Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — Attraction in Liberty Township

went to the zoo Thursday June 12, 2025. I was babysitting my two grand-children, my 3 year old grand- daughter and my grand-son who is a little over a year old, while my son and his wife were away. My oldest daughter went and brought her daughter, my other grand-daughter who is 4 years old. I have never been to Columbus Zoo, my very first time! It was about 80 degrees. We stopped by this area that had three Dolphins, they spit water out the top to get the little kids wet! It’s a small area so we could see the kids plainly. We decided to sit on the right hand side of the area in the blue chairs, my grandson, Walked catty corner away from us. It wasn’t very far to some sort of toy. All I know is that it had a steel plate around it. My daughter and I heard him screaming, I ran over to him and noticed that his hand and wrist was very red so I knew that it burnt him. He cried very hard. He eventually laid in the stroller and went to sleep. The zoo was closing. I seen workers leaving. They were closing, It was after 6 o’clock, both of my granddaughters had to use the bathroom before leaving we stopped at a bathroom on our way out. I took my granddaughters into the bathroom. My grandson was still asleep in the stroller, and my daughter was standing with him. My granddaughters, and I came out of the bathroom to my daughter, holding my grandson and showing me where he had actually got burnt. It was bubbled up! We finally made our way through the part where the security guard was again this is my first time being at Columbus zoo so I have no knowledge or no information of anything about the zoo. I thought about telling the security guard of what happened to my grandson, but he was just standing there making sure everybody went out so I thought I want to speak to a manager so I will just call tomorrow. As we were leaving the zoo, I was trying to contact urgent care or places in towns that I did not know to take my grandson to every place was closing, so I had my youngest daughter back home. I sent her pictures and ask her to go to the pharmacy and ask them what we could do about this until we was able to get him to the doctor. I called the zoo the very next day and explained to them what had happened, I told the lady it was 80° and this thing burnt him. I said to her I don’t know if you’re open if it’s 100° or hotter out but if you are, this would peel the skin off of one of these children or maybe even an adult! She told me no it was actually 90 some degrees and yes, we are open every day except Christmas! She asked me if I stopped by I guess someplace if you get hurt or need assistance, I told her I didn’t know of any place like that. That was my first time being there, but I ask her. What time do they close? She told me they close at six! I told her it was after 6 o’clock when we made it through the security guard, I talked to a manager the next day, told me the waterpark that’s across the way from the zoo is part of them which I had no idea and that I could’ve taken him there and had him looked at again my first time being there, I had no idea, She said she would get a hold of the manager as soon as we got off the phone and someone would get back in touch with me. It is now, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. I still have heard nothing from the manager. No one has even called to check on my grandson. My son returned on Monday and took my grandson to the Doctor Who is in Columbus and he was appalled that this happened at Columbus zoo. So my daughter-in-law called the zoo and they basically told her since we didn’t stop by their emergency office that closes at 6 o’clock and it was already after 6 o’clock then there is nothing they can do. I told the lady that toy needs rubber or something around it because it fried my grandson‘s hand which the hand wasn’t as bad, but his wrist is still very bad. I just thought I would post this and I give it one star because it made me but I’m calling an attorney and I’m gonna get some advice from an attorney. This should not have...

So my wife and I went to the Columbus zoo and was told by a few people that this zoo was very awesome and that it was worth going to. I can say I should have done my research first.

We got there about an hour after the zoo opened on a week day. Figure it would help with how many people were there so we could take our time being able to see the animals. We spent out first hour or so looking at pretty much scenery. Now I am not blaming the animals at all but most exhibits had one animal or were in hiding/sleeping. When we went to the South America area, still couldn't really see anything. Mostly scenery, until someone from staff was telling people they were letting those animals out at a certain time. That was mostly the entire zoo. I just felt like the zoo is so big that we did more walking looking at plants and trees then we did animals. The "aquarium" was a joke. It literally a 80ft wide tank with a few fish, stingrays, and manatees. I was not impressed at all.

Another thing that was upsetting was, most of the shops/restaurant and attractions (such as water park, most rides) were closed. That was very upsetting because we payed a good amount of money to have a good experience and yet we couldn't do a lot of things. We couldn't take the train around the park because it was closed. It felt like they were closing down the zoo for the year.

The prices on merchandise (souvenirs, drinks, food, etc.) are pretty steep. At most food areas the bees were out of control. We went to the "gift shop " at the end (which I figure for as big as the zoo is it would have had a bigger shop) but was sold out of a lot of things, didn't have sizes in stock, heck we spent over $100 in the gift shop on 2 shirts and a blanket and we didn't even get a bag. We would have had to pay $6 for a re-usable bag. And again most places to eat were either closed or just way over priced. But there were sure enough dip and dot stands around.

The highlight of the zoo was feeding the giraffes and petting the stingrays. I have never been able to feed giraffes before and it was bad priced at all. $15 for 4 servings (3 pieces of lettuce). It went fast but that is because I was just so excited I practically threw my lettuce at the giraffe, but still an amazing experience. The stingrays were very cool. They were very active, so much to where they were coming up out of the water and up the walls to be petted. Not very crowed at all so we were able to take our time.

All and all if you have kids, there are plenty of things for them to do (plenty of different playgrounds around the park) lots of informative and activities to do. I would not go back, not for the price and lack of...

EGG ALLERGY FRIENDLY Rating: 5/5 Stars

As someone with food allergies, I was pleasantly surprised by the Columbus Zoo's attention to allergen awareness. Public venues like zoos can be notoriously difficult for people with food allergies, but the Columbus Zoo demonstrates genuine consideration for guests with dietary restrictions.

The Congo area food court impressed me by having an actual allergen information sheet available at the Pick Up area - something that's unfortunately rare at many public dining venues. This simple but crucial resource allowed me to confidently identify safe food options without the usual stress and uncertainty that comes with eating at unfamiliar places.

I was able to enjoy the Strawberry Field Salad, which exceeded my expectations in both quality and portion size. The salad was fresh, well-prepared, and honestly better than what I typically find at many restaurants in my small hometown. Finding quality food that's also safe to eat at a zoo setting was a pleasant surprise.

What really stood out was the zoo's proactive approach to peanut allergy safety. Clear peanut allergy warning signs are posted in multiple areas where animal feeding occurs. This attention to detail shows that the zoo understands that food allergies can be serious and that parents need clear information to keep their children safe.

These warning signs provide invaluable peace of mind for families with peanut-allergic children, allowing them to enjoy the zoo experience while staying informed about potential risks. As someone who understands the constant vigilance required with food allergies, I found these precautions very reassuring.

The Columbus Zoo sets a positive example for how public venues can accommodate guests with food allergies through simple but effective measures. Having allergen information readily available and posting clear warning signs shows they take food safety seriously.

While dining options for people with allergies can still be limited at any large venue, the zoo's efforts to provide information and safety awareness make it a more inclusive destination. It's refreshing to visit a public attraction where food allergies are acknowledged and addressed rather than ignored.

One area for improvement would be maintaining better cleanliness in the restroom facilities, which could enhance the overall guest experience. I won't take off a star for this, seeing as is not to keep public restrooms clean during a busy day.

Recommended for families with food allergies - the zoo's proactive approach to allergen awareness makes for a more relaxed and...