Mesker Park Zoo — Attraction in Evansville

Went to our first trip to Mesker. The zoo is quite lovely with strolling paths dotted with exibits and encounters. As you enter, you can go ahead and buy an annual pass that's good for 365 days. from purchase. Once you have your annual pass, you already have perks. Like a free tran excursion during tram season. So now that you are going to come back a few times, you can stroll the areas. Look and read and take in. Cause well you will want to come back. Along with your pass, you may want to ask about a sensory bag. You can get the entire bag. Or if you just need a part, ask for what you need. The staff is happy to help. They will also give you a schedule of animal feedings, and you can get tokens then as well. So now that you are set, you stroll in. And if you have a 5 year old, this is when they tell you they are hungry. Even if they just said no to the resent meal. No worries, to your right, there is a cafe. And if you got your membership, you can pick up a snack and get a discount on said healthy or treat. With everyone now set, it's a great time for a walk. If you love penguins, then you're in luck as they are right up front to the left of the entrance. And they are adorable. Now, if you got a look at the feeding schedule, you may have bought some tokens for an up close experience with said lovelies. But say you are more of a Red Panda fan. Mo worries its a little further walk with plenty to see, but they are a cute red pair. And on the plus side, it's a nice cool building for you to relax in while smiling at the red panda. Along with the red pandas, there is an exhibit of naucternal animals. Incuding a cat with such an adorible face, you just want to snuggle. There is so much more in the zoo. Animals from all over the earths biomes. I dont want to take away by telling you everything. Go enjoy... and if you like zoos, get the pass. Not only is it good there, but it can get you discouts and even free entries into other participating zoos and aquariums. The list is a long list and nationwide. Have a great year at the zoo. Tell them Kat sent you! Na you nore I won't get anything, but Im curious what would happen if suddenly 10, 50, 100, 1000 people say o yea Kat...

Im not writing this out of ill will but rather with the hopes that those who are charge may make some very important changes. The park as a whole is very poorly kept and in extreme need of an entire make over. Knowing the age of the zoo did provide some insight into it's condition but in all fairness the things of which I'll share are simple conditions that should never have existed. First, there are animal droppings all over one of the main trails. Im not sure who is in charge of cleaning up the poop but when we have to watch where we walk in order to avoid it tells that's it's really gotten out of control. Granted, it's a zoo where animals are going to poop, but the asphalt trails around the park should not have aged animal feces. The next item up for discussion is one of the exhibit building's was atrocious as far as the smell of animal dung. Again, I know it's a zoo but this was simply neglect. On to the next item, the Tram...extremely in need of junking and replacing with something less than 20 years old. The driver's seat literally has tears in the side and back from simple age. As we rode it around the park we kept hoping and praying the drive shaft didn't fall to the ground. One of the universal joints was ka-thumping all during the ride, and unfortunately that's simply unacceptable. The famous paddle boats ere also broken and as much fun as they are they need a whole new fleet. Out of the 8 paddle " in he pond, only two worked and were available. The girl that was in charge of the 66 boats was terrible with respect to people skills. When we first arrived she stated that she wasn't open yet in a very ugly posture. We left to return in the 15 minutes she stated it would take her to finally be open. We returned and did the paddle boats but the employees attitude really did make it so much less enjoyable. As with any zoo there's always a fear that particular wild animals may get out and considering the neglect of the grounds and the attitudes of some it's only a matter of time when someone will leave a door or gate open and God help the person should they...

I visited the zoo today with my spouse (who uses a wheelchair for mobility) and my 8 month old. It was my first time visiting the zoo as an adult. It is VERY hilly up and down, up and down. The paths were all paved (not smooth, but paved) but it was not accessible. The hills were steep. We entered a building it also had steep ramps with no elevator. We missed many of the attractions from pure exhaustion of the hills. They have trams available that stop every so often. Not all the trams are set up for a wheelchair and they cost “tokens”. We fed the giraffes, which was down a hill, even if we took the team it did not drop off in accessible locations. We would still have to battle hills to see everything. The tokens can be purchased throughout the park, IF you have cash, if you don’t have cash you can only purchase tokens at the entrance, which didn’t help when we wanted to ride the tram after the pure exhaustion. (Scooters we’re available to rent for $20, but why rent when you brought your own chair).

Things I liked or enjoyed. The giraffe feeding, even though it was down a hill, we were able to get really close to them to feed them. The penguins were also a nice exhibit, we fed them as well, but don’t feel it was worth the $5 it cost to feed them.

I would have liked to see the otters but they must have been on a different path or route. I believe my 8 month old would have really liked them. I would have also liked to go in the bird sanctuary but again it must have been on a different path. With all the hills we battled with a stroller and wheelchair it was not...