Potter Park Zoo a great place to spend a day in Lansing

If you are planning a trip to Lansing, Michigan or are new to the area the Potter Park Zoo is one of Lansing’s parks you may enjoy visiting. Home to over 500 animals (160 species) there is sure to be something for the animal lovers. Lions and tigers and bears along with many animals you may not recognize or be familiar with Potter Park is a great place to spend a few hours or the whole day.

Potter Park Zoo covers over 20 acres of Potter Park property and offers several different attractions. In the Backyard Gardens visitors can take a relaxing walk or make it a educational experience and learn how to attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife to your own yard. At the Barnyard, which is one of the favorite spots for the younger kids guests to the zoo can find reindeer, burros, and tortoises big enough to ride. They will also enjoy petting and feeding the pygmy goats and pigs.

The Bird & Reptile House is home to snakes, gila monsters, and many other animals including macaws, owls, and one of the endangered species the Mali Mynah bird. If you prefer the water you will love the Coral Reef exhibit where you can see not only living reefs and sunken ships but a wide variety of colorful and exotic fish.

Of course no zoo is complete without felines (cats) and primates (monkey) and the zoo has a house full. Snow leopards, lions, tigers, lemurs, and monkey's are only a few of the critters you'll see in the Feline/Primate House and the kids will be excited when they spot the mandrills who they will recognize from the Disney movie The Lion King (Rafiki is a mandrill).

To see more pictures of a sample of animals at the Potter Park Zoo be sure to check out the slide show below.

Potter Park also offers a huge duck pond where you can sit and relax while enjoying ducks, geese, and swans in their natural habitat as well as see deer grazing in a nearby field.

Other features of Potter Park Zoo include on site parking for a fee, rentals of wagons, strollers, and carts, and several concession stands for a snack or light meal. Wheelchairs are available free of charge. All through the zoo and park you will find benches to set and rest and particularly nice on those hot summer days many shaded areas to cool off.

Potter Park Zoo Location:
1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing, Michigan Directions 

Potter Park Zoo Hours:
April 1 - October 31: 9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.
November 1 - March 31: 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
(Note the zoo starts putting animals in for the night at 4p.m. so you’ll want to plan accordingly if you want to see all the animals.)
The zoo is closed only one day a year, December 25th.

Potter Park Zoo Prices:
Resident Adult - $4
Non-Resident Adult -     $10
Resident Senior - $3
Non-Resident Senior - $8
All Children (ages 3-16) -     $2
All Children under 3    FREE

Potter Park Zoo also offers several different membership packages which are great for visitors who want to visit the zoo more than just once during the year. Since the zoo offers many special events throughout the year (see 2010 list of events below) if living in the Lansing area you may want to take advantage of one of these:
Individual - $30, Family - $50, Senior - $20, Grandparent - $40

Passes to the zoo can be purchased at the admissions booth on arrival or in advance by calling the zoo office Monday-Friday, 8a.m. - 5p.m. at 517-483-4222.

Scheduled Special Events 2010:
June 21 - ZooKambi Starts!
July 13 - 14 - L&L Zoo Days
July 31 - Just Chillin' Enrichment
August 11 - Members Only Party
September 16 - Wine and Stein III
September 19 - Horsepower at the Zoo and Craft Show
September 19 - Tailgate for the Animals Enrichment
October 15 - 31 - Fall Scarecrow Contest
October 23 - 24 - Boo at the Zoo
October 31 - Pumpkinfest Enrichment
Nov 26 - Dec 26 - Wonderland of Lights
December 11 - Breakfast with Santa

For more information on events visit the ‘What’s Happening’ section of the Potter Park Zoo web site.

Potter Park Zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participants in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs.

History of Potter Park Zoo