Mesker Park Zoo and Botanical Gardens Reviews

Nice little zoo to visit, good price with friendly staff, there is a trolley that will even take you around for a small few

Love the zoo!! We are regulars and appreciate all the time and thought they are putting into expanding the zoo. I wish they would post the animals names at the exhibit however. My family and I are big fans.

Sad to see the old Zoo still there, especially the monkey boat.

Great deal for the money. Staff are very helpful. Could use some new animals

It was a real experience as well as a trip to Amreka. Just an unforgettable place and that would be if we had such a great zoo here

When we arrived we didn't realize that we needed a reservation. Regardless the people there let us go in. It made the experience that much better.

I enjoyed this zoo very much. Lots of animals I have never been seen before. It's a small zoo with a lot of appeal!

Fun boo at the zoo, disappointed they're weren't more animals, but understand that it's seasonal. Thanks!

My grandfather used to take me and now I take my grandson

I really enjoyed my time a Mescker Park Zoo. It is very clean and well layed out. The tram makes getting around a lot easier for older folk like me. The fees are reasonable and the cafe and gift shop prices are reasonable also. Definitely worth a return visit!

Really need to care for the animals half where sick an not out the others where just missing

Going downhill on an elevator with no brakes on the eleventh floor..

Enjoyed seeing the carousel up and running. The lack of animals and the run down exhibits are pretty disappointing.

I feel as if I was taking a small hiking trip with my two little boys and they got to experience all the different animals and learn the names and have a fun experience

Love this zoo and so do my kids. It's a great way to spend the day with the family.

Wonderful zoo particularly for the price. We have been members here for years and still come 5 to 10 times a year.

The zoo was super nice and clean and had many interactive aspects to it. Plenty of shade was provided by the beautiful trees above. I fed a freaking giraffe and I do not care how old you are... It's freaking awesome to feed a freaking giraffe. We also fed some birds, but they weren't just any birds. They were beautiful and colorful little creatures and there were like HUNDREDS of them. (Picture shown) definitely a great place to go with kids, adults, or just whoever. There were also peacocks roaming around which was cool to. Not expensive to get in either. OH! And you can take these awesome boat rides. #Magical #NatureIsAwesome

This is a great zoo! My kids enjoyed all of the animals, especially the Rhino. It is laid out well and can be walked through, with small children, in about 2 hours. The prices are fair and reasonable. The employees should smile a little more since they work in such a happy place.

Evansville zoo is amazing, we have been several times and it's always great.

Always an evansville classics. Bring your walking shoes the hills can wreak havoc on your ankles.

Always a joy to see the kids enjoying wildlife and learning about our world.

Cute little zoo. Evansville is lucky to have such a place. It's a great way to spend the day.

Wonderful place for a visit. Amazing place for photography skills to be practiced. Do with or without the kids, it'll be a great time.

Mesker Park zoo has been improving over the years. They still have a long way to go!
It's like going on a safari, you have to hunt to find an animal!

It was a gorgeous day. More animals than the last time I was there. But, several exhibits were marked incorrectly, and the zoo was dirty. They could have taken the opportunity while they were closed to do some much needed painting and cleaning. And making everyone move in the same direction just caused more bottlenecks than if they would have let us walk on our own. Too much micromanaging. The gift shop was closed, the cafe was closed. You needed a "reservation " to get in.
Be imaginative, don't follow the crowd mentality, but alas, the zoo in it's effort to be politically correct, botched a perfect day.

This zoo is in great need of repairs. The tram was awful. The universal joint knocked so loud that we could not hear anything the guide was saying. No effort to spray massive amounts of duck feces off the walkways. But the worst thing of all was the HORRIBLY rude girl that worked the paddle boats. She obviously had a knee injury. Probably didn't want to be at work. We approached the paddle boats to take an enjoyable trip across the pond. A rope was up preventing us to enter. She is standing there, so naturally we ask. "What time does this open?" She barked "In a bit!" We pressed on to ask when should we come back. She rudely barked again "In about 15 minutes." She was very rude in her instructions about the paddle boats. She never smiled nor spoke in a friendly manner whatsoever. We had to pay extra for the paddle boats and expected a nice experience. I can over look the need of repairs and lack of cleaniness, lack of funds and short staffed. But, I will NEVER pay to be treated like we are intruding at this facility again. I do have to add, all other employees were nice.

Due to covid not everything was open, but the kids had a great time and that's all that matters.

We are members and we love the zoo. It is a wonderful place to go walking and the kids love the new playground. The improvements are awesome and I think more good things are coming!

Love our local zoo. Was such a nice time today, hearing about improvements and upgrades coming soon! Lots of great kids activities. A fun time for the whole family

This was the most horrible zoo ever. We seen a total of two animals a hippocampus and giraffe. The landscaping was poor and the staff all 4 of them seem lazy as can be. When asked for a refund was told sorry I dont know what to tell you here is the manager card which she's on vacation now so you can just email her and voice your complaints. $30.00 for a walk around a seem to be half mile hiking trail. Concession stands closed, vending machines broke down. Seriously I want a refund this was a complete waste of time for me and my family pleople if you from out of town stay away from this place because your sure to be disappointed by far.

Had a great time at the zoo good exercise and the day was beautiful

This is a cool zoo. It feels like you're in nature in most areas as opposed to how many larger zoos look. Signage isn't great in terms of directions/entrances but in most cases it doesn't matter which way you enter a building. The Amazon exhibit was my favorite. It's more of an immersion than any other I've experienced. They encourage you to have refillable water bottles so no worries about being able to bring them in. They also provide SPF 30 sunscreen.

While it's not a huge zoo, it is fitting for the area and a nice place. There is a good variety of animals from around the world. Memberships are reasonable and my family hold them so we can go whenever we want cheaply.

I had not been to the zoo since I was a child. Mesker Park Zoo was amazing. We had a wonderful day exploring. The park is broken down into continents and the types of creatures you would encounter while visiting those locations. They have a wonderful gift shop. Great photo opportunities. An indoor tropical sanctuary that blew my mind. I saw animals that I didn't even know existed. Very clean and overall great experience.

Our family really like going to the zoo to see all there animals new ones

Very nice! Clean, neat and well taken care of. Not huge, but a good afternoon outing!

Landscaping had really gone down hill, no pools ready for tiger and jaguar.

My sister n niece just got back from there today .. It was the worst Zoo trip they ever been too. They felt bad for the tiger didnt have no shade in a very lil area to roam.. The bear looked bad as well. They paid 9.50 to get in and they kept doing circles cause of construction. They seen the same animals twice.

Little bland compared to other Zoos, but it's still a nice place to get outdoors and visit the animals. Definitely good exercise with all the hills!

Of course when you go during Covid it is never going to be good. None of the Attractions were happening, none of the animals were out to view. Just not very good.

Lots of new things happening to make it even better in the future.

It is very clean zoo. Animals are well taken care of. Tram ride is a wonderful asset to zoo

The animals were super cute, and the playground was amazing!

Small zoo, decent prices. We were able to see all exhibits within 4 hours. Brought my five year old daughter and she had a blast feeding the giraffes. Good for a quick day trip.

Boo at the zoo is a great experience for the kids. This was our second year and it was a wonderful and safe adventure for our kiddos!!!

The zoo is a fun place to spend a day! Loved feeding the giraffes!

It is the worst zoo I have ever visited in my life. Don't waste 7 dollars. It has only two giraffes, two zebras, deers, and monkeys.

Very friendly staff, clean and well kept environment

Evansville is lucky to host Mesker Park Zoo, a real gem. The events are a blast, the education programs are fun and scientific. Its a bit of a walk around the park as is, so I can't wait for the penguin exhibit, and others, they have planned.

Pricey, new attractions coming, but most exhibits were closed. It's not as nice as the St. Louis zoo.

I love my zoo, and have visited over a dozen times in my short life time, but people I know complain about it a lot. I don't think most of their complaints are justifiable like "animals shouldn't be in zoos" kinds of complaints. For me, while I love Mesker Park Zoo so much, it does need a lot of TLC. The older exhibits are very small and plain and should be focused on while trying to manage and bring in new things. I know it's in the process of a very expensive penguin exhibit, but after this, take time to expand and update existing habitats. Bring in new things like new benches for people to sit down on, more shelters for when its a hot day and a handicap/elderly person can take a break in, I know the zebra themed cafe was torn down, but the zoo really should have another cafe of some kind so people don't have to go all the way to the front to eat lunch in the middle of their visit. Even repaint old buildings with fun new colorful murals hired on by maybe local artists! Work on fixing up and adding to things you already have will show people you care about the zoo and bringing in new convinces for the people that visit show that you care about them too. These things will likely cost less or about the same as a new animal exhibit, but I bet the payoff will be grand. I love you Mesker Park Zoo and can't wait to see your developmental changes for the better <3

Such a great zoo... Good signage. Happy animals. Tiger area a little small. Easy to get around. Hilly. Love feeding giraffes

Went to the Boo at the Zoo, it was fun and lots for the kids to do

It was terrible! No animals! Walked for three and half hours, paid 9.50 an adult to look at nothing!! There were no lions, giraffes, which were said to be some, no tigers, no zebras, nothing that a zoo should have!!

Not a huge zoo. We loved it because of its size. For a young child is great since they get bored so quickly.

great staff! and awesome events! they're really turning the place around

A lot of steep hills and it can get pretty expensive for a whole family. But it's clean and kept up well.

We had a great trip yesterday with friends and kids. Masks we're required inside buildings but outside was optional. Weather was perfect for the zoo. Friendly employees, guided tour and strollers to rent for cheap.

I had a good time. There are a few hills but not too bad. There were quite a few empty enclosures but I loved the animals that I did get to see. I think some of the enclosures need to be updated and expanded a bit like the tiger exhibit for example. I loved the giraffes even though I got scolded for touching one. Maybe because I didn't pay to feed them? If people are not supposed to touch them when they stick their heads out maybe they should put in a second fence. It is a decent zoo but I wouldn't plan a big trip just to see it. We were just passing through. The older people with me remember the "Monkey Ship" and are glad they haven't taken it down.

It just wasn't the place I knew as a child, my gosh $3 for a bottle of water! And animals? Where were they? Not as many as they had before! Seen an article on Google saying they had to give back the animals they borrowed because of poor cleanliness in the habitats!

While it is a nice enough zoo in general, it is clearly struggling. A lot of their pathways, facilities, etc. were very worn out. Many exhibits were empty or clearly intended for more animals than were present, with at least one empty exhibit expressing that the animals within were one of the zoo's most important animals (i.e. rare), though they had been gone so long that they had been removed from the map. The zoo couldn't even be bothered to take down the signs for animals that were gone. They are building a new penguin exhibit, which was not even a construction site at the time of my visit, but the money would be better spent on repairs. They don't have much choice, however, as people won't donate to massive repair projects.
The included photo does not necessarily reflect this review, but it did come from this zoo.

It's ok. Would have been better if everything was open but it still was a good experience

Took our son here. It was ok. Not very many active animals, but we got to feed the giraffes. My husband wasn t too impressed.

Convenient to get to. Kind staff. Food and drinks available multiple locations. Fun ways for kids to interact with the zoo.

Took the grandchildren to Boo at the Zoo and we had a really good time

Nice zoo. It took us about 3 hrs to go through and that was with a 2yr old.

Bought a yearly pass because 1 trip with my family cost as much as a membership. We've been multiple times just to play at the playground

Exhibits are nice and animals seem happy. Better tiger cage

One of the better medium/small size zoo's I have been too. Worth the trip!

So many flowers in bloom! I highly recommend you visit the zoo

Had a great time at the zoo! Everyone was respectful of the rules. So many of the animals were out, it was exciting.

Where are the animals?? Not there, that's for sure. They have nice plants but it was a waste of money

A great place to visit in Evansville for family fun, though I would highly recommend becoming a member if you plan to go more than once a year as single session admission is a bit pricey.

It was rainy so didn't get to see much and paid a lot of money for very little exploring.