The Fort Wayne Zoo is proud to host Military Appreciation Day this Saturday, June 14, 2025, offering free admission to all active duty and retired military personnel in honor of their service and sacrifice.
News release from the Fort Wayne Zoo:
Fort Wayne Zoo Honors Service Members with Military Appreciation Day This Saturday
Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 12, 2025) – The Fort Wayne Zoo is proud to host Military Appreciation Day this Saturday, June 14, offering free admission to all active duty and retired military personnel in honor of their service and sacrifice. Guests accompanying military members will receive a special admission rate of $10. All visitors to the Zoo will be given the opportunity to plant a provided small flag outside of the Zoo’s Wild Things Gift Shop in our “Field of Honor” to help commemorate our service men and women.
The Zoo will open early at 8:45 a.m. with a Military Appreciation Ceremony taking place at 8:55 a.m. just outside the main entrance. The event will begin with a warm welcome from Zoo Director and CEO Rick Schuiteman, followed by a flag presentation by the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) and a heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem performed by Emilee Walker.
“This day is our opportunity to recognize and show deep appreciation for the dedication and bravery of our military service members,” said Rick Schuiteman. “We’re honored to welcome them and their families for a day of connection, celebration, and fun at the Zoo.” Rick Schuiteman will be available for interview and further comments after the conclusion of the welcome ceremony.
The Fort Wayne Zoo invites the community and members of the media to join in celebrating our service members for this special day.
About the Fort Wayne Zoo
The Fort Wayne Zoo is northeast Indiana’s largest tourist attraction, hosting more than 650,000 guests annually. The Zoo is home to Red Panda Ridge named #6 in USA Today 10 Best Zoo Exhibits for 2024. In 2021, the Zoo was voted Visit Indiana’s “Summer Bucket List Top 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, investing nearly $275,000 annually in local, regional, and international efforts to protect wildlife and their habitats. The Zoo cares for more than 1,500 animals and participates in 41 cooperative species survival plan programs and 42 taxon advisory groups, which are critical to supporting threatened species.
As a self-supporting facility, the Fort Wayne Zoo receives no tax dollars for daily operations, unlike most accredited zoos where those dollars fund approximately 40% of their annual operating budgets. The Zoo’s mission is made possible thanks to support derived from admissions, memberships, donations, group picnics, special ticketed events, and other visitation-related activities.
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