Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo — Attraction in Glasgow

My SINCERE apologies to the staff, admin & owner of KDU for my month & a half late review (our family has had a lot of medical issues since our visit). Backstory: Our (now) 10 year old son has been obsessed with kangaroos since he was in preschool. We aren't far from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens & have all enjoyed visiting Roo Valley since it opened! I can't even remember how I heard about KDU (a friend informed me about it, knowing Gavin's obsession with roos?). But it's ALWAYS been high on our family's to do list! Gavin's 10th birthday (June 12th of 2025) we decided to save up for a family trip (from Oxford, OH, roughly 4 & 1/2 hours away) to Kentucky, primarily for KDU. Not ONLY did they exceed expectations but they ALL went above & beyond! When we pulled up to the Roo walkabout in our 6 person golf cart (I HIGHLY recommend renting a golf cart, but make the reservations at least one day before going) a torrential downpour with lightning hit the area. No biggie, our family of 7 (birthday boy brought a friend & our bonus/unofficially adopted 20 year old son) huddled at the Cafe & got lunch while waiting out the storm. As the storm was disipating & we were finishing lunch our 22 month old daughter had a toddler temper tantrum, while sitting on the ground eating by our picnic table. She decided to bang her head on the concrete slab mid tantrum (a first for her typical tantrums). Well, she was NOT herself afterwards & had symptoms of concussion (hubby is a former firefighter/EMT so he's medically experienced with such situations). Our picnic table was around the corner from the Cafe & we ran her to the ordering area requesting a squad. ALL staff (Roo walkabout staff were on lunch break & present) stopped everything they were doing to call 911 (being out of towners we did not know the exact location off the top of our heads, as the resident staff knew). We had a family golf cart but one of the supervisors (I really wish I remembered his name, but I do remember that he was one of the geologists giving tours of their onsite Onyx Cave on Saturday, June 14th), he rushed into action with a golf cart & drove my husband & baby girl to the entrance of the zoo for easiest access for the local ambulance to get to. With him having the best medical knowledge he went with baby girl to the local ER & I stayed back with birthday boy, his friend, our bonus son and our 19 year old son. It was a very challenging decision but we were trying to make everyone happy & make sure baby girl was good. We purchased feed cups for the Roos (& Emus, lol, who by the way are hilarious but also bossy if they want food from visitor cups! 🤣). Robin, who I think is a supervisor for the Roo & Capybara areas, was AMAZING to say the least, along with his coworkers (forgive me for not remembering the young man & young lady's names). They enjoyed my sharing of the birthday boy's love & fascination with Roos, & his on point knowledge of roos, especially being a small fry! 20 to 25 feet into the roo (& emu) walkabout Robin approached us to personally introduce our kangaroo loving birthday boy to Jack (the red kangaroo & now Gavin's long lost bestie!). Robin & his 2 coworkers frequently checked on all of us AND expressed extreme concerns about our daughter! She ended up being cleared a few hours later & I stayed with birthday boy & his friend (in total we spent 3 1/2 hours, 3/4 of our visit, hanging out with the Roos because birthday boy was living his best life!) while bonus son & 19 year old son picked hubby & Rose up from the ER. Once they arrived back to KDU EVERY single staff member greeted hubby & Rose with SO much genuine care & concern! Being cleared by the ER doc, Rose was able to enjoy the Roo area, even though she favored the "obnoxious and bossy" Emus more than the cute, fluffy & cuddly kangaroos! There's so much more I could brag on about this entire establishment & everyone involved with KDU but I'm running out of character space. We WILL DEFINITELY be back very soon!!! The owner, David, is TOP notch for...

We recently made our first trip to Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo after I planned a "get in the car, we're going places" day for my wife's birthday. We've driven by it dozens of times on our way to/from Nashville, but I finally made plans to stop.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but knew from what I sleuthed online that it wasn't so much a ZOO (Like Louisville or Nashville), but more of a Zoo on a smaller scale, with Down Under animals as a feature.

While located right off of I-65, there's a sign pointing to the parking lot, but the building, itself, doesn't display the name of the Zoo, so keep your eyes open. There is a gravel, unlined parking lot in front of the entry. Park anywhere...literally...people park wherever/however they can.

We purchased our tickets in advance so just had to get our QR code scanned at the entry. There are two sign-in registers, but as near as we could tell there's no defined order or process one you enter the door. There's a small, not-well-stocked gift shop in the visitor's center, as well as some restrooms before you enter the park.

The first first (and biggest) challenge is the hill you have to climb once you enter the park. It's a hill. It's high. It's a high hill. Wear comfortable shoes.

There's a larger gift shop once you summit what I'm suddenly going to call "Mt. Holy Hell". It's significantly larger than the one at the visitor's center, air conditioned, and well stocked. There are also restrooms and bottled beverages available for purchase.

We opted for the Mammoth Onyx Cave tour first off. The tours start roughly every 30 minutes and are guided (our guide was James). It takes about 30 minutes and at the deepest you go about 124 feet below ground. It's a spacious and very gorgeous cave that's well-lite (where practical). It's a cave, so it wasn't formed over millions of years with Humans in consideration so there are narrow passages and low passages. There are quite a few steps, some somewhat steep, and some are wet, so be careful. It's a beautiful cave and I took some fantastic photos.

There are a number of animal exhibits, mostly geared towards animals from Down Under, but not exclusively. They've got a bird walk that has some gorgeous birds, all in caged exhibits. There are a few wild cats. My favorite area of any zoo is Lorikeets. You can enter the Lorikeet exhibit and they'll land on you and you can purchase nectar to feed them.

I have one...and only one...issue with Kentucky Down Under, and that's the size of the exhibits for the birds. The enclosure for the birds -- all of the birds (Lorikeets excepted) -- is entirely too small. My favourite of all birds, the Red Tailed Hawk, is kept in an enclosure that is woefully small for such a bird. Macaws and Kookaburras are a few others. Once you've been to a place where Macaws fly free and in very large numbers around you it gives you a different perspective on how confining and, I'm sure unhealthy, undersized exhibits for birds in captivity can be. A bird needs to be able to fly and soar. Not the case for these birds.

The Down Under animal exhibit is amazing. Kangaroos, Ostriches, and Tortoises roam freely. And there are A LOT of Kangaroos. From recently born to full adult, they roam around and lounge together under a large treed area. It's amazing to see a juvenile Kangaroo climb in and out of its mother's pouch. Absolutely amazing.

There's a snack bar if you gets the munchies and they do an animal show several times a day.

Our visit last about two hours and was pretty awesome. There are a couple steep hills, but if you want to make it easy there are golf carts for rent.

You can buy tickets for Kentucky Down Under online or at the visitor's center. Either way, they're not too...

During a recent trip to the heartland of Kentucky, I had the pleasure of exploring Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, an experience that exceeded my expectations in many delightful ways. This unique attraction not only offers a slice of Australian and Kentucky culture but also provides engaging interactions with wildlife, making it a must-visit for families and animal lovers alike.

From the moment I arrived, the hospitality at Kentucky Down Under set the tone for the day. Staff members were not only friendly but genuinely enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge and love for the animals and the park itself. Their passion was infectious, turning every encounter and explanation into a memorable part of the adventure.

One of the highlights of my visit was the cave tour, an educational and enjoyable journey into the heart of Kentucky's underground beauty. The knowledgeable guide led us through the cool, mysterious caverns, sharing fascinating insights about their formation and history. The tour was well-paced, allowing ample time for questions and exploration, and it added a sense of adventure that appealed to both young and older visitors.

Perhaps the most unforgettable experience was the opportunity to interact directly with the animals, particularly the kangaroos. Petting these friendly creatures was not only fun but also an incredibly serene moment, offering a rare chance to connect with wildlife in a respectful and intimate setting. The kangaroo enclosure was spacious and well-maintained, reflecting the park's commitment to animal welfare and conservation.

The aviary was another standout feature, where a colorful array of birds fluttered freely, some even greeting visitors with playful curiosity. Walking among them, with the sounds of their calls and the sight of their vibrant feathers, was like stepping into another world. It was a vivid reminder of the beauty and diversity of avian life.

Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo is more than just an animal park; it's a place where hospitality, education, and conservation come together to create an enriching and enjoyable experience. Whether you're marveling at the wonders of the cave, feeding a kangaroo, or admiring the exotic birds, each moment is a testament to the care and passion that define this Kentucky gem. It's an adventure that leaves you with a deeper appreciation for nature and the animal kingdom, making it a highly recommended destination for anyone...