Connecting People and Wildlife
Timed-Ticketing Required In Advance to walk through the zoo!
Pre-booked time slots are required for both Zoo Guests and Zoo Members in order to wallk through the Zoo. Tickets are ONLY available online and will not be sold on site. This is a new process to keep everyone safely and physically distanced. Please note that face coverings are mandatory while indoors & at certain outdoor animal viewing areas.
Tickets
Parent/Educator Resources
Membership
Online Gift Shop
Support the Zoo
Plan Your Visit
*Please be sure to review the information below before visiting
The West Virginia Zoo and Aquarium welcomes our guests!
The West Virginia Zoo and Aquarium is currently open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Due to COVID-19 and the necessity to continue to limit our in-park capacity, dated/timed reservations are required for Members and our day guests until 2 p.m.
After 2 p.m., our Members and our day guests can visit the Zoo any day without a timed entry/reservation. For our Members, we still ask that you bring your membership card and photo ID to the turnstile.
Hours
Zoo Hours
9:00 am to 7:00 pm
*Last admission into Zoo is a half hour after last timed-ticket.
Members
Become A MemberWe are excited to welcome our Zoo Members back to the Zoo. Timed-ticketing is in-place to ensure the safety of all guests where you will choose a time-slot to enter the Zoo. This MUST be booked prior to your arrival.*Have your Membership ID card on-hand when you enter the Zoo at your booked time-slot as this will be required as proof of Membership.
Zoo Guests
Spring Admission Rates:
Adults (13-64): $23.00
Child (3-12): $14.00
Senior (65+): $18.00
2 and Under: FREE
Veteran/Active Military: $18.00
Members: FREE
Parking Rates:
Car: $12.00
Bus: FREE
*TO VISIT THE ZOO ON FOOT, TIME SLOT MUST BE BOOKED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL.Tickets are ONLY available online and will not be sold on site.
Rentals
Rental Rates:
Single Stroller: $8.00
Double Stroller: $10.00
Wagons: $8.00
Wheelchairs: FREE
Electric Scooter: $35.00
Lockers: $8.00
Explore Your Zoo
Featured in the USA Today's 10 Best Zoo Exhibits of 2020
North America
Presented by AllstateGet up close to native wildlife along the North America trail. From the mountains to the prairies, to the wetlands and sea to shining sea you will discover creatures that call our backyard home.
Tundra Trek
Presented by Gino's PizzaTundra Trek is one of North America’s largest polar bear habitats, and it is also home to snowy owls. This state-of-the-art, interactive facility encompasses more than 4 acres of outdoor and indoor spaces.
Asian Trail
Presented by PepsiJoin us on a quest through the Himalayas and encounter wildlife facing the threat of extinction. Pick the right path and learn how you can help put a stop to poaching and the demand for illegal animal trade. Asian Highlands is also home to the zoo's giant pandas.
Elephant CrossingPresented by LEEDAfrican Elephant Crossing offers exceptional viewing areas for visitors, including open-air viewing, a nose-to-trunk window, an elevated feeding station and a gated crossing where guests can watch as the elephants migrate from one yard to the next.
Safari Africa
Presented by CarvanaSee lions both at a distance and up close at the African Lion habitat, featuring grassy areas, shade trees and a rock shelter. Feed a 17-foot giraffe right out of your hand at Twiga Terrace. View rhinos, zebras, hippos and more within Heart of Africa.
Shores & AquariumPresented by KrogerDive into the depths of the oceans, explore the rocky coastline and discover animals that call different bodies of water home at the Shores & Aquarium. Walk on the bottom of the ocean and come nose to nose with sea turtles as sharks circle above you in the 70 foot shark tunnel.
African Forest
Presented by Chase BankVenture deep into Congo and explore the misty trail of the jungle. Wander along the shaded paths to discover primates and more that call the African forest home. Gorillas are among our closest relatives in the wild and that’s pretty clear watching our troop.
The Islands
Presented by HighmarkExplore the land down under of the Australian outback, where you will discover that a kiwi is not just a fruit, but also a national bird and that koalas sleep 18-20 hours a day! Then continue your voyage to the neighboring Islands of Southeast Asia to discover wildlife that inhabitant the lush forests of this region.
Desert Dome
Presented by ExxonThe world's largest indoor desert, the Desert Dome, located under the world's largest glazed geodesic dome, has become a landmark for the state of West Virginia. The Desert Dome features plant and animal life from three deserts around the world: the Namib Desert of southern Africa, the Red Center of Australia and the Sonoran Desert of the southwest United States.
Family Farm
Presented by Bob EvansValleys of the Appalachian Mountains contain some of the nation’s richest farmland. At the Bob Evan's Family Farm, visitors can get up close to goats and chickens.The farm also offers teenagers a hands-on experience in farm operations and animal care. They assist with daily farm operations, care for the animals, and help visitors learn and discover.Attractions & Adventures
Select attractions are now open!Please ask a zoo associate for daily updated schedules and announcements
June 28 - September 810:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Cool off at Splash Island, the perfect destination for a hot summer day! With two acres of hands-on, non-stop family fun amidst waterslides, water-spouting animals, waterfalls, and tipping buckets, our splash pad is the best way to beat the summer heat. The kids will enjoy the cool mist as they explore and learn about which plants and animals live in different bodies of water around the United States. Splash Island is a great way to relax, cool down, and have fun with the kids!
Free with Zoo Admission
May - OctoberZoo visitors will be able to hang out like Charles and the Western lowland gorilla troop do on the Gorilla Climb Ropes Course. Visitors of all ages (and up to 300 pounds) will be able to safely swing, crawl and balance while guiding their own path through the almost 33 foot high climb's 26 elements, resulting in a different adventure every time!
Cost per climb is $7.00Children must be at least 48" to go on this attraction. Children 42" to 48" are permitted but must be accompanied by an adult. Guests wearing flip flops or strapless footwear will not be able to climb on the course for safety reasons.
May - OctoberThe Wild Rouge Zipline & Canopy Tour is an ecologically themed aerial adventure park! Guests are transported down a parallel cable 300m high speed zipline into the heart of the attraction. Once in the park, guests can explore the canopy walk-through, an aerial challenge course high-up in the trees. It concludes with a zipdrop and then a ride back up to where the tour began.Guests can purchase tickets in the zoos entry plaza.Wild Rouge Zipline & Zipdrop:$26.50
Wild Rouge Zipline & Canopy Tour: Full Experience is $35.35
Hours may vary seasonallyTouch or feed cow-nose rays and southern stingrays as they glide beneath your fingertips. It’s a safe, fun adventure for the whole family.
Non-member cost per person is $4
Feeding cost per person is $2
Free for Zoo members
May - OctoberWelcome to Twiga Terrace, our elevated giraffe feeding station! Get eye to eye to our five gentle giants while their long tongues grab lettuce right out of your hands!Non-member cost per person is $5Member cost per person is $3Not ready to feed giraffes? The top of Twiga Terrace offers tree-top like views of the savannas and Kopje Lodge. Gaze at the grazing white rhinos, wildebeest, ostriches and more from a unique perspective, or rest on the wooden benches in the center of the platform underneath the hand-carved giraffe corbels that adorn the underside of the awning.
Get Involved
Saving Wildlife & Wild Places
The best way to throw yourself into the Zoo experience is to join our family. Live the thrill of helping us protect wildlife. How easy is that?
Membership Benefits:
- Unlimited free admission to the Zoo for duration of membership.
- Free Zoomobile rides (Seasonal).
- 10% discount on purchases in our Giftshops.
- 10% discount on purchases in Restaurants.
- Receive invitations to special events and exhibit previews.
- Admission discount to AZA accredited zoo and aquariums in North America (full list).
Volunteer at the Zoo
Lead. Learn. Enjoy Life.
Volunteer at the Zoo!
The West Virginia Zoo is searching for friendly, enthusiastic, conservation-minded adults, ages 18 and older, to volunteer in our animal contact areas. We strive to attract and retain quality, committed individuals who share in the Zoo's philosophies and mission statement. We choose volunteers who are best suited for each position and who possess the necessary skills, education, experience and qualifications to fit the requirements needed.
The zoo offers internships in a range of fields.
Adopt a West Virginia Zoo animal today and help protect wildlife and wild places. As a charitable organization, funds raised through the Adopt an Animal program support the Zoo’s scientific research and conservation efforts. With over 20 animals available for adoption, including 6 Canadian species, and 5 adoption packages to choose from, you’ll surely find the perfect gift for any occasion!
Contact the zoo for more information.
Your support is more vital now than ever!
The West Virginia Zoo is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our guests, members, staff and volunteers. The West Virginia Zoo closed its doors to the public on March 14, 2020 in order to do our part in halting the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
As a not-for-profit charitable organization, the West Virginia Zoo relies heavily on revenue from admissions, parking, events, programs and onsite sales to financially support their operations. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community, and for the many who have asked what else they can do to help at this time.
Contact the zoo for more information.
Zoo to You
Virtual Experiences
Looking for a fun and safe way to bring the Zoo to your own learning space?
Whether you’re learning from home or in the classroom, check out our virtual learning opportunities below
Classroom ConnectionzBring the zoo to your school!Bring the Zoo into your classroom and learn about the wonderful wildlife while having a little fun too! The Zoo offers multiple ways of connecting with the animals and learning curriculum related information from the comfort and safety of your device. Just choose an option and we will be excited to welcome you to the West Virginia Zoo and AT&T Aquarium.Register Here
Zoo ConnectionzBring the zoo to your family!Bring the Zoo into your home, business, or community group and learn about the wonderful wildlife while having a little fun too! The Zoo offers multiple ways of connecting with the animals and learning all about them from the comfort and safety of your device. Just choose an option and we will be excited to welcome you to the West Virginia Zoo and AT&T Aquarium.Register Here
Shout OutzBuild your own zoo message!Bring the Zoo into your home, school, or business and learn about the wonderful wildlife while having a little fun too! The Zoo offers multiple ways of connecting with the animals and learning all about them from the comfort and safety of your device. Just choose an option and we will be excited to welcome you to the West Virginia Zoo and AT&T Aquarium.
Register Here
Extended LearningTake learning to the next level!Virtual visits around the Zoo on a variety of topics hosted by Explore by the Seat of Your Pants, with supporting resources/activities to extend student learning.
Tune-In on Youtube HereEvent Calendar
April - May 2021
April 6 - August 8Ticket Pricing:Adults (13 and up): $5.00Kids (3-12): $4.002 and Under: FREEThis exciting, educational exhibit is back and it is a whole new era. See new dinosaurs and prehistoric species from different eras like the smilodon and direwolf. New this year, guests will be able to take a tour with a dinosaur trainer, meet a baby dinosaur, and go on guided paleontology dig.
May 4Included in Zoo admisssion
FREE for Zoo members
Join the West Virginia Zoo in a galaxy far, far away…from the comfort of your own home! May the Fourth be with Zoo is a virtual animal enrichment day. Every half hour zookeepers will be giving animals across the Zoo galactic-themed enrichment and holding live keeper chats. Take an out of this world virtual visit with us to see the animals use the force of their natural behaviors to explore their treats from space.
Zoo Partners
Our sponsors are rewarded with multiple marketing benefits that increases awareness of the product/service, enhance brand equity, retail traffic and help educate consumers.
