Elmwood Park Zoo — Attraction in Norristown

A Grandfather, a Granddaughter, and the Great Giraffe Disappointment of 2025

Every Sunday is sacred. Not in the cathedral sense, but in the “Grandpop and Granddaughter Adventure Day” sense. My co-pilot on these weekly odysseys is four-and-a-half years old, wild of spirit and sticky of fingers. On this particular Sunday, with the sun performing an Oscar-worthy matinee in a cloudless sky, I set my sights on a noble quest: feeding giraffes.

Not just seeing giraffes from afar like peasants at a royal parade—feeding them. Eye to eye. Leaf to tongue. Bonding across species. She’d been to this zoo once as a toddler, but toddlers remember nothing except snacks and betrayal. This time, I thought, would be different. A core memory. A golden ticket.

So, like any 21st-century hero, I consulted the Oracle of Truth and Lies: Google Maps. The Zoo? “Open,” it whispered confidently. And surely, surely, if my chiropractor can update his hours with Swiss-watch precision every time he takes a golf day, a zoo—an institution housing live animals and dreams—would also maintain their digital doorway to the world.

Reader, it was not open.

I drove an hour from Fishtown, full of hope and crackers. My granddaughter wore her giraffe shirt. The wind smelled like promise. But what greeted us was not a tower of gentle giants, but a laminated sign that simply said: “Zoo Closed.” The kind of sign that might as well have read: “Abandon hope, ye who planned.”

No feeding. No giraffes. Just a lonely parking lot and a teachable moment.

We made a memory that day—not the one I intended, but perhaps one more important: that other people’s apathy can become your inconvenience, and sometimes, the world forgets to think of you while you’re thinking of it.

I’m not Clark Griswold. I didn’t shake the gates or summon John Candy from beyond. But for the first time in my 61 years, I understood the urge.

Please, dear Zoo: Update your hours. Do it for the grandfathers. Do it for the giraffe shirts. Do it for the kids who just want to hand a leaf to a creature with better posture than most humans.

(Photo of the sign attached. Frame it and hang it in your home as a...

I’ve always loved Elmwood Park Zoo. It’s small, not too crowded, great playground - perfect for my small kids. I took my three kids (5, 2.5, 4 months) today and was shocked at how the employees treated us. The zoo was quiet since it’s a Friday in November. My son and his friend were running down the path from the new building and ran onto the landscaping (since it’s November it’s mostly just dirt) and immediately my friend and I were yelled at to get our kids out of there. I had no issue with the request, but the tone of it was unsettling. Shortly afterwards, we went to feed the giraffes, which I’ve done several times with no issues. Immediately I was told I had to leave my stroller outside the large queue/viewing area, despite having an infant sleeping in it. I explained my situation but was told I couldn’t have the stroller in this large empty area - that I would have to take my sleeping baby out of his stroller - so my friend took my older two to feed the giraffes instead. I wheeled the stroller around to the bottom of the steps so I could see my other kids, and was yelled at by two men. It didn’t make any sense - the zoo was not crowded, there were only a handful of people around, it’s a place meant to appeal to families, yet they felt they needed three men to scream at one mother to step away from her children. I left that area and joined a group of mothers with infants who also weren’t allowed into this large open area. It was an extremely angering and upsetting situation. I’m so disappointed that a place meant for families to enjoy has suddenly become so hostile towards families. I’m sure they have their reasoning for their rules but they need to rethink the execution, signage, and layout to make it family friendly again. I’ll stick with the Philadelphia Zoo...

We had an absolute blast! The kids at that point we're still pretty young and we're definitely captivated by all of the exotic creatures. The fact that in under half an hour's ride from phoenixville you can witness a Little slice of life on the Savana with your own 2 eyes. (Best part is you don't even need the malaria shot). Despite the DraStic difference in geography the animals themselves seemed nonplussed if anything they seem quite content with their current arrangement but it's not just the exotic animals you get to see. I personally like the otters and slippery little fellas are quite the showman and then of course the bald eagles what red blood American doesn't get all jazzed up over a pen full of bald eagles?! Personally I like the way that the park makes an effort to acknowledge the local fauna by having interesting facts and exhibits focusing on more North American wildlife. Buffalo are huge man.. so are wolves. The park is extremely walkable even with young children with tons of great little seating nooks and benches to tuck into and rest up a few and maybe see some of the many free range critters that wander the park, (it's pretty much just squirrels and maybe a chipmunk). Only ding I have against it was the price of the concessions and the limited options/locations. But hey what else is new, thats just how it is everywhere.

On the whole I recommend this park to anyone of any age/background/social group to take a day and familiarize yourself with this lovely little oasis for the soul right in around the corner and down the way. Go love on some animals and check out and feel yourself reconnecting with nature and the world...