While you are in Springfield, you should stop by the Dickerson Park Zoo. It's famous for its Asian elephant breeding program, and offers a lot of exciting exhibits. The zoo is located at 3043 North Fort in Springfield. Its contact number is 417-833-1570.
On Fathers day this year check out what happened! A new baby Giraffe joined us here in Springfield MO.
The hours are seasonal. From April to September, the zoo is open 9 am to 5 pm daily. During October through March, the zoo is open from 10 am to 4 pm daily if the weather permits. Entrance fees for adults are $6.00, children are $4.00 and seniors are $5.00. Members of the "Friends of the Zoo" or FOZ and children under 2 are admitted for free.
The zoo is home to over 500 animals from 160 different species. The zoo is organized into geographical areas: South America, Australia, Tropical Asia, Africa, Missouri Habitats and "Diversity of Life."
This zoo was first established in 1922 by the Springfield Park Board. But by 1975 the zoo became a liability to the city and was on the verge of closing. There was a commitment made by the city of Springfield and a new group, known as the "Friends of the Zoo," was established to save the zoo.
Over the next 10 years, there were significant improvements made to the zoo. The zoo was repositioned as a valuable cultural asset for the community. A membership base was established. Educational programs were launched. Donors also began to support new projects and improvements for the zoo. This encouraged the city of Springfield to commit money from their budget to help the zoo. There was also an admission fee put in place in order to help offset expenses. All of this helped to save the zoo.
By all indications, this love of the Dickerson Park Zoo will continue way on into the future. The zoo offers birthday party packages, and special events like the yearly Zoofest that takes place in July.
