Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum

Address:	6151 Portage Rd, Portage, MI 49002, USA
Phone:	+1 269-382-6555
Site:	airzoo.org
Rating:	4.7
Working:	9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 12–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

Bretten Bailey

One of the Best Attractions for Families in West Michigan without a doubt! For an aviation buff, this museum features lots of RARE & HISTORIC Aircraft and you can even see the aircraft that are in restoration over at the restoration center. This Museum goes above and beyond any normal air museum. Sure there are aircraft to see (and as I stated, many rare, including the ONLY SR-71B Blackbird still in existence). At the AIR ZOO, you dont just see history, but you get to experience it. The Missions Theater features a daring World War II Bombing Raid that is a very touching tribute. The theater also shows "Fly Me to the Moon" which is great for children. Then there are numerous rides and immersive exhibits including "Space. Dare to Dream", the Full-Motion MaxFlight Simulators, Montgolfier Balloon Race, Flying Circus Biplane Ride, Paratrooper Jump, Century of Flight Ferris Wheel, Kids Area, Corsair Challenge/Mars Simulator and a 3D Space Shuttle Ride which features a Space Shuttle Flight and International Space Station Tour. The museum is also home to the National Guadalcanal Memorial Museum. The museum is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and has access to thousands of rare artifacts and amazing traveling exhibits. The AIR ZOO has restored some precious artifacts from the Smithsonian that are presently on display that includes the El Kabong I test capsule and the ONLY surviving XP-55 Ascender. During the summer, visiting warbirds usually come to the museum. This summer will feature the B-25 & B-17 from the Yankee Air Museum numerous times throughout the summer into September. Flights may be purchased on these birds. The AIR ZOO only has one flyable aircraft now, a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor, the first mass produced airliner. However, with sponsorship from the EAA, this Tri-Motor (along with EAAs Tri-Motor) tours the country during the summer months to give rides. It usually gives rides two to three weekends out of the summer at the AIR ZOO however. Back in the day, a good portion of the collection used to fly, including a rare Grumman F7F Tigercat. However, the collection doesnt fly anymore and that is one thing I personally miss (and the Tigercat has since been sold anyway). All in all, this place is a MUST for anyone living in the area, even if you arent an avid aviation fan, you will definitely like this place. Pretty cheap overall too and you can purchase an individual membership for $29 which is good for the ENTIRE year and includes unlimited admissions etc...very affordable. You may leave loving aviation. I help organize and do the Facebook page for the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival and I ALWAYS recommend out of town patrons visit the AIR ZOO if they have the time because it is just one of those attractions you HAVE to do.

Ramon Frias

Not to crazy about the new flat rate. I used to take the kids there often when they sold a wrist band for the 4 main ride attractions. Now, it is overpriced. When I asked the employee, she stated that " the rides are just a bonus to the actual facility....when, Im pretty sure this is what keeps people coming back. Its just a prime example of a local business taking advantage of its consumers, who put them in the position that they are in from a business standpoint. Also, the employees were rude & unfair. Also, biased against the children and the height requirements. If your going to regulate a kid for their safety, not to get on a ride independently than you should standardize that across the board. But instead, the employees would pick and choose kids that did not meet the minimum requirement. Allowing some that were shy of the requirement to get on. Telling others not to. The exhibits were top of the line, but nothing that cannot be seen at a museum. Just remember your paying $10.50 for kids and almost $14 for adults for 4 rides. Totally not worth it. Wouldve have made my experience better and placed the high entrance fee at ease if we would have at least felt welcomed but, this was not the case.

Courtney Graves

My parents just recently moved back to Michigan and my kids and I are up here visiting. We had originally planned on going to Greenfield Village today but seen it was calling for rain. I got online to try to find something else for us to do and found the Air Zoo. Even though it was almost a two hour drive for us it was definitely worth it! My kids are obsessed with airplanes. We live in Ohio in the country and dont see airplanes like we do at my parents who lives very close to Metro Airport. All day yesterday all we heard from my daughter was "I want to ride on the plane." The Air Zoo couldnt have been more perfect for my two kids. Even the prices of admissions was reasonable. General admissions for adults- $15 and both my kids got in free since they were under 5. The staff was very friendly, the whole place was clean and most importantly my kids had a BLAST! The first thing my daughter said as soon as she seen my dad was "I finally got to ride a plane!" Were planning a trip back already. We were there for about 5 hours and still wasnt able to see everything.

Gary Canant

The Air Zoo has something for every age! As a 70 year old, it brought back many memories and I was able to show the young folks what the difference is between fabric skin and aluminum skin. The young folks piloted the simulators I was in, to show off their HI TECH computer skills. After all the excitement we went up to the snack bar and got some food and sit at a table looking down on many of the aircraft on display. The last stop for us was the Air Zoo souvenir store. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN AVIATION THEMED GIFT! Start with the store. If ya aint got time to tour the Air Zoo but need a gift! No problem - Pass the ticket agent and walk straight ahead into AIR ZOO gift ideas for YOU! PS: The family that took me to the Air Zoo was commenting on how the prices had dropped and there were many changes of exhibits from the last time they were there. So if it has been several years since you visited this place - dont deceive yourself out of a wonderful experience.

Ken McKenney

My wife and son and I visited the AirZoo on friday Ocotber 19, 2012. Driving from Grand Rapids, approx 1hr we purchased admission for 2 seniors and 1 adult expecting to see the exhibits and the theater. I asked about the show and the attendant said it ran on the hour and half-hour. We viewed the exhibits and noticed it was 2:10pm and the next show was at 3pm. We went to the annex to see the rest of the exhibits and made sure to be back at the main facility in time for the 3pm show. The attendant at the theater said "You have red bracelets and need green ones to enter!" Was not aware that the movie was a separate charge and it wast the last time we were here. We had 2 other birthday related plans for my wife and son to cover along with dinner reservations at Martells (excellent) - not enough time left to wait for the next viewing so we left very dispappointed. Hope this info will be used to improve their business attempts.

Bryan Matyas

The exhibits and the gift shop were fantastic and worth the price of admission. The kids loved the rides too. I would highly recommend that anyone who visits either bring their own food or eat at the many fine restaurants in the area. Not only did the cafe mess up our lunch but the staff simply handed me a bun as if I was supposed to fix my own sandwich. When I confronted the girl about me having to fix the problem myself her response was and I quote "I dont even let my own mother talk to me like that. " I am sorry but I have worked in food service before myself and the people I worked for would have fired me on the spot if I had behaved that way. As enjoyable as the rest of it was I wont be returning until the cafe closes or they get new staff. Anyone can mess up an order but this is no way to run a business.