Peoria Zoo — Attraction in Peoria

Review Visit: February 1st, 2012

I think it’s safe to assume that everyone visits a Zoo as a kid; maybe part of a field trip or science class. Glen Oak Zoo was the place my teachers/schools took us for our trips. As a kid, it was always a treat to get out of the class and explore a fun and magical place. Zoos, parks, six flags, historical places. It was and still is a blast to visit these places.

So, color me surprised when I came back here and the zoo was renamed to the Peoria Zoo. Aside from the name change, everything else seemed the same as when I was a kid, except for the large Africa exhibit that was new-ish at the time of us visiting. As we entered the zoo after paying admission, I was giggling inside at how everything just felt the same. Not only felt but everything looked the same. Down to the placement of exhibits and what was in them. Granted, once the building is built, it’s hard to make drastic changes without a large amount of capital, which I assume Zoos just don’t have.

As Matt, Tim, and I slowly worked our way through the beginning area, I felt a joy of rediscovering the zoo and also seeing the same things I saw as a child but through the eyes of an adult. This nostalgic trip lasted until we got outside and I was taking in some of the Zoo’s improvements to the grounds. Something much easier and cheaper do. While some of the layout was the same and I think the building that housed the goats that you could feed.

Yep, if you’ve got some quarters on you, you can use them to purchase feed from a gumball-style machine. I won’t lie. This is one of my favorite things to do at a Zoo. I always try to bring money that can be used for feeding the goats and other small animals in the feeding area. I will easily get distracted by this at any Zoo or place that offers this.

Burning through the few quarters I had on me fairly quick, we headed over to the playground equipment and goofed around on that for awhile. After getting our fill on the playground equipment, we headed towards the new Africa exhibit.

When this expansion was announced, it was hyped up really high (or that’s how I remember it). It was a massive expansion to the Zoo and one that would nearly double it’s size. We wandered towards the Africa exhibit and wow. I know it was winter time when we went but the exhibit as a whole was massive. They had an event center-style building that seemed to host plays/shows or was a restaurant. It was closed for the season while we were here.

To explore the new expansion, you view most of it from this long wooden walking path/bridge that goes around the wide open grounds. This gives you a great view of the area with giraffes and other animals that I don’t know the exact name of. The bridge gives you not only many angles to view the animals but it has varied heights. It starts low at one end and the other ends is above everything.

The bottom of the bridge is the viewing area for the lions. This is the popular spot for everyone to stop and look at Simba through the thick safety glass. The giant kitties tend to be sunbathing or sleeping. At least that’s my luck at Zoos. Any who, as you make your way to the top, you transition to from the Lion’s Den to the Giraffe Overlook. This is the area where the more docile animals can lounge about without the threat of lions ruining their day. On a good day, you will get to see the giraffes out and about. Sadly, you can’t feed them. Drat.

After we explored the new Africa exhibit, we headed towards the exit. While we wandered slowly that way, we talked about how exciting the new area is and how it was nice to relive some childhood memories. But we also lamented the fact that while the nostalgic was cool, the fact that some things hadn’t been updated meant that those things really showed their age.

To exit, you left through the gift shop. Taking advantage of the fun hats and toys for sale, we turned in to little kids one more time as we goofed around with the...

So I went to the zoo today I’m in town visiting a friend and relaxing. Had nothing to do this afternoon or this morning so I decided I wanted to go to the zoo. The Peoria zoo allows service animals Myself and my service animal went to the zoo We get there and I can only assume it’s the manager. I don’t know if it was the manager or supervisor, but the gentleman approached me when I came in to the counter to pay for my entry to the zoo and he asked me is this service dog I said she is my service animal due to a medical condition and he looks at me almost like it’s disbelief like he’s like oh are you sure ask me again and I say yes and he’s like then he asked me again and I’m like yes it is my service animal She is a dog. She is here with me because I need her and what she does for me you are causing the issue right now of why she’s about to provide service to me in a moment because he was killing my anxiety. He’s like well. I have people that come in all the time that say their dogs are service dogs and they bark out of control and I kick him out or tell him not to come back and You can pay and if your dog barks or lunges or jump it anyone I’m gonna have you removed from the zoo? I’m like OK fine no problem with that. As I’m thinking of myself like this, dude didn’t have to do all all that some of that is common sense and some of it’s perfectly acceptable to do if someone service dog or ““ service animal supposed is making a disturbance you can ask them to leave if my dog barks or does anything inappropriate you don’t have to ask me to leave. I’m gonna feel embarrassed and humiliated. I’m gonna leave myself and take my dog with me But all the while I’m thinking to myself like dude you asked me what you’re allowed to ask me now you can ask me the other two questions that you’re allowed to ask me, but please stop trying to insinuate that you don’t believe my dog is a service animal and you’re trying to give me The opportunity to back out of it

We spent a couple hours in your facility, walking around seeing all the animals that were out. My dog encountered a tiger didn’t make a peep. My dog saw rhino didn’t make a peep. My dog saw a giraffe walk right up to her at the window and stare at her and look, and my dog didn’t make a peep. All the students that were there all the kids that were there for the day my dog didn’t lunch out or pull out or try and get it any of them

So while you were more worried about whether my dog really was a service animal or not when we left, you could’ve come up and said thanks for coming and done something to try and recognize how well-behaved my service animal is all you had to do was simply say something like sorry I hope you didn’t think I was giving you a hard time Something like that just to recognize that but no, you were going more towards the front at the beginning, seeming like you’re trying to assume that my dog is not a real service animal I don’t know why maybe because she’s a smaller dog maybe because she’s a miniature schnauzer and not a larger dog that some people are most people might assume is the service dog I don’t know maybe that’s why

Something else that I encountered, there was some of the most polite children that are at the zoo not one time did someone try and come up to touch or distract my dog several of the kids that would walk by would ask me can I pet your dog and I’d say Sorry not now thank you for asking and their parents would even tell them that was a great job you did it asking back home. Everyone just would’ve stuck their hand out at the dog and...

Sad to say, but it seems the Peoria Zoo is in decline and in serious need of attention.

My husband and I visited with our 4- and 8-year-old grandsons this past Saturday. The weather was perfect—much nicer than recent heat waves—but surprisingly, the zoo was nearly empty, even on a weekend. The last time we were there was about seven years ago with another grandchild, and at that time, we found the zoo exciting, well-kept, and full of life. Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be the case.

The most obvious change is in the condition of the grounds. The landscaping appears completely neglected, overrun with weeds and lacking any effort to make it attractive or inviting. The alligator exhibit was so poorly marked we wouldn’t have known it existed without a map.

There also seemed to be far fewer animals. While there were a few notable ones—the rhino, giraffes, and two big cats—we couldn't help but notice the absence of others we remembered, like a second lion. The zebras and rhino were confined to a muddy enclosure with no grass at all, which made us wonder why there isn’t more effort to rotate animals and allow enclosures to recover.

We were disappointed to find there was no petting area or barnyard animals, a favorite for young children. And overall, the animals just looked lethargic, even depressed—most were sleeping and showed no signs of stimulation or enrichment.

Staffing also left much to be desired. Those we did see seemed very young and disengaged, and we encountered very few of them throughout the visit. It didn’t feel like there was any visible leadership presence or energy on the grounds.

The one bright spot was the giraffe feeding. The young women running that station were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, and our grandsons really enjoyed it. However, we were puzzled and a bit annoyed that the upper section of the African exhibit walkway was blocked off until the feeding started—without any signage or explanation.

The Asian and Australian exhibits were especially sparse and uninspired. The Asian area consisted of just two takins and one tiger, and in the Australian area, two wallabies trying to hide and two emus sleeping while two unengaged staff members sat nearby.

Even the gift shop was disappointing—small, poorly lit, and lacking anything exciting, even for our 4-year-old, who usually loves picking out a souvenir.

Perhaps most troubling was the complete lack of interaction or information about the zoo’s mission. There were signs claiming conservation goals, but no visible effort to educate visitors or explain any specific programs for helping endangered species. It left us wondering: What is this zoo’s purpose?

For comparison, we recently visited the Scovill Zoo in Decatur. It was delightful. Beautiful landscaping with wide, spacious walkways, a fun variety of well-presented animals, a petting area, a train ride—and it was packed with visitors, even on a weekday. They’re clearly doing something right.

I’d suggest that the director of the Peoria Zoo take a field trip to Scovill and see what makes that zoo so successful. As it stands, we won’t be recommending the Peoria Zoo to others. If you're looking for a truly enjoyable zoo experience, skip Peoria and head to...