Primo Ristorante Italiano The Sunsphere offers great views of the Knoxville area and the mountains. Our family visited the Knoxville Zoo on a Saturday afternoon. The ARC will allow thatcritical research and conservation workto be seen by the public. WiFi Available Meeting/banquet facilities The different exhibits are great and most offer you a great view of the animals. There are designated smoking areas in MainStay Suites Knoxville as well as smoking and ADA-accessible rooms. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Head to Neyland Stadium to cheer on the Vols, walk around the Knoxville Zoo, or take a tour of the many amazing breweries around town! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Zoos Closed now 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Visit website Call Write a review About Fun on the outside and serious about animals on the inside, Zoo Knoxville is committed to giving our guests an unforgettable experience. Just a short drive away from Knoxville Convention Center and Knoxville Downtown Island Airport, Super 8 by Wyndham Knoxville West/Farragut is a great choice if youre flying to the city for business matters or a short vacation. When things settle down they will re-evaluate, but that wont be for at least a year. Address: 144 Merchants Drive Everyone must stay with the group throughout the program. It made us appreciate our tiny little zoo a lot more. I called the number listed but received no answer. Zoo Knoxville, formerly known as the Knoxville Zoo or Knoxville Zoological Gardens, is a 53-acre (21ha) zoo located just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, near exit 392 off Interstate 40. I am sure that this place is pretty when Coronavirus is not prevalent and everything is open. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. 85% of the animals were put up (mainly the ones that one would be excited to see, elephants, giraffes, zebras, otters etc.) In the following years, Old Diamond was successfully mated to two younger female elephants, with two daughters being born in 1978. Featured Rooms & Rates Designated smoking areas are available as well. The Touch-a-Truck event is one of our familys favorites. No skates, bicycles, skateboards, roller shoes or hoverboards are permitted. They have smoking rooms presented in a clean and beautiful package. Lots of exhibits roped off, lots of construction, minimal animals, glass barriers that were dirty and not easy to see through because of glare - were just some of the reasons that we gave it poor marks. 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive Details Zoos and Aquariums Type 1 to 2 hours Time to Spend scorecard 4.0Value 3.0Facilities 4.0Atmosphere How we rank things to do More than 700 animals live at this. The park included a stone shelter, small playground, and a wading pool on a hillside in Chilhowee Park. Any item (s) reported or found to be dropped in an animal exhibit or safety area may take time . The far eastern area of the zoo by Kids Cove formerly held the original reptile house, along with a few smaller exhibits with otters and birds. I believe there was a restaurant on one of the levels, which obviously would cost you, and you might have to pay for parking nearby to check this out, but the parking garages are pretty reasonable pricing. Knoxville Zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. The center includes interactive spaces for kids and adults and gardens on the back end of the greenhouse. The annual after-hours Boo at the Zoo, which features a variety of Halloween activities and trick-or-treating, is a popular pick! We recommend booking Sunsphere Tower tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Discussion started about introducing a zoo, but funding again became an issue, and the Birthday Park fell into disuse and neglect before being closed in 1946. As of March 2022, this region of the zoo only displays retired birds-of-prey from the zoo's former bird show. Following an effort by the Knoxville Journal to "Save Old Diamond", successful television executive Guy Lincoln Smith III bought a lion cub and took care of it until a proper facility could be built, while Dr. Bill Patterson helped found the Appalachian Zoological Society to oversee the formation of an educational zoo. Didn't see the variety of animals we thought we would for the price of admission, though the big african and asian animals were great. There are designated smoking areas in MainStay Suites Knoxville as well as smoking and ADA-accessible rooms. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. "We spent one night after celebrating our wedding and they were very accommodating with our late night check in. Fitness centre More than half of the exhibits were closed. Knoxville, TN 37902 Pets allowed Charter E. Doyle Park 1 Parks Hiking Trails 3. 3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914-4416, $ American Diner Vegetarian Friendly. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. A fellow visitor said the city used to not charge to go up in the sunsphere, but now it is $5 for adults. Zoo Knoxville is one of the premiere zoological experiences in the southeast. Located just 2 miles from downtown, this home offers a great location and tons of amenities, from a private yard to a fully equipped kitchen. Address: 11748 Snyder Road But that doesn't mean she's not (Do a quick search on the following sites). Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX) and McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) are both less than 20 miles from our location. Located in the kids zone, this awesomely huge sandpit comes complete with all the fun digging supplies a kid could dream of! I dont mind to pay for quality, but I do mind paying for mediocrity. Registration is now available for members. Pets allowed 2. They advertise zebras but there werent any the elephants were stuck in small small spaces that you couldnt even see them more than 75% of the exhibits your unable too see the animals! 93% of travelers recommend this experience. In addition to selling cigarettes and cigars, the lounge also offers coffee and chocolate. Support our mission and become a member today! Private Twilight Tours and Night Safaris Into the Dark. [7] In 2017, this section of the zoo was greatly expanded and revitalized as the Boyd Family Asian Trek, containing new habitats with Malayan tigers, white-handed gibbons, silvered leaf langurs, and white-naped cranes.[8]. Friendly staff, nice view, surprised it is free. Our kids really enjoyed seeing the tigers and elephants. Alligators opened and closed their jaws and birds gracefully flapped their wings. [11] The Williams Family Giraffe Encounter provides guests with the opportunity to feed reticulated giraffes. On January 14, 2011, zookeeper Stephanie James was killed when one of the zoo's two female elephants, "Edie", pushed her into the side of the indoor stall. Also regarding outside food/drinkYES you can bring picnic lunches/coffees/etc but NO disposable plastic lids or straws. A project 32 years in the making, Zoo Knoxville's $18 million,2.5-acre Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus opened Friday. Zoo Knoxville this week introduced two male North American river otters "Pascal" and "Clayton," which are moving into the Clayton Otter Creek facility that's set to open in March. Plus, they have a slew of amenities, including an on-site restaurant, a fitness center, and two swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor). Zoo Knoxville is notable for having bred the first two African Elephants born in the Western Hemisphere in 1978. Accommodates: 4, Parking I had visited as a kid in 82 for the Worlds Fair, so it was nice to visit again with my own kids. A new home for thevast collection of reptiles and amphibians has been on the 70-year-old park's wish list for decades. Shop and save at Zoo Knoxville. It's always great to see a city from above! 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This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. At the time it was considered one of the worst 10 zoos in America. In 1951, the zoo was opened and renamed the Municipal Zoo, with the first attraction being an American alligator named "Al". Terms of Use This adorable little train ride, located just across from the meercats, is for elementary-aged kids and younger. Facilities for disabled guests. The zoo is home to about 1,200 animals and welcomes over 585,000 visitors each year. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). All ages 7:00pm - 9:00pm $14 per person (No discounts for Annual Passholders) 2023 Dates (registration opens March 1st) Saturday, April 22nd Friday, May 12th Saturday, June 17th Friday, July 14th Public Night Safari Into the Dark Come enjoy a Night Safari that goes deeper into the night! An update on the signage would be nice, to let you know which buildings you can enter and which ways lead nowhere etc. OFF. "I realize I'm biased, but it's been 25 years," saidPhil Colclough, director of animals, conservation and education. At night the city lights light up the land below and makes for a beautiful sight. However, today is Wednesday. They even left us a surprise in a fridge - a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries along with a hand written note! I'm sure this zoo MAY be great in the summer, however, we went on a warmer day in the "winter" (a few days ago) and we basically paid 25 dollars a person for a walking trail. Laundry . Following the closure of the outdated reptile houses at the eastern end of the zoo, the brand-new Clayton Family Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus (ARC) opened just past the Black Bear Falls in the spring of 2021, replacing a smaller "Birds of Central America" exhibit at the center of the zoo. We visited every site and particularly enjoyed the African section and the treehouse area. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. It's a small zoo for a small city, but it . Unlike other hotels, their guest rooms and suites are about 25 percent larger than most accommodations in the city. Upon entering, the first habitat is Black Bear Falls, housing several American black bears, an important species native to the nearby Great Smoky Mountains. What restaurants are near Sunsphere Tower? Terms of Use They also offer various events that arent included with the cost of your daytime zoo admission. Ive been to zoos all over the country, and besides the Red Panda conservation efforts there isnt a lot of difference between most other zoos. Welcome to Knoxville! This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. This underrated gem in the Southeast United States has plenty of historical and cultural attractions on display, great local shopping and dining spots, and lots of outdoor recreation opportunities. I feel like we probably missed some exhibits just because it didn't look like it was okay to enter, like the red owl barn for instance. KNOXVILLE, Tenn Starting July 1, most visitors to Zoo Knoxville must wear masks inside indoor areas of the zoo, to comply with Mayor Indya Kincannon's executive order. While the herpetology department is highly regarded among the best in the country, only 10% of the animals were able to be displayed in the previous facility. 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