Potter Park Zoo

1301 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48912, USA

Address:	1301 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48912, USA
Phone:	+1 517-483-4222
Site:	potterparkzoo.org
Rating:	4.4
Working:	9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 9

michelle christ

Im not a huge fan of going to the zoo in general but we won a membership at a raffle and this was our first visit. This is inside of a local park and you have to pay to park, it was $5 for out of county residents, not unreasonable. The zoo was not crowded on a Tuesday but it had rained that morning. Upon arrival the man in the ticket booth warned us that the mosquitoes were bad and they were really horrible. Be sure to take repellant if you go in the summer months. The zoo was nice overall. Its small, about a 4 mile walk to see everything. There are pony rides (2 ponies on this day) but they cost additional to ride them (I think it was $3 but it may have been $5). Also camel rides ($5) and a bungee jump ride that was $7. There is also a tiny train for little kids to ride. It doesnt have a track, just goes in a small oval. There is a snack bar in the middle of the zoo that had options for lunch, ice cream, slushes and other snacks. Most of the animals were lethargic but most of the viewing areas were close so you could see them. We did not see moose or otters, they were hiding. They have 3 eagles, otters, barnyard animals/hands on goat area, red pandas, camels, bongos, tigers. Lions, lemurs, rhinos, moose, and a reptile/bird/amphibian house. There were three or four exhibits being renovated or closed. There is a small gift shop plus another snack bar at the front entrance. Overall it was a nice walk, despite the mosquitoes. I wouldnt buy a membership since its over an hour drive for us. I think its a good zoo to take little kids because its not as overwhelming as the bigger zoos and they basically have everything.

Ray Skwiers

My wife and I visited this zoo today. It was cold and windy. My wife wanted very much, to see the new red pandas. We were on our way out of Lansing after going to a convention. We arrived around 2pm and paid three dollars a piece to enter. We are a couple in our sixties, We saw couples in their twenties visiting. They seemed to be having fun. They were dressed warm. We also were dressed warm. At our age, did not seem to be having the fun they were. It was well worth the stop to walk in the cold wet wind to see the red pandas. They are extremely cute. If youre a young couple this must be fun to stroll around the zoo. Some of your peers are coming here. I would highly recommend this zoo. We were here less then an hour and really enjoyed ourselves. For younger people, this would be a great experience. In the summer it must be awesome. Well, worth the six dollars I paid to see my wife excited to see the red pandas.

Jessy Beurkens

For only $2 to park and $4 for an adult, and $2 for kids to enter it is very affordable!! I didnt even mind buying some fundraising inside because I want to keep this zoo alive and I dont know how they are going to do it on their admission prices!! Great zoo, easy to walk around, very interactive. There are "tour guides" willing to talk and answer questions at most exhibits and little message boards that tell you cool facts about different animals. For being such a small zoo I did not think there would be both Lions and Tiger but there were! Even buying ice cream for two was cheap at $3. But there is also a nice park outside in the entryway where you can pack a lunch and eat it there.

Amanda Russon

The zoo and staff was nice, but the exhibits were way too small for those animals! Example: The leopard was in a small square enclosure youd think would be for a small animal or one that doesnt run around and a full size tiger was INSIDE! In a probably a 12ft long enclosure that you would expect maybe would be for more like a snake! It was completely heart breaking. The animals simply have NO space. Im not sure how their enclosures are up to regulations! Personally I will probably not go back just because of how bad I felt for those animals, it was depressing. Everything else seemed fine. It was clean and I love the dollar days.

Dan Murphy

A nice zoo -- great for families. It is a parklike setting with a pond. While a smaller zoo, but still has a good selection of larger animals (lions, tigers, leopards, rhinos, etc). Offers camel and pony rides for kids. Admission is very inexpensive, especially for Ingham Co residents. I would like to see additions to the aquarium area, quite small. There are separate buildings for primates and reptiles. The penguim and river otter exhibits are well-laid out. The zoo is in a convenient location of Lansing near downtown and I-496, ample parking. Open year round (with free admission during the off-season).

jason banny

Wondetful zoo! Not so big that you are overwhelmed but plenty big enough to make a day of it. It is clean and most of the animals are pretty close for viewing. It is pretty neatwhen the lion roars it was my 5 year Olds highlite. We went this summer and it was 90 something and still got to see most of the animals. Plus there is a beautiful park on the entrance to picknick an play in the shade for the kids. My only down side was the reptile area. It was hard to see in the tanks with the lighting and barricade so seeing some of them and reading some of the cardswas difficult. Overall a must go

Jaci Riedle

WAY overpriced. I went on a BEAUTIFUL fall day last week with my mom and one year old. I totally understand shutting down areas of the zoo when the traffic slows down. But charging full price and having half the zoo closed not due to inlement weather is INSANE! We were really looking forward to the petting zoo only to get there and find the gates chained and locked. The train was also covered up and not running so was the snack area at the front of the zoo. 2 of the garden area exhibits were taped off. Next time well drive the extra 15 minutes and go to the Detroit Zoo.

Nate H

One of the worst zoos I have ever been too. I suggest not wasting your time or money. potter park zoo in Lansing is a joke. Dont waste your time or money, we just paid 37 dollars to get treated like crap and for them to close at 330 instead of 6 like it says online. And we got there at 2 not knowing and it was still full price. A lot of animals were not even out for display. When we voiced our issues the woman Skylar was very rude and would not listen to anything were had to say and only argued with us. A waste of time and money. We will never return.

Marki T.

My daughter is 18 months and we got to the zoo once or twice a week. We live close by so we like to walk there often. Its a nice cheap day trip for us where we can pack our own lunch to eat there. We always make a stop for her to ride the ponies while there. I let her her out to walk and it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours for us to walk through the park. I am not sure how much older kids would enjoy it since its not very big, but its perfect for our family. We did Zoo Boo last year and had a fun time as well.