Topeka Zoo — Attraction in Topeka

I must admit, to give my review fair context, that I've taken my kids to the Kansas City Zoo at least 20 times, and we are rather spoiled by it. I'll add as well that I visited on March 13, which was not only a very chilly day, but also at the beginning of the real onset of the COVID-19 pandemic here, and this was my first and only visit. So the zoo was very sparsely attended that day, and most of the animals were not available for viewing.

We found our initial arrival to be frustrating and confusing. There is insufficient signage leading up both to the zoo parking lot and to its entrance. Google Maps told us to turn into a closed gate that was marked as for "Authorized Personnel Only," and construction workers and trucks busily working made us fear the zoo was closed. We finally asked a worker, who told us to drive further down the road and that the zoo would be on the left (it was on the right, with the playground on the left). When we finally got parked and walked up to the ticket building, we had our cooler in hand, ready for a nice picnic lunch. I stood with my girls before what looked like a service window, with no sign on it for direction, wondering why the lady was gesturing, pointing, and laughing with the woman sitting next to her instead of doing anything to serve us. Finally, we figured out on our own that her service window was on the side of the building. Simple signage could fix both of these problems! So could decent customer service!!! When we got around to her, I saw the sign that stated outside food and drinks are not allowed. This really frustrated me, as we're used to the KC Zoo allowing us to bring in our own lunch and drinks, which saves us a lot of money.

After returning our cooler to the car, we finally got inside, and since we were all hungry, we went straight to the food stand to the left of the entrance. One family sat eating at the tables across from it, and no one stood in front of or behind us in line. Despite this lack of much to do, the 3 employees "working" in the food stand seemed to spend a lot more time talking than working. They were not very friendly when taking our order, took awhile to make our drinks, and then handed them to me with no lids or straws. I asked about lids, and the worker said "We do not use lids and straws here." I told her ok, I understood, but I would not have allowed my kid to order a large root beer if I'd known that ahead of time, and once again, I saw no signs stating that fact, nor did any of the workers mention it until after the drinks were made. She apologized, and I sat down with my kids and the drinks (after vigorous handwashing in the bathroom next door). Approximately 15-20 minutes later, they called us up to get our chicken wrap, go-gurt tube, veggie cup, and hummus. How on earth does that take 3 people, 20 minutes to make?

We did enjoy the animal exhibits and little displays about recycling, conservation, and the like. The "Da Dum" signs on the sidewalk all over the zoo, leading up to the shark display, was a fun touch. My kids loved the play equipment.

Next to the swan exhibit, the feed machine ate our money and, despite being full of food, didn't let out a single pellet. Thankfully, some of the other machines did work further down the path.

When we got to the gift shop, I heard the sales person tell a family ahead of us that they do not use any plastic or paper bags, and that people should bring in their own or buy a reusable one for (I think) $5. Maybe I just missed it, but I saw no signage about the no bags policy around the shop. If I had gotten up to the counter with a huge load of little things to discover that, I would've been miffed! So many issues that could be fixed with simple signage. I chose a book to buy for my library, and was disappointed to discover they charge sales tax (KC Zoo doesn't).

We did enjoy our time at the Topeka Zoo overall, but there were a lot of things that could be done (most notably, customer service training, allowing patrons to bring in their own food and drinks, and clearer signage) to...

Our Disastrous Visit to the Topeka Zoo: A Warning to All Families Let me start by saying that our recent trip to the Topeka Zoo was nothing short of a complete letdown, and this wasn’t our first rodeo. This marked our fourth visit over the years, and somehow, it managed to be just as abysmal as the previous ones—if not worse. We arrived with high hopes, excited to show our two kids the wonders of wildlife, but what we encountered was a far cry from the vibrant, educational experience a zoo should provide. From the moment we stepped through the gates, disappointment set in. The zoo was eerily empty—not just of visitors, but of animals. We wandered through exhibit after exhibit, only to find barren enclosures with signs reading “Temporarily Closed” or “Under Maintenance.” No lions roaring, no monkeys swinging, no giraffes grazing. It felt like we’d paid to tour a ghost town. Most of the park—easily three-quarters of it—was shut down, cordoned off with flimsy barriers. The open areas were a mess: tools scattered haphazardly on the ground, extension cords snaking across pathways, and exposed electric lights dangling precariously. It was not only unsightly but potentially hazardous, especially with young children running around. How does a zoo justify charging admission for such chaos? Speaking of admission, the cost was outrageous: $40 for two adults and two kids. That’s highway robbery for a half-baked attraction. We could’ve spent that money on a real outing, like a movie or a park picnic, without the frustration. The ordeal didn’t end with the lackluster exhibits. Hunger struck, so we headed to the food area, hoping for a quick bite. What we got was limited service at its worst. The menu was sparse—barely any options beyond basics like hotdogs and chips. The workers were extremely rude, barking orders and rolling their eyes at simple questions. My son, who’s only eight, waited patiently for over an hour in a line that barely moved, all for a soggy hotdog and a handful of stale chips. And the prices? Exorbitant—$12 for that pitiful combo, which wasn’t even prepared properly. The hotdog was undercooked, the chips limp and greasy. It was a prime example of unprofessionalism: staff chatting among themselves, ignoring customers, and showing zero enthusiasm or courtesy. No apologies for the delay, no smiles, just indifference bordering on hostility. This unprofessionalism permeated the entire visit. Maintenance crews lounged around without urgency, while visitors like us navigated the debris. We’ve given this place multiple chances, thinking perhaps it was an off day or seasonal issues, but after four identical experiences, it’s clear this is the norm. The Topeka Zoo seems content with mediocrity, prioritizing minimal effort over guest satisfaction. In short, we strongly recommend that no one waste their time or money here—ever. Save your family from the disappointment and head elsewhere. There are far better zoos out there that actually deliver on their promises. Our days of giving Topeka another shot are over; consider this your...

Expensive and underwhelming. In many of the exhibits animals are nowhere to be seen. The Japanese Garden is the best part of the Zoo. It isn't marked well though and it doesn't indicate anywhere that it's one way in and out but it's nice.

The animals that were out and visible were turkeys and the deer with them, monkeys, a lion, a porcupine and elephants. A LOT of empty exhibits! The staff was quite unfriendly. Watch out for golf carts! One employee drove through me and my family head on, stopped in the middle of us, yelled at some kids touching a tree and instead of staying parked until we got around her she told us - "watch out because I don’t want anyone to get hurt or hit anyone" and proceeded to drive through us. There weren't many visitors and she could of easily stopped and waited or went around us. My youngest kid walking with us is 2 so after that we weren't as leisurely as we were before. The person at ticketing was very rude too. I would take my family and $$ elsewhere. There are other zoos 1 to 2 hours away. They cost a little more but you'll be able to make a day out of the visit and see a lot of animals and the price difference isn't that much. Not sure why the admission is so much for what you get. Especially with all the donations they get and Business partnerships they have. I did notice way more employees at this zoo than I have at any other zoo.

This zoo is more of a paved nature trail with some animals along the way and an...