John Ball Zoo and its collection
John Ball Zoo, opened in 1891, is a zoo in Grand Rapids, United States.
More than 2,000 animals of over 200 species are kept, laid out across the ravines and bluffs at the western edge of the property. A Zoo School and a Wildlife Conservation Fund are also run.
Animals and collection
Most of the residents were born at other zoos rather than taken from the wild, and the wild-born ones are mainly there because injuries rule out a return to their habitat. A Komodo dragon called Precious arrived in 2004 and died of natural causes in December 2014.
Exhibits
Its exhibits include Aquarium, Wild Way Trail, Entry Valley, Americas and Africa.
Things to do
Things to do include Zip Lining, Camel Rides, Face Painting and Behind The Scenes.
What the venue says
- ropes course
- camel rides
- virtual reality experiences
- Tiger Paws concessions near the Forest Realm trail.
- Paid parking pilot beginning March 20: $5 daily fee with the first 30 minutes free; free for Zoo members and Kent County residents.
- Wheelchairs and Electric Carts are only available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved ahead of time.
Images of John Ball Zoo
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WMrapids, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA, CC-BY-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opening hours
| Days | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Every day | 09:00 | 18:00 |
Hours can change on public holidays. Check with the venue before travelling.
the 2026 season runs from March 20 to November 22
Admission
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Museums For All | 4.00 USD |
Facilities
- Behind-the-scenes tour
- Rides and attractions
Exhibitions & events
No upcoming events
No temporary exhibitions or scheduled public events are published for John Ball Zoo at this time.
Accreditation
- AZA accredited, valid until (source)
Location & map
MichiganGrand Rapids
United States
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© OpenStreetMap contributors
Frequently asked questions
No frequently asked questions yet
We have not published any questions and answers for John Ball Zoo.
Animals
Photographs show each species in general. They were not taken at John Ball Zoo.
-
bald eagles -
pygmy hippos -
brown bears -
snow leopards -
North American river otters -
spider monkeys -
African lions -
chimpanzees -
meerkats -
warthogs -
Amur tigers -
red pandas -
snowy owls -
ring-tailed lemurs -
sloths
Exhibits
- Living Shores Aquarium
- Pygmy Hippo Pavilion
- Idema Forest Realm
- Wild Way Trail