While the El Paso Zoo is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when it reopens, you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure your visit is everything you hope it will be. The virus has made it critical to plan ahead before you visit any attraction, and the zoo is no exception. These top tips will help you make your visit to the zoo the best it can possibly be.
Operating Hours and Days
As previously mentioned, the zoo is closed until further notice to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. When it reopens, the zoo will likely be closed on Monday and Tuesday, and open Wednesday through Sunday. On Wednesday through Friday, it will operate between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the last entry at 1:00 p.m. On the weekends, it will operate between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with the last entry at 4:00 p.m.
Entrance Fees
When the zoo reopens, the entrance fees will be $12.00 for guests between the ages of 18 and 59, $9.00 for those between 13 and 17 and age 60 and over, and $7.50 for children between the ages of three and 12. Kids under the age of three are free. Guests who are currently in the military and their spouses can enter at the discounted fee of $9.00 each. The process for ticketing may change due to the virus.
The Rules
In general, the zoo’s rules are in place to keep the animals and guests safe. For instance, no pets are allowed unless they are certified service animals. Guests may not feed any of the animals because they are all on specialized diets and could get sick from other food. While selfie sticks are allowed, guests may not reach past the barriers that are in place around each exhibit. Selfie sticks may also not extend past these barriers.
Visitors to the zoo can bring in their own food and drink but are not allowed to have alcohol or single-use straws on the property. Additionally, balloons, glitter, pinatas, balls, noisemakers, bikes, skateboards, and glass containers are not allowed at the zoo. For a full list of prohibited items, visit the zoo’s website to ensure you don’t accidentally bring in an item that is not allowed and that could harm the animals.
The Animals
When you visit the zoo, you’ll be treated to exotic animals from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. See lions, zebras, kudu, meerkats, tortoises, and giraffes from Africa; elephants, tapirs, tigers, orangutans, and leopards from Asia; and alligators, terns, wolves, ocelots, and macaws from the Americas. Of course, this is just a small sample of the animals that’ll be available for you to view once the zoo reopens. Be sure to bring your camera for the many photo opportunities you’ll have!
Other Attractions
The zoo is primarily about all the animals it houses, but there are other attractions available for visitors to enjoy as well. These include the African Star Train, the Foster Tree-House Playground, Giraffe Encounters, the Hunt Family Endangered Species Carousel, the Hunt Family Desert Spring (splash pad), and the Wildlife Amphitheater. Currently, all attractions are closed but will reopen with limited access when the zoo reopens.
Even though you’re not currently able to visit the zoo, you can start planning your trip for when the zoo reopens, which will hopefully be soon and all of its wildlife can welcome you back with open limbs!