Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo news release:
Zoo Opens Sunday, June 14 for 56th Season to Members Only
(June 12, 2020) – Two months after its scheduled opening date the Zoo is finally opening…to members-only with timed tickets.
Beginning Sunday, June 14 through July 3, the Zoo will open with three weeks of exclusive member-only access. Current Zoo members will need a free, timed ticket available only at kidszoo.org. Timed tickets will allow the Zoo to spread out the number of guests, expedite entrance lines, and encourage appropriate social distancing as we will follow the Governor’s orders and operate the Zoo at half-capacity.
“We can’t wait to finally have guests in our Zoo,” says Executive Director, Jim Anderson. “Members with Timed Tickets will be the first we welcome back to the Zoo for our 56th season and we are sold out for Sunday, June 14th.”
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is following the Governor’s guidelines and Allen County Public Health Officials recommendations including limiting Zoo attendance to 50%, timed ticketing, social distancing recommendation signage throughout the Zoo, face coverings worn by Zoo staff and suggested for guests, contactless card transactions, drinking fountains closed, hand sanitizing stations throughout the Zoo, and enhanced cleaning protocols on high touch points.
“The rides will be open,” said Dan Sheehan, Director of Operations, “but with appropriate train and carousel seats closed to provide for 6 ft social distancing between parties.”
Zoo staff, volunteers and animals are ready for guests including Meeko, our newest North American River Otter; Oolong and Anne, our delightful Red Panda couple; Magnus, Sharon and Ramsey, the Shetland Sheep trio; Hyena sisters, Ruckus and Havoc; and a new species to the Zoo, Cape Porcupines, Abasi and Stompers.
July 4th is the expected public opening date at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo as we continue to follow the Governor’s Back on Track Indiana plan.
About the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is northeast Indiana’s largest tourist attraction, hosting more than 600,000 guests annually. The zoo was voted Indiana’s #1 “Gotta-Do Summer Attraction” and is consistently named one of the nation’s Top Ten Zoos for Kids by national media outlets.The Zoo is a conservation leader, contributing more than $280,000 annually to local, regional, and international efforts to protect wild animals and habitats. The Zoo cares for more than 1400 animals and participates in 63 cooperative species survival plans.
As a self-supporting facility, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo receives no tax dollars for operations. The zoo’s operations are funded entirely by earned revenue and donations.
The Zoo will open for the 2019 season April 27, 2019. Zoo hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily. The Zoo comes alive after 5 – Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, extended hours until 7 pm daily.
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