The staff at Zoo Knoxville are always so friendly and helpful- they're great about answering questions about the animals and taking the time to educate you as well. Thanks. Last item for navigation. Address: 401 West Summit Hill Drive If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Knoxville has been known as the Marble City. More than half of the exhibits were closed. Admission stops 1 hour before closing. Kudos to Zoo employee "Phil" who we noticed several times throughout the park, checking on the well-being of the animals. A lot of the exhibits were closed off or didn't have animals in them at all due to "cold weather". is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 4 pm to 9 pm. $14 per person (No discounts for Annual Passholders), $20 per person (No discounts for Annual Passholders). Address: 5334 Central Ave Pike, Powell, Knoxville (TN), United States, 37912. 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 different exhibits are great and most offer you a great view of the animals. Room service Throughout the winter, the hours are 9 AM 4 PM. Several viewing areas are featured, as well as a small cave with educational facts about bears' hibernation behavior and diet for children to explore. Seems a bit pricey for a ride up an elevator and a look out the window. Prices and availability subject to change. The cost is $3 per rider. Business centre 93% of travelers recommend this experience. Following the closure of the outdated reptile houses at the eastern end of the zoo, the brand-new Clayton Family Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus (ARC) opened just past the Black Bear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. 24-hour front desk Room service - Smoking in designated areas only- Alcohol must be served by licensed bartender/caterer- Music must end by 11:00PM. However, today is Wednesday. Knoxville, TN 37902 Our first stop on our big Mold-A-Rama Road Trip was the Knoxville Zoo in Knoxville Tennessee. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. All of this fun neednt break the bank because you can get free and discount Knoxville zoo tickets all throughout the year. This adorable little train ride, located just across from the meercats, is for elementary-aged kids and younger. We got turned around at the tiger exhibit, no signs directing which way to go, and almost missed the reptile and avian section. Kids can climb through a dark tunnel to reach the top of a large tunnel slide. Unlimited trips to the zoo, free parking, big savings and so much more! 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. Not only will we enjoy a twilight tour through the zoo but also venture off the paths of the zoo to search for native wildlife. Look inside Zoo Knoxville's new $18m amphibian and reptile house, Zoo Knoxville is holding a members-only preview of its new $18m Clayton Family Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus (ARC) before opening Monday, Brianna Paciorka, Knoxville News Sentinel, Get a sneak preview of Zoo Knoxville's new reptile and amphibian center, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Address: 144 Merchants Drive However, its about time Knoxville takes the spotlight. Lots of memorabilia from the World's Fair which was informative. The Covenant Kids Run will kick off at noon at Zoo Knoxville.. Unlike other hotels, their guest rooms and suites are about 25 percent larger than most accommodations in the city. Pick from 21 Knoxville Hotels with smoking rooms and compare room rates, reviews, and availability. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Very clean, very knowledgeable staff. I had a sorority formal here in 2019 in one of the levels that you can have events in. They were available to answer any questions and made us feel welcome. The ARC will allow thatcritical research and conservation workto be seen by the public. This 3-star hotel in the heart of Downtown Knoxville has spacious, well-appointed modern guest rooms and suites, a 24-hour fitness center, and an event space that can accommodate up to 60 people, perfect for intimate parties or sizable business meetings. Meeting/banquet facilities Alligators opened and closed their jaws and birds gracefully flapped their wings. Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels with Expedia Rewards. Free parking Contact Zoo Knoxville in Knoxville, with weddings starting at $4,812 for 50 guests. 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Best Western Plus Strawberry Inn and Suites (from USD 79), 6. From here, Downtown Knoxville, Knoxville Convention Center, and University of Tennessee are all about five minutes away, making it a great option if youre traveling to the city for play, work, or school. Average zoo experience, came here often in my animal science curriculum at UT. Thanks. "This is an area that shows a number of species, many, many species we never even had here to care for,"Colclough said. Its not far from Market square and UT, and you can find many free parking places near the area so you dont have to pay to park. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Hampton Inn & Suites Knoxville Papermill Drive Show prices Enter dates to see prices 717 reviews #1 Best Value of 21 Knoxville Hotels with Smoking Rooms There are a couple of restaurants that offer a nice variety of food and several shady spots throughout the zoo that allow you stop and enjoy a snack and rest your feet a bit. Parking at the zoo itself can be a bit difficult to find on a busy day, but there are shuttles available to take you from the overflow lot at Chilhowee park to the front entrance or you can walk (it's a pretty steep uphill climb so I probably wouldn't recommend it for the elderly or those with strollers). Zoo Knoxville is one of the premiere zoological experiences in the southeast. The observatory has a little timeline and picture of the worlds fair, and gives you a complete 360 degree view. Committed to sharing 'wildly fun' experiences that educate and inspire, we feature acres of creative habitats for animal lovers of all ages to explore. Will definitely stay here again. There are a variety of food options at the zoo including burgers, hotdogs, pulled pork, and more! Continuing to the East Zoo, the Boyd Family Red Panda Village is world-renowned for their red panda conservation program. I cant seem to find any information about that. Zoo Knoxville 1,369 Zoos Open now By kerbear135 The staff at Zoo Knoxville are always so friendly and helpful- they're great about answering questions about the anim. Zoo Knoxville 1,371 Zoos By IwishIwereTraveling We have the annual pass and go quite frequently as it is an easy trip to do for a couple hours and keep the kids ente. In 1923, an initiative was started by a local newspaper to start a park for poor children, driven by a Birthday Fund. Learn more about Knoxville's history as the Marble City here. Twilight Tours: 6:00pm 8:00pm or 7:00pm 9:00pm; $14 per person, Night Safaris Into the Dark: 7:00pm 10:00pm; $20 per person. No cost only requirement is the library account must be in good standing. In 1948, the News Sentinel aimed to revitalize the property as the Birthday Park Zoo using some leftover money from the 1923 initiative, plus more help from the city of Knoxville. No skates, bicycles, skateboards, roller shoes or hoverboards are permitted. Address: 5466 Central Ave Pike, Powell, Knoxville (TN), United States, 37912, Parking Davidson Community Center 3124 Wilson Avenue * This pool is operated by Emerald Youth Foundation. All events can be found on the zoo calendar. This being said, we have always brought snacks and bottled water without any problems. An update on the signage would be nice, to let you know which buildings you can enter and which ways lead nowhere etc. Beautiful way to see Knoxville and the surrounding mountains to the east. Most of the animals seemed to have decent sized exhibits for their needs compared to other zoos. The zoo is home to about 1,200 animals and welcomes over 585,000 visitors each year. If you have extra budget to treat yourself to a high-end accommodation, one of the top recommendations in the city is Courtyard by Marriott Knoxville Downtown. Keep reading to get all the details plus discover the most kid-loved attractions the zoo has to offer! Can I bring food? With this, zoo executives announced that the property would be renamed Zoo Knoxville, reflecting a change that a few other zoos across the country had done. Ideally located in the centre of Knoxville, Residence Inn by Marriott Knoxville Downtown offers air-conditioned rooms, free bikes, free WiFi and a fitness centre. Highly recommend not going to this place boycotting it and allowing the animals to go somewhere where they will be taken care of the lion was crying the whole time! This is the perfect place to bring kids when rain is threatening to ruin your visit. 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. I am sure that this place is pretty when Coronavirus is not prevalent and everything is open. 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. Why You Should Go Zoo Knoxville is, no doubt, one of the top things to do in Knoxville with kids. The location was perfect for us. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oak Ridge, an IHG Hotel 114 Tulsa Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830 Fully refundable $112 per night Feb 18 - Feb 19 4.6/5 Wonderful! At The Zoo Begins Oct. 9, 2020. It would have looked much nicer to have had water in it, but the visit was still nice. Registration is now available for members. The room was very clean, the bed was comfortable and the staff is super friendly! Not the best zoo we have been to, but we really appreciated their Covid proactive steps such as requiring face masks for the staff, wiping the carousel seats off after every rider, roping off areas that were previously high touch for children, and having hand sanitizer available. I asked for a map at the entrance and was told they don't hand them out anymore. Hopefully, this list will help you get ahead on planning for this highly anticipated Knoxville trip. Meeting/banquet facilities Smoking still is allowed on patios and other open-air spaces through the Non-smokers Protection Act, and the new. The 4th Floor Observation Deck offers a breathtaking 360-degree view stretching from downtown to the Great Smoky Mountains including Worlds Fair Park, the Tennessee River and the University of Tennessee Campus. $50 deposit required within two weeks of confirmation and full payment is due two weeks before the program. I understand some animals are sensitive to colder weather (it wasn't cold this day), and if that is the case, it should be mentioned to the guest before paying that many animals will not be able to be seen. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 East TN Family Fun | All Rights Reserved, 10 Fabulous Attractions at Seviervilles Kyker Farm. There are plenty of great schools in the city such as University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Any item (s) reported or found to be dropped in an animal exhibit or safety area may take time . 95% of travelers recommend this experience. The kids are back in school in mid August so there weren't the usual crowds that you'll see in the summer. For a family of four to enter and parking was over 60 some dollars which seemed high for a 2 to 3 hour visit. Knoxville, TN 37919, Police Advisory & Review Committee (PARC), Inauguration Poem by Poet Laureate Marilyn Kallet, Photo Gallery of Inauguration on Facebook, Knox Complete Count Committee Census Resources [PDF], Partnering Locally with the Census Bureau [PDF], City Council Resolution on 2020 Census [PDF], Taking Care of Your Mental Health in Face of Uncertainty, Centros para el Control y la Prevencin de Enfermedades, Pandemic Memorial to be 'Place of Solace and Healing' (05-13-21), City and County Mayors Unveil COVID-19 Memorial (12-30-20), Global Case Tracking by Johns Hopkins University, Statement from Mayor Rogero on LGBTQ+ Equality 06/13/19, Marilyn Kallet Named as City's New Poet Laureate, Kallet Stays Busy, Engaged as Poet Laureate, Mayor Rogero Names R.B. 24-hour front desk With Zoo Knoxvilles Bedtime with the Beasts program, your group doesnt only see the zoo, you get to spend the night up close and personal with our residents. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Do they still have Dollar Days? The Sunsphere delivers exactly what it promises: a 360-degree bird's eye view of Knoxville and the surrounding hills. Annual pass holders typically receive a discount on tickets to paid events. There are designated smoking areas in MainStay Suites Knoxville as well as smoking and ADA-accessible rooms. The zoo is home to about 1,200 animals and welcomes over 585,000 visitors each year. Report trash, recycling or cart issues to (865) 215-4311 or 311office@knoxvilletn.gov. The park included a stone shelter, small playground, and a wading pool on a hillside in Chilhowee Park. Indoor pool. There are also several sweet treats like ice cream and cookies. My husband and I visited on 2-22-22. For Knoxville to regulate smoking, the city would have to pass an ordinance. In 1963, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus donated a particularly troublesome seven-ton bull elephant named "Louie", or "Old Diamond". Hotel Policies 24-Hour Front Desk Check-in time: 2PM Check-out time: 11AM MainStay Suites Knoxville North I-75 Address: 144 Merchants Drive Accommodates: 10 Parking Pets allowed Meeting/banquet facilities 24-hour front desk Fitness centre Non-smoking rooms Business centre Laundry from USD 88 View Deal from USD 94 At night the city lights light up the land below and makes for a beautiful sight. Zoo Knoxville's largest project is finally finished and members got a sneak peek. Laundry The public level has signs that give a brief history of Knoxville and tells you what you are viewing from each direction. Tickets are timed for every half hour (and only cost $5/person) which is more than enough time to explore. Please observe the designated smoking areas throughout the zoo. Follow the zoos Facebook page to see when new dates are announced or join the East TN Moms Community Group to stay in the loop. Bar I volunteered here for Boo at the Zoo to hand out candy to children during the month of October, so a great place to bring small children around Halloween. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. An iconic figure among Knoxville hotels, Crowne Plaza Hotel has everything you ever need for a comfortable and luxurious stay, including classy guest rooms and suites, business facilities, elegant event venues that can be transformed into corporate halls or luxurious wedding reception venues, and last but not the least, designated smoking areas and other on-site amenities. 85% of the animals were put up (mainly the ones that one would be excited to see, elephants, giraffes, zebras, otters etc.) As of March 2022, this region of the zoo only displays retired birds-of-prey from the zoo's former bird show. The positive? Red Roof Inn Knoxville North - Merchants Drive is always a reliable option if youre looking for hotels with smoking rooms in the city. We did not find information ahead of time saying it was closed, but it definitely was. Wanto, a 37-year-old gorilla at the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee, has already eaten a banana and stood . This, along with other regions along the perimeter of the zoo, are going extensive revitalization as part of the zoo's larger rebranding campaign announced in 2016. Yes, to get inside it is free and the observation deck is also free. [14], At the end of 2010, Mozilla Foundationthe creator of Firefox web browserpartnered with Knoxville Zoo in an effort to raise awareness about endangered red pandas. William Hastie Natural Area 3 Biking Trails Hiking Trails By Silentflier Cool weather has slowed the flowers but not the phlox. Originally, the path past the Valley of the Kings looped back around to the rest of the zoo, but this has been closed for some time as part of the zoo's larger renovation plans. It's always great to see a city from above! Although I dont think this was the intention, this play structure reminds me of a giant dinosaur tail. At the east end of the zoo, Clayton Family Kids Cove contains a variety of activities geared towards children. By reservation only, minimum three weeks in advance. My first trip in 2015 we took a wrong turn and did not feel the safest in the neighborhood we happened to drive into. The university campus is only a short distance away from the property, and so are the airport and Knoxville Zoo. 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. Restaurant Primo Ristorante Italiano Zoo Knoxville, Knoxville: "Does the zoo allow pets?" | Check out 8 answers, plus see 1,370 reviews, articles, and 753 photos of Zoo Knoxville, ranked No.9 on Tripadvisor among 383 attractions in Knoxville. Make sure that you stop by, there's also a senior discount for us retirees!