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Blank Park Zoo

Do you enjoy seeing wildlife up close and personal?  The Blank Park Zoo has been providing this experience to their visitors for over 40 years with their famous tours.  The zoo also features a gift shop with tons of wildlife memorabilia for sale. 

Blank Park Zoo Information

Zoo Hours

  • May-September  (10am-5pm Daily)

Special Needs Information

For your convenience the following amenities are available to visitors of the Blank Park Zoo:

  • Wheelchairs (Free)
  • Single Strollers ($4.00)
  • Double Strollers ($6.00)

Wheelchairs and strollers are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Zoo Admission

  • Children (2 years and under) – Free   
  • Children (3 – 12 years) – $4.95
  • Adults (13 – 64 years) – $9.95
  • Senior Citizens (65+ years) – $6.95

Group Rate Admission

Available for groups of 20 or more by calling (515) 323-8304 in advance to your visit.

  • Children (2 years and under) – Free
  • Children (3 – 12 years) – $4.00
  • Adults (13– 64 years) – $6.00
  • Senior Citizens (65+ years) – $5.00

Blank Park Zoo Directions

Coming from Des Moines? Follow these instructions:If you are coming from the east or west on Army Post Road:
From Army Post Road turn south onto SW 9th Proceed south just over ¼ of a mile Blank Park Zoo is on your left.

If you are coming from the north on SW 9th:
Stay on SW 9th Proceed south just over ¼ of a mile Blank Park Zoo is on your left.

Using Interstate 35 to get to Des Moines? Follow these instructions:

Coming from the South using interstate 35 north:
Exit on exit # 68 and head east on Hwy 5 to the SW 9th Street exit. At the bottom of the exit turn left onto SW 9th. Take SW 9th to the Zoo on your right and turn right.

Coming from the North using interstate 35 south Exit 35 South at the Interstate 80 East interchange:
Take Interstate 80 East to exit number 141 toward Altoona. Stay on this bypass until you reach the SW 9th street. Exit onto SW 9th Street. Turn north onto SW 9th. Take SW 9th to the Zoo. The Zoo will be on your right.

Using Interstate 80 to get to Des Moines? Follow these instructions:

Coming from the east using interstate 80 West:
Take Interstate 80 to exit number 141 (Highway 65) just west of Altoona. Stay on the BYPASS (Highway 65 becomes Highway 5) until you reach SW 9th Street. Exit onto SW 9th Street. Turn north onto SW 9th. Drive approximately 1 mile north.  The Zoo will be on the right side of SW 9th.

Coming from the west using interstate 80 East:
Take Interstate 80 to the Interstate 35 South exit. Head south on 35 as if going to Kansas City. Take Exit # 68. Take Hwy 5 to the SW 9th Street exit. At the bottom of the exit turn left onto SW 9th. Take SW 9th to the Zoo. The Zoo will be on your right.

History of the Blank Park Zoo

In 1963, a local citizen named Mr. A.H. Blank donated $150,000 to the City of Des Moines to build a children’s zoo on a site near the old Fort Des Moines.  The Des Moines children’s zoo opened on May 8, 1966. Designed primarily around nursery- rhyme themes, it featured a castle with moat, a Noah’s Ark section, a monkey island, barnyard, animal petting area, and a miniature train.

In 1981, a group of civic and business leaders formed the Blank Park Zoo Foundation. A successful private-public partnership with the City of Des Moines resulted in a voter approved $1.8 million bond referendum and a community-wide capital campaign that raised an additional $1.4 million. The old zoo would close for renovation at the end of the 1982 season.

The completely new, 22-acre Blank Park Zoo, opened on May 17, 1986. Designed by a local landscape architectural firm utilizing professional zoo planning consultants, it features a zoogeographic theme with spacious outdoor naturally landscaped environments for animals and people. During the 17 years between 1986 and 2003, the Zoo hosted over 3.6 million visitors, which is an average of 214,525 visitors per year.

Since 1986, several renovations have taken place. In 1995, three special event pavilions were added and the White-handed Gibbon exhibit opened. In 1999, the Tom and Jo Ghrist Great Cats Exhibit opened featuring tigers, lions, and snow leopards. 2001 brought the grand opening of the Myron and Jackie Blank Discovery Center, the zoo’s first all indoors exhibit. And, 2004 marked construction on a new covered special events area.

On May 8, 2006, the Blank Park Zoo celebrated its 40th anniversary.