Hemker Park and Zoo Closed for the Season Open May 1 — Attraction in Minnesota

Hemker Park and Zoo offers a delightful experience for animal lovers and families seeking a fun day out. The zoo is home to a diverse array of animals, including snakes, rhinos, and various exotic birds. The enclosures are thoughtfully designed, providing ample space for the animals to roam and display their natural behaviors. The zoo’s commitment to animal welfare is evident, and it's clear that the staff are passionate about their work.

One of the highlights of Hemker Park and Zoo is its expansive layout. The grounds are surprisingly large, allowing for a leisurely exploration of the various animal exhibits without feeling cramped. The spaciousness of the park enhances the overall experience, making it a pleasant environment for visitors to enjoy a full day of activities.

However, the parking situation at Hemker Park and Zoo is problematic. Currently, there is no designated parking lot for the zoo. Visitors are directed to park along a busy county highway, which creates a hazardous situation for both visitors and drivers due to the constant flow of vehicles. There is some limited front parking available, but it is reserved for senior citizens and requires coordination with a parking attendant. This arrangement adds stress to the visit and raises serious safety concerns.

It is surprising that no serious accidents have occurred given the precarious parking situation. The high traffic volume and lack of a safe parking solution highlight the urgent need for a designated parking area. The city or township should address this issue to ensure that a proper parking lot is established, greatly enhancing both safety and visitor convenience.

In summary, while Hemker Park and Zoo excels in providing an engaging and enjoyable experience with its excellent animal exhibits and spacious grounds, the current parking situation is a significant drawback. Addressing this issue with a designated parking area would not only improve safety but also enhance the overall enjoyment of visiting this otherwise fantastic zoo. Until the parking situation is resolved, I would not recommend this place. I did talk to the park lot staff who...

My wife, my son & I visited the Hemker Zoo today. When we first pulled up, we were worried cause it didn't look like much. We already drove over an hour to get here so we still went. We arrived, paid to get in and all agreed we wanted to do giraffe feeding. While walking around, we loved watching the animals and seeing some of our favorite animals. We got to touch the huge tortises. They have two peacocks wandering around as well. When it was time for the giraffe feeding, it was fun. We loved watching the giraffes with their long tongues, grabbing the lettuce to eat it and petting the giraffes. They have a very nice shaded area with a bunch of picnic benches to have lunch with a playground next to it. We brought our own lunch in a cooler but they do have some stuff you can buy there. If you have any questions, the family is phenomenal!! Very sweet and poliet. Our main reason we drove out to this zoo is because we read on the website we could a pet a penguin which has been our sons biggest dream! After we got done walking around and doing us, I walked into the gift shop area and asked Anne how could we pet a penguin. Anne explained that's it an additional fee so I walked over and explained this to my family. We discussed it was too much. We didn't bring a lot of money due to recent events on our life, so we told our son, who has autism, maybe next time. I know we promised. He understood. We went to the bathroom before we were to leave and my wife told our son to pick out a stuffie since he couldn't pet a penguin. While paying for the stuffie, Anne asked where we were from and we explained everything. Anne did the unthinkable. Anne made our sons wildest dreams come true. My wife cried. My son cried. I did everything in my power not to cry. He got to pet a penguin. He was the happiest boy I have ever seen. Thank you ladies so much!! This place is incredible! We don't have words to tell you how thankful we...

• Everyone has a different experience * We had a great experience. The price we paid is worth it. We bought 2 General Admission Tickets for $40.50 (before Tax, Service Fees, and Credit Card Processing Fees). We came at late noon, so most animals were napping or hiding. Other animals look overheated and tired because of the weather outside. To have a better experience, choose a day that is cool and not too hot outside. Before noon or after 3 pm is the ideal time to visit the zoo. At that point, the animals will be more active instead of hiding from the heat or taking a nap. In this zoo, you can see animals more closely than in most other zoos. There are many experiences available for a fee that can provide you with more enjoyment and knowledge about the animals. You can have Bird Feeding, Giraffe Feeding, Otter Feeding, Rhino Feeding, Koi Feeding, or a Tram Ride with a budget fee and Red Panda Experience, Alligator Experience, Kangaroo Experience, Cuddle with Boa, or Pet The Penguin with a higher fee. Asking the staff for more details about the experience you are interested in. I believe there are some events at this zoo, so be sure to check out the events calendar on their website to not miss any...