Lincoln Children's Zoo

Lincoln Children's Zoo and its collection

Lincoln Children's Zoo, opened in 1965, is a zoo in Lincoln, United States.

Close to 200,000 people come each year, making it Nebraska's third best-attended arts and science venue. Privately funded and 10 acres in size, it records the highest attendance per acre of any zoo in the United States. As of March 2019 it opens all year.

History

Arnott Folsom began planning a hands-on children's zoo in 1959, paying from his own pocket. In 1963 the original three-acre site was still being built, though the train track had been finished. Folsom sold rides on the train, then named the Iron Horse, to raise the money to complete the build.

Animals and collection

Animals on show include Sumatran tiger, Matschie's tree kangaroo, giraffe, cheetah and penguins.

Exhibits

Exhibits include Critter Outpost for small mammals and birds, The Hive for invertebrates and reptiles and amphibians, and The Secret Jungle for two species of spider monkey. Animals appear daily at the Wild Safari Theater for visitor encounters.

Things to do

Things to do include Daily Animal Encounters and Flashlight Safari.

Conservation and approach

The collection runs to over 400 animals, more than 40 of them endangered, among them Sumatran tiger and Matschie's tree-kangaroo. Week-long summer camps are run for ages 3 to 12, and teenagers aged 14 to 18 can travel abroad with the zoo.

What the venue says

• Daily Animal Encounters
• Café 65 Burgers, Chicken Tenders, Salads, Wraps, and More Open Year-Round
• The zoo features three parking lots with entrances accessible from 27th Street, A Street, and Memorial Drive.
• Designated handicap parking spaces are available in the main zoo parking lot, located directly between A Street and 27th Street.