There are so many zoos with similar and varied offerings across America. Would you like to see dolphins in action, ice-age giants, or maybe some cute little animals you can interact with?
You get that and a whole lot more when you spend a day at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. And even better, this mind-blowing facility also has free days.
The Brookfield Zoo, located at 3300 Golf Rd, will allow you to enter free Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for general admission.
This is through the entire year. However, at random times, such as during fall, the zoo has batches of free entry periods for everyone.
You will, however, have to pay for parking. You can stay updated by calling the zoo at 708-688-8000 or visiting their website here.
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How can you get free tickets to the Brookfield Zoo?
Consult with the Alderman for free admission, says the zoo’s official website.
On the City Council, aldermen serve four-year terms to represent the people of the Ward.
Elections take place on the very last Tuesday in February of the year, leading to the presidential election for candidates nominated by petition of the electorate of each district.
Do military personnel get free admission to Brookfield Zoo?
The Chicago Zoological Society is providing free entry to Brookfield Zoo to all current reservists, as well as retired armed forces personnel, as a way of saying thank you for your service.
Employees with a valid ID may enter the zoo free of charge if they show it at one of the ticket booths.
What are Brookfield Zoo’s free day hours?
The hours for entering for free are the same as the regular hours. Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturday and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm (all times local).
Half an hour before the zoo closes, all surrounding buildings are required to close.
What is the regular admission cost at Brookfield Zoo?
For adults, the price is $24.95
Only $19.95 for seniors 65 and above
$17.95 for children aged 3 to 11
The zoo and all of its attractions are completely free for youngsters under the age of two. If you have a party of 20 and above, you should purchase tickets for the event online.
You can purchase general admission tickets online in advance for $1 less than at the gate. You can save up to $5 on your admission by purchasing a “Build A Ticket.”
What is Brookfield Zoo’s parking rate?
Taxes on parking in Cook County as well as in Illinois are included. For members of the zoo, there is no cost.
Parking fee is charged at the South Gate for visitors situated at 3300 Golf Road
Automobiles are priced at $15.00; buses are $21.00
The zoo is a Metra stop, about two blocks from the zoo entrance
For just $1.50 a day, you may park inside the Metra lot to the rear of the village hall and avoid paying for on-street parking.
According to Google, you’ll have to walk about 1.3 miles to get there. If you have one, the zoo is also reachable by bike, so you can avoid paying for parking this way as well.
Parking on the streets in the vicinity of the zoo is restricted to only those with a permit.
How many species are housed at the Brookfield Zoo?
Brookfield Zoo has 45 of the 125 species covered under Survival Plans for 116 species in its collection.
According to the World Conservation Union, some of these species are Critically Endangered or Endangered.
Brookfield Zoo is famous around the world for inspiring visitors to connect with animals, nature, and each other in unique ways.
The zoo, which occupies 216 acres, has been enthralling and educating visitors since it opened in 1934.
More than 2,000 animals call the arboretum home, making it an accredited arboretum.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Brookfield Zoo opens every day of the week all year and welcomes over 2 million visitors annually.
The Cook County Forest Preserves hold the land where the zoo is located, and it is run by the Chicago Zoological Society.
At Brookfield Zoo, what are the most important dos and don’ts?
Everything from coolers to wagons can be brought in with you.
You are free to eat wherever there is space available.
No glassware or alcoholic beverages are allowed.
The busiest time of year is from March to May – before spring and summer breaks – when school groups take field trips.
How become a member of Brookfield Zoo?
Brookfield Zoo offers a wide range of membership advantages to suit the needs of both families and individuals.
Parking and entry to the zoo are included in the basic package. Tickets to your favorite attractions are included as part of the basic features.
Included in unlimited privileges is access to all attractions, as well as parking at both entrances, for as long as you like.
Your subscription will include access to a temporary membership card and the tickets that come with it when you buy or extend your membership digitally.
The tickets will never be shipped with one membership card, so be certain to print them at home before you arrive.
What if you don’t own a printer? Your mobile device can serve as a temporary card reader. The ability to print tickets at home isn’t offered for gifting membership orders at this time.
For the time being, you can use your temporary membership card to get the same advantages as your regular membership card.
Membership cards are shipped out within two to three weeks of purchase (it may take a little longer during busy seasons).
What can you find at the Brookfield Zoo?
From dolphins to giraffes and tiny lizards, you have more than enough animals big and small to learn about and interact with at the Chicago Zoo.
Also known as the Chicago Zoological Park, it has a total of 450 different species of animals on its 216-acre property.
A moat and a ditch were used rather than cages to segregate animals from guests and other wildlife when it debuted on July 1, 1934.
At Chicago’s Natural History Field Museum, visitors can see a taxidermied and preserved giant panda, which was the first of its kind ever seen in the United States.
As a zoo, Brookfield inaugurated the earth’s most vast indoor exposition called Tropic World during the 1980s.
It was also the first entirely indoor dolphin exhibit in the United States.
What role does the Brookfield Zoo play in conservation efforts?
Conservation work is being done in the Peruvian town of Punta San Juan by the Brookfield Zoo.
To support the conservationists at Punta San Juan, Peru, Disney World donated a $25,000 contribution to the Chicago Zoological Society, which allowed them to obtain access to the incredibly restrictive and safeguarded area.
Several people who formerly worked for the reserve have been engaged by the CZS to assist in the development of a preservation research team.
Animals including Guanay cormorants, Peruvian boobies, Inca terns, and South American sea lions as well as the critically endangered Humboldt penguins are used to collect samples for the study’s research.
As a result of their work, the team can learn more about the natural world, watch species, and keep tabs on their numbers.
The project’s outcomes advance oceanographic understanding and aid in the conservation of threatened species.
In addition, members of the team regularly organize beach clean-ups with groups of children of various ages from Punta San Juan, where garbage from the Pacific Ocean washes ashore.
What are the main sources of revenue for the Brookfield Zoo?
Revenue from admittance as well as guest services accounted for $26.6 million of Brookfield Zoo’s 2014 earnings.
Taxes constituted $15.2 million of the organization’s revenue. Membership fees brought in $11.5 million of the organization’s revenue.
Entrance fees and visitor services amounted to $15.7 million in 2014; animal acquisitions and sustainable management cost $15 million; facility and landscape maintenance cost $10.7 million; administration and everyday expenses totaled $7.9 million, and awareness campaigns and outreach cost $5.99 million.
Costs for marketing communications, fundraisers, plus membership totaled $3.8 million, $3.4 million, and $1.4 million, respectively. In 2014, the company earned $66 million and spent $63.8 million.
What changes have been made to Brookfield Zoo over the years?
The Brookfield Zoo received a $15.6 million grant from Governor Pat Quinn in 2010 to help with repairs and renovations at the zoo.
The north entrance to the zoo, located at Golfview Avenue and 31st Street, was also updated.
A variety of donations from $130,000 to $1.5 million were gathered during the CZS’s Wines in the Wild fundraising event.
The zoo relies on 808 volunteers who put in 74,401 hours of community service, totaling $1.86 million.
Every year, the region sees 2.2 million tourists, 2,000 employment, 580 volunteers, and an economic impact of $150 million.
