Great Plains Zoo

This zoo may be smaller in size, but it truly stands out in its own way. There are several animals here that I haven’t seen at other zoos, which made the visit feel unique and special. The animals all seemed very active during our visit, which made the experience even more enjoyable, especially for kids who love seeing animals moving around rather than napping in the shade. It’s a great option for families who want an outing that lasts an hour or two without feeling overwhelming. You can comfortably see everything at a relaxed pace. During the summer, the splash pad is a wonderful addition and makes it easy to extend your visit. It’s perfect for cooling off and letting the kids burn off extra energy. I also appreciate how the zoo continues to make improvements while still maintaining its classic charm. There’s a nostalgic feel to it that makes visiting special year after year. I’m especially looking forward to the addition of the butterfly house and aquarium so everything can be enjoyed in one convenient location. Another major highlight is the reciprocal zoo membership program they participate in. The exclusive access to the San Diego Zoo is an incredible perk. Overall, it’s a lovely place to stroll, relax, and enjoy the day.

This was a great experience with our family. There are lots of different animals to look at and plenty of places for the kids to rest and have a good time. Highly recommend!

Great little zoo! It is under construction currently, but it was a nice set up & there are some unique species available to learn more about. Seems very family friendly & there is a little splash park inside the zoo to help littles cool off on hot days. As a zoo aficionado, I would visit again. It is definitely sized so that you can see just about everything in half a day without feeling rushed & stopping to interact with exhibits or keepers.

Tigers, Monkeys, Bears oh my! So many animals to see. Easy to use self guiding map and same day online ticket purchase was hassle free. Great prices and experience for the whole family.

Nice, little zoo! Came here with the kids & they loved it! Not too big nor too small! Was able to walk the whole place in about an hour and a half with littlest! Lots of animals, photo statues, etc! Not too expensive, they have wagons you can borrow/rent & a cafe!

Love going, rarely get to...but things have really gone downhill since a year or two ago. Many animals were either temporarily moved or gone. Love the gift shop, excellent popcorn, they have others like coffees boba fountain and freezee. But it was horrible, the prices of anything was skyrocketed way to much for probably most who visit. A small sized slushy $10, I got just two ice waters and it cost me $6. If you're on SNAP bring proof and ID and the kids are way cheaper to get in. All it is is a bunch of construction. DO NOT go on the kids train that circles the outer perimeter of the zoo. If you're lucky you might see just one animal, horrible location!

I thought it was a very nice place to go with the family. The zoo has a variety of animals, and they look well cared for. Plus, you can see them up close, which enhances the experience. I thought the admission price was very good. The only thing I didn't like so much is that I feel like some spaces (if not all) of the animal habitats should be a little bigger.

We loved the zoo overall. Some of the enclosures were empty/animals in places different than the map showed. Everything shuts down at 4:30 even though the park closes at 5. Highly recommend bringing a swimsuit and towel for littles to enjoy the splash pad. The mother’s nest in the gift shop at the main entrance is a nice place to escape the heat and sun and nurse/change a little one.

My husband and I spent a total of 1 hour there. First off, my husband is in the Air Force and they offered "military discount" on tickets. They gave us one dollar off. On only his ticket. Definitely was not worth the 40$ because the animals look so sad. It's a very small zoo and a bit run down in my opinion. They had a Pallas cat kept in the smallest in-closer I've ever seen. Felt so bad for it. Overall, would not recommend. Animals deserved better environments.

The zoo is just awful. all the enclosures are not fit for the animals that were there. it's more like an animal prison. The tropical monkeys are not in a tropical setting. they are i. dry glass enclosures. The rhino had sores on its back. the tiger looks depressed sleeping pressed against the wall. Koi fish are in green murky water. The Bald Eagle is perched on fake wood with no room to soar. The small enclosure is topped with netting. The bear and kangaroos were just laying there. $17.50 to see this sad place. Unbelievable. The zoo is in need of renovation to true environment setting.

We are so incredibly thankful to the Great Plains Zoo for graciously hosting our SDKB I Belong Project video shoot! From the moment we arrived, their team was welcoming, accommodating, and truly wonderful to work with. The staff went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly, and the beautiful setting provided the perfect backdrop for sharing powerful stories of belonging. Thank you for your kindness, professionalism, and support--you made this experience memorable and meaningful. We're so grateful to partner with organizations like yours that help amplify the voices of youth ready for permanent homes.

A really cool zoo with a really cool museum of natural history as well! The prices are very affordable, and it's easy to navigate. Definitely check it out if you're near Sioux Falls!

Updates are great. The splash pad is a huge hit with the kids. Love that you can order food and make a fun day out of it.

Sioux Falls Zoo is a nice walking tour. Easy to get around, not crowded but the Avian Flu shut down lots of bird exhibits. Good museum, cafe has good selections at a above average price but it is the Zoo. Will visit again especially after the Polar Bear Showcase is completed

the grounds are unkept. the animals look kinda sick. and some of them are not in their cages. Worst zoo we ever went to .

We took our 3 and 2 year old to the zoo today, paid almost $70 for the 4 of us to get in, and we saw maybe a total of 12 different animals and that is stretching it. So disappointed in the experience, especially for that cost and kids hardly getting to see anything. We live in a small town in ND and our zoo is cheaper and much better. I would never go back to this zoo and would recommend others to save their money. Definitely feel like if they aren't going to have animals out/exhibits open, a discounted price should be offered.

We made a last minute trip here after spending the weekend in Sioux Falls and we're glad we did! Easy to find with plenty of parking and great to bring the kids or anyone that loves this type of activity. Lots of things to see, not just the animals, and the have feeding times throughout the day. We missed the feedings as this was last minute so we didn't plan much during this business trip. It was very hot when we came, almost 90, so if you come later in the day make sure to be hydrated and have water with you. There are water and drink carts around the park as well as ice cream to cool you down. This is a great, affordable way to spend your day with kids, friends or family! Definitely recommend!!

This is a fun little zoo! Yes, it is on the smaller side compared to zoos in bigger cities. But for Sioux Falls, I thought it was pretty impressive. It took us about an hour and a half to get through it all, but we did skip a couple things. You could probably spend 2 hours or more here if you stopped and saw everything and did the train and/or carousel. The museum is a nice bonus as well. Definitely a good stop in Sioux Falls!

Not a bad little zoo, we had quite a fun time even with some of the exhibits closed. Definitely recommended and worth a visit if you come to Sioux Falls

Extremely rude employees, especially at closing. You would think they'd keep the bathrooms open for an extra 10 minutes with how much you pay to get in, but instead at 4:59 they'll walk around yelling at you to exit the building or they'll have to force you out. Having lots of kids and families you'd also think they'd have more patience.

By zoo standards, this is a pretty substandard zoo. All the animals seem relatively well cared for, but the exhibits are not up to modern zoo standards. Unless you are a big zoo fan, I would pass on this location.

This is a fantastic zoo considering the size of Sioux Falls. If you are here for a visit with your family, I would not hesitate to spend an afternoon here. It takes about 2 or 3 hours to make your way through the outdoor exhibits. The Delbridge Museum is all indoors and climate controlled. It takes about an hour for my six year old to make his way through. They have a few simple food options for kids and adults inside and outside. Don't miss: a simple train ride through "Africa", the Carousel, or feeding the goats.

This zoo is so cute! A friend and I were visiting Sioux Falls and decided to check out the zoo. It was much bigger than what we anticipated. There were some signs to show where the animals were, but it was still kind of confusing to navigate for us first timers. We were especially fond of the snow monkeys, they were absolutely adorable!

With bird flu fears, you won't see any birds of any type. We walked out to the "Africa" part of the zoo and there were no giraffes in their enclosure. There was one zebra. After the long , hot walk out there, we wanted something to drink, but the restaurant was closed due to computer problems. This was the MOST disappointing day ever. If you're not going to have a fully functioning zoo, DO NOT charge full prices. We will definitely tell people to steer clear of this place until it becomes a good zoo again.

This zoo surprised me. I saw animals I've never even heard of, or have never seen. Plus you can get so close to the animals. It's not a huge zoo, but a great activity. My only suggestion would be for more zoo staff to be at the exhibits or walking around. I had questions about the animals, but literally found no staff to ask. Nonetheless, my family (4g7g) had a great afternoon!

A nice zoo with great looking exhibits. I was left a little lacking as there are a lot of empty space. The area beyond the giraffes is nice and open but there is nothing out pass that way. The rhino exhibit is world class. The tiger exhibits allow you an up and close look at them. A nice place to stroll with the kids for several hours.

Great small zoo. Has some great enclosures to get photographs of some of the animals. Well maintained and lots of trees. Can tell the city loves their Zoo. Also natural history museum connected to zoo be is wonderful. Fantastic displays of many animals. Get up close to show your children or grandchildren many taxidermy mammals. Stop being u and support thus zoo.

A great little zoo in beautiful park-like surroundings. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Sioux Falls. A variety of species. We were really close to one of the giraffes so that was fun.

This zoo was nice and clean. Some great animal habitats. We got there as the tiger was being fed. It was nice to see most animals up and alert! The zoo is a bit smaller then my local San Diego zoo but I give it an A for effort. 2-2.5 hours to see all the zoos offerings by foot. The museum was cool too. Was an enjoyable morning and the tour still left us plenty of time in the day to do other things in town.

For a smaller zoo, this place is perfect! It allows you to get way closer to the animals than most zoos. Admission is only $12! They have some awesome animals I haven't seen at other zoos. Check out the rhinos for sure!

One of the very best zoo you can visit. Plan to spend several hours if you like animals. Bring your camera & study shoes for walking & standing there looking!. It is interesting. It may a little difficult to locate in Sioux Falls but don't give up - it is right there.

Decided to stop here when my wife and I were out here to visit relatives and we were very pleased. The zoo is small, but it's in a smaller city, but they do a nice job with the space they have. The exhibits are nicely put together with visitors getting a close view of the animals and in some cases too close when we nearly got sprayed by the tiger. We were pleased when we presented our zoo (Milwaukee) membership and got in free when we found out they have reciprocity. We were told and saw they are building a snow monkey exhibit that is to be ready sometime in 2013.

This is a very well done little gem of a zoo. The grounds are beautiful and the selection of animals is amazing. We also enjoyed the indoor museum of natural history too. You can go wrong on going here with your family.

The zoo has definitely made positive strides in the last few years. Our family got a year membership for Christmas and we love visiting with our 2 year old. At her age she really likes the indoor exhibits most. She does like he outdoor stuff too - as do we! For Sioux Falls this zoo is very well maintained and there is such a diverse amount of animals to see. From the giraffes to monkeys and penguins, to the tigers and bears and reindeer, there is something for everyone. We will be visiting a lot in the summer with our membership but we went before quite often. Sioux Falls is lucky to have such a neat place right in town.

My family and I were thoroughly disappointed with this zoo. Many of the exhibits and habitats are absolutely pathetic. The penguin exhibit is a joke, their pool is so small they can barely go all the way underwater. Many of the other exhibits are just as disappointing, the birds do not have adequate room to fly, many animals don't even have grass in their enclosures. There is an exhibit of monkeys in probably about a 15 square foot room and they can't even go outdoors. For anyone who likes petting zoos, this one will for sure disappoint you. The best exhibit I saw was a tank for fish inside the museum. Do not come here if you've ever been to a decent zoo, such as the one in Portland, Oregon, Toronto, Canada, or the Binder Park Zoo in Michigan. Compared to those zoos, this one will be a huge disappointment.

Great for wearing my son out. We love feeding the animals. We wish the rhinoceros exhibit was ready.

The GP zoo is a great alternative to going down to Omaha for their world-class zoo. The animals look loved, the price is right, and it still takes several hours to fully explore all that it has to offer. I especially like that they let you bring in your own food and beverages because that helps us budget-oriented parents know what we can spend on treats verses having to feed the kids so they don't turn into gremlins.

I've been going here since I was little. I know for a fact that they try their very best to make improvements where needed and that the animals come first. I love going here to see the monkeys (particularly the squirrel monkeys), the goats in the petting zoo, the tigers, the rhinos, and basically all of the animals. This is a place I would recommend to anyone who loves animals and doesn't only think about the materialistic side of things!

A really great zoo featuring some exotic species and I liked the focus on conservancy/breeding to preserve species for the rhinos. The safari area's cheetah was awesome to see. During a week day going, it was quite open to walk around and enjoy without too much crowding.

Nice zoo, came on a Sunday. Wasn't crowded and the admission is fair priced. Enjoyed our visit

Nice way to spend the afternoon. Has a park like feel with many animals. I wish they had more but they are continually making improvements and can't wait to see what they will add in the future. Very clean facility, petting zoo, train rides, caracal, bears, giraffes, tigers and much, more.

Great place to go with family! The museum although small was very beautiful and amazing. It was clean and easy to access and walk around. The zoo wasn't as great and I think it's just due to bad season timing. Not upset. We saw a lot of animals and they were very close up views! If you want to "see" animals this is where u go. There just weren't as many animals out. I think I only saw one cheetah in the Africa section. But the indoor giraffes and monkeys were great. They had a monkey there that would bang on the window and try to play/attack you if you stared long enough. Lol

The zoo was basically closed. The exhibitions were blocked by barriers. The staff said that the animals were available for viewing but they were not. The Great Plains Zoo was a disappointment.

Over all, a good zoo. I see growth, which is good, I also see future plains. The penguins display need major attention. I think a deep pool and a snow machine would improve their quality of life. Stewards of a zoo put the quality of care above the cost. We, the community, need to step up and get the needed funds to make this happen.

Love that it is opened all year round. It was great seeing giraffes even in the middle of March. Excellent spot to bring kids for a few hours. It's not too big, and it was a little saddening to not see the penguins... Nice zoo if your passing thru the Sioux Falls area..

Although it's been awhile since I have been at this zoo, I remember I enjoyed it a lot; although, at the time, my health precluded me from being able to do much walking! Now that I am better, I have discussed my desire to visit it again with my husband! The only hinderance right now is finances! It IS rather spendy in my opinion!

Been to zoos all over the US with Cheyenne Mountain coming in 1st place Henry Doorly Second and The Bronx Zoo third. The great plains zoo however is the saddest zoo I have ever been to. The "pens" are exactly that...not even close to the animals natural habitat. It appears to be very underfunded and I feel so sad for those animals. I hope this place closes and these animals get to happy homes. Did you know there are zoos who actually have training and interacting lessons with all there animals and visitors get to participate too?? They have zoologists and trainers teach visitors about the animals and even allow you to pet the new babies, touch the tarantulas, hand feed the elephants, and have sleepovers in the wild safari zoo( for a price of course!!!) A far cry from the great plains zoo where you trudge on from sign to sign maybe get to ride a sad camel and spend the day watching bummed out animals lay around in dirt:( please don't let your kids think this is what a zoo is supposed to be like....