John Ball Zoo

John Ball Zoo Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
A non-profit organization dedicated to saving
Wildlife and Wild Places🐾🌳
(22052)

John Ball Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation committed to the advancement of public education on the need for wildlife conservation and preservation. John Ball Zoo has over 2,000 animals including lions, tigers, chimpanzees, and red pandas, indoor and outdoor exhibits, an aquarium, interactive experiences, and so much more.

Step into a world of wonder ✨The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival returns for its fourth year at John Ball Zoo with Realms ...
12/29/2025

Step into a world of wonder ✨

The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival returns for its fourth year at John Ball Zoo with Realms of Wonder. Journey through three immersive realms: Fantasy, Underwater, and Cultural, featuring breathtaking new lantern displays and hands-on experiences. 🏮

Tickets go on sale in March, and members receive early access! Stay tuned for updates. 🐉

There’s still time to take advantage of our special holiday membership offer! Purchase a membership before Dec. 31 and save 10%. 🙌 Enjoy unlimited FREE Zoo admission, discounted tickets to the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival, 20% off food, beverages, and gift shop purchases, and more: jbzoo.org/membership/

Start the year with an adventure! ✨ One week until Spring Break Zoo Camp registration opens on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 8AM. ...
12/27/2025

Start the year with an adventure! ✨ One week until Spring Break Zoo Camp registration opens on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 8AM. Kids in kindergarten through 5th grade can explore, discover, and make unforgettable memories with up-close animal encounters and behind-the-scenes fun.

Learn more at: jbzoo.org/education/camp 🐞

Wishing you a purr-fect holiday season, from all of us at John Ball Zoo to you 🎄
12/25/2025

Wishing you a purr-fect holiday season, from all of us at John Ball Zoo to you 🎄

12/24/2025

Stockings were hung by the chimney with care… and our spider monkeys couldn’t resist the festive fun! 🐒

These paper-mâché goodies, crafted with love by our talented zoo schoolers, made the perfect holiday enrichment. 🎄

12/21/2025

First day of winter ft. cold-weather icons & very brave first-timers ⛄

📸: Zookeeper: Amanda, Hannah, Stacy, Sam, and Sarah

Brrr… is it too early to start dreaming of Spring Break? 🌷🌞 Registration for Spring Break Zoo Camp opens at 8AM on Satur...
12/20/2025

Brrr… is it too early to start dreaming of Spring Break? 🌷🌞 Registration for Spring Break Zoo Camp opens at 8AM on Saturday, January 3rd. Kids in kindergarten through 5th grade can dive into full-day adventures filled with behind-the-scenes experiences, up-close animal encounters, and all the wild excitement Zoo Camp has to offer!

Tap to discover more and register today: jbzoo.org/education/camp/ 🐻

When Christmas is less than a week away and you still haven’t started your shopping… 🙀 or your wrapping… 🎁We know the pu...
12/19/2025

When Christmas is less than a week away and you still haven’t started your shopping… 🙀 or your wrapping… 🎁

We know the purr-fect gift that can be purchased instantly and does not require wrapping. A zoo membership supports animal care and conservation while creating lasting memories. 🎄

Don't wait! Our holiday membership offer ends Dec. 31: jbzoo.org/membership/

As we look back on 2025, we’re grateful for all the moments that made this year at John Ball Zoo so special:🐾 Welcomed p...
12/18/2025

As we look back on 2025, we’re grateful for all the moments that made this year at John Ball Zoo so special:

🐾 Welcomed pygmy hippo calf Hugo and snow leopard cub Juniper: exciting milestones for endangered species.

🦺 Began construction on a state-of-the-art giraffe habitat and a new river otter habitat with interactive features.

🐧 Celebrated Phil the Magellanic penguin as the World’s Most Popular Penguin.

🦋 Earned a North American Conservation Award for efforts to save the critically endangered Poweshiek skipperling butterfly.

🔗 Read about our other achievements from 2025 on our website: bit.ly/4o4ErMX

A huge thank you to the 700,000+ guests who visited and supported our mission this year. Your love for wildlife makes everything we do possible.

Everything we do is a result of the generosity of our members, guests, and the voters of Kent County.

High-tech research meets Michigan’s oldest fish 🐟For the past six years, we have been working with local partners, inclu...
12/16/2025

High-tech research meets Michigan’s oldest fish 🐟

For the past six years, we have been working with local partners, including the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Valley State University, and Encompass Socio-ecological Consulting LLC, on research to study and protect Michigan’s ancient lake sturgeon in the Grand River. Thanks to a new grant awarded to this project from the Great Lakes Fishery Trust, we're able to take this research even further! 🥳

The grant will support the use of sonar technology to track adult sturgeon as they move upriver to spawn, giving researchers a non-invasive way to gather critical data. For years, our teams have been surveying the river to locate, measure, tag, and study juvenile sturgeon, building a clearer picture of population health and genetics.

By sharing our findings with partners involved in Grand River restoration, including the Gun Lake Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, and others, we are working together to protect these living fossils and the river ecosystem they call home. 🙌

This work is made possible by the generosity of our members, visitors, and the support of Kent County voters.

12/15/2025

Who says you can't eat and hold your breath at the same time? 🍼

Nursing underwater is one of the amazing adaptations pygmy hippo calves have. It allows them to feed safely while staying submerged, just like Hugo does with his mom, Penelope, keeping close and protected in their watery environment.

When you’re a ferocious predator… but also a snow angel enthusiast. 😇📸: Zookeeper Amanda
12/13/2025

When you’re a ferocious predator… but also a snow angel enthusiast. 😇

📸: Zookeeper Amanda

Address

1300 Fulton Street West
Grand Rapids, MI
49504

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+16163364300

Website

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