Little Rock Zoo
Arkansas'S Only AZA Accredited Zoo, Opened 1926 In Little Rock'S War Memorial Park, With Around 500 Animals On Roughly 33 Acres. · Little Rock, Arkansas
The Little Rock Zoo is the only accredited zoo in Arkansas, which is its main claim - the nearest alternatives are in Memphis, Tulsa and Dallas. It opened in 1926 with two animals confiscated from a travelling circus and now holds around five hundred on thirty-odd acres of War Memorial Park, with the usual large mammals, a serious great ape group, big cats and a well-regarded penguin exhibit. Two hand-carved carousel horses from a restored 1924 Over-the-Jumps carousel sit at the entrance and the carousel itself still runs. It is a city zoo, which under the house rule puts it in tier 3 regardless of its merits, and it is a good half day with children.
1 Zoo Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States
Open daily on daytime hours year-round, with the last admission an hour or so before closing and reduced hours in winter; closed on a small number of major holidays. Admission is ticketed, with reductions for children and seniors. Some outdoor exhibits close in severe weather and animals are brought inside in extreme cold or heat. The carousel and train run on their own seasonal schedules.