Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History

805 S Kiwanis Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA

Address:	805 S Kiwanis Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
Phone:	+1 605-367-7003
Site:	greatzoo.org
Rating:	4.5
Working:	9AM–6PM 9AM–6PM 9AM–6PM 9AM–6PM 9AM–6PM 9AM–6PM 11AM–6PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 9

Shibo1

As a long-time zoo member, I thought Id respond to a few of the criticisms and give a brief overview. Yes, if you visit a small, Northern zoo in the winter, cold blooded animals like alligators will not be sitting outside. If they were left out there, theyd die. And yes, the african/warm climate animals like the Giraffes and the Zebras and Rhinos arent left outside to die. You can find them in the helpful areas that are marked "winter viewing". The zoo is not "empty" in the winter. Its just cold. So, there will be no train ride, because its cold and not fun to ride a cold train. The carousel is also closed, because again, kids get cold and its no fun. On the occasional warm, weekend day, they will open these attractions as the need arises. The animals are not "drugged" or "half dead", but believe it or not, some animals sleep from time to time. If youd like them to dance for your amusement, go to the circus. Ok, now that Ive gotten that out of my system, Ill talk about the zoo itself. In the past year, the zoo has undergone extensive refurbishment. Theres a brand new entrance, a new store, and a beautiful new Snow Monkey exhibit. The african rhino exhibit is only a few years old, and is state of the art. Theres a mixture of new and older style exhbits here, and as donations come in, the older exhibits have been removed and/or updated. This is a great zoo for the size of the city, and is easily the best in the state. Its not huge, but its nice, and a lot of fun. My son and I go all the time, year round. He loves the farm area, where he feeds goats and ducks. We also enjoy the tigers, and the bears. He loves the alligators as well. So, come to the zoo! Just be realistic about what it is. Want an enormous, multi billion dollar experience? Then drive to Omaha. :)

Tracy Tomko

Been to zoos all over the US with Cheyenne Mountain in 1st place, Henry Doorly in 2nd, and The Bronx Zoo in 3rd.... The Great Plains Zoo however is the saddest zoo I have ever seen. These animals are in "pens" rather than natural looking habitats. Did you know some zoos have zookeepers doing interactive training and demonstrations with the animals so visitors can learn from people and animals rather than signs??? Also they allow visitors to pet the new babies, hand feed the elephants, touch tarantulas, and have sleepovers in there wild safari (for a price of course) and best of all their animals are beautiful and happy!!!! Their gorillas even do paintings!!! Actual art! It is hilarious!!!! But not at the Great Plains Zoo....here you trudge on from sign to sign looking at the sad animals laying in the dirt....there was a camel ride once ...yay. This place appears underfunded and these animals appear to be kept at minimal standards....just enough to keep the doors open. Please dont let your kids think this is how a zoo is supposed to look. Its sad:( Shut down the Great Plains Zoo!!!!!!

Sheri Scheerhorn

It was my 4 yr. Old grandsons first time at the S.F. zoo well actually any zoo for that matter. With us was,my sister and my other 9 yr. Old granddaughter whos been to many zoos. But this was her first time seeing koala bears. None of us had ever seen koala bears before so this was an extra bonus. We had fun riding the train and carasal ride and it was a great time. Im thinking about buying year round family passes. I cant wait for the bear exhibit to open. I just wish we could have seen the Giraffes. Up Closer. But, in our group. We had ages 4 up to grandma age. And it was sooo Much fun. Cant wait to go back with the kids. Sheri S.

Stephany Brown

I work here during the summers and it is absolutely wonderful. Staff is great and so is Leigh the supervisor. People that dont have a good time should consider the conditions they visited in. Reasons why the animals are off exhibit and check the website before assuming and posting a bad review. Some animals cant be left out in cold like the alligators. The zoo isnt empty. Also some animals are moved off exhibit to be checked for health, weight, temperature, how they act, ect. Also the animals look rugged because they are shedding! Sometimes they are in their prime just like humans and sometimes not. They shed just like your dog or cat.

Nick Mangene

Normally the zoo is a lot of fun for the whole family but my past experience was disappointing! The fact that it was regular price for half the attractions was disturbing to say the least. I understand its the beginning of the season but if the giraffes and zebras are caged up and there are"nt any birds or turtles or gators in their sancuaries, then maybe the admission should be reduced until the zoo is running at its full potential, my wife and I were unimpressed and my daughter sad that she did"nt get to ride the camels because they were nowhere to be found. Maybe we will give it a try in the summer when its fully operational

Christian Nielsen

Great Zoo for the size an location, took my girlfriend on a date there just for something to do while were apart for the summer. If you go on a weekday afternoon you almost have the entire zoo to yourself, there were several times when we were the only ones looking at the exhibits, which was refreshing when compared to the madhouse that is the Henry Doorly Zoo where you feel rushed along by the crowds of people. The goats were fun and my girlfriend had ALOT of fun feeding the goats and the cows. Only complaint is that the penguin exhibit leaves a lot to be desired, more snow and water would be nice.

Lori Carstensen

Their billboards suck. Zoos are for kids so why do they have those stupid billboards that say "very very naughty monkeys?". When I take my kids to the zoo I want them to see fun and excitment. Elephants, Bears and Monkeys eating bananas or hanging from the bars. I dont want them to think about what the billboard means. You already have the adults at the zoo... why make it sexual? Make the zoo fun again and lose the ad agency that thought those billboards, (which are also horribly done) were a good idea. Make the zoo fun! Lets face it..zoos are mainly for kids!

Rafael Castro

I was a disappointed in the experience I payed for a family zoo experience in the whole entire zoo there is one place to get food and I payed 20 dollars and couldnt even feed one person half the animals listed arent there yet and all the animals are barely active cause of not the well living area the penguins have such a small cramped area barely to swim around it and the idea of an artic fox habitat is a small grass area with a fan in a small shed feel bad for the animals more than I do for the customers

Travis Holthaus

This is as good a zoo as you can expect from a city this size, probably better than you would expect. We arrived after 3:00 and the already reasonable entrance cost was half price. Good variety of animals and very few empty exhibits. The kids (2.5 years and 10 months) enjoyed it with little to no fussiness. Plan on 2-3 hours to see everything, longer if you are the type that reads all the informational signs or likes to stop and look for longer than others.