In 1963, Mr. A.H. Blank, a local citizen, donated $150,000 to the City of Des Moines to build a children’s zoo on a site near the old Fort Des Moines. The Des Moines children’s zoo opened on May 8, 1966. Designed primarily around nursery- rhyme themes, it featured a castle with moat, Noah’s Ark, monkey island, barnyard, animal petting area, and miniature train.
In 1981, a proactive group of civic and business leaders formed the Blank Park Zoo Foundation. A successful private-public partnership with the City of Des Moines resulted in a voter approved $1.8 million bond referendum and a community-wide capital campaign that raised an additional $1.4 million. The old zoo closed for renovation at the end of the 1982 season.
The all-new, 22-acre Blank Park Zoo opened on May 17, 1986. Designed by a local landscape architectural firm utilizing professional zoo planning consultants, it features a zoogeographic theme with spacious outdoor naturally landscaped environments for animals and people. During the 17 years between 1986 and 2003, the Zoo hosted over 3.6 million visitors, averaging 214,525 visitors per year.
Since 1986, several renovations have taken place under the direction of Zoo Director, David Allen. In 1995, three special event pavilions were added and the White-handed Gibbon exhibit opened. In 1999, the Tom and Jo Ghrist Great Cats Exhibit opened featuring tigers, lions, and snow leopards. 2001 brought the grand opening of the Myron and Jackie Blank Discovery Center, the zoo's first all indoors exhibit. And, 2004 marked construction on a new covered special events area.
On July 1, 2003 the Foundation Board of Directors assumed operations of the Zoo. The transition has resulted in an exciting time for the Zoo. In October 2003 the first Zoo CEO, Terry Rich, was hired and has opened the door to further growth and development.
Zoo Hours
OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND
May-September 10am-5pm Daily
October-April 10am-4pm Daily (weather permitting)
(Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day)
For your convenience the following amenities are available:
Wheelchairs - Free
Single Strollers - $4.00
Double Strollers - $6.00
If you are planning a trip to the zoo and would like to reserve a wheelchair in advance, contact the Zoo Admissions Desk at (515) 323-8301.
Zoo Admission
Children (under 3 years) - Free
Children (3 – 14 years) - $4.95
Adults (15 – 55 years) - $6.95
Senior Citizens (55+ years) - $5.95
Group Rate Admission
Available for groups of 20 or more by calling (515) 285-4722 extension 0 in advance to your visit.
Visit there site here. www.blankparkzoo.com
The GREAT APE TRUST.
Desmoines, Iowa.
Great Ape Trust of Iowa, formerly known as Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary, is a world-class research center dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes. Located in southeast Des Moines on 200 acres of lowlands, river forest and lakes, Great Ape Trust will be among the largest great ape facilities in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape: bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans.
WILL THE PUBLIC BE ABLE TO VISIT?
First and foremost, Great Ape Trust is a research center for the study of great ape intelligence. Once apes are on site and have acclimated to their new surroundings, opportunities will be available for visitors to observe research sessions. Internet long distance learning opportunities are also being developed.
Visits will initially be limited to small groups due to ongoing construction and space limitations. Subsequent construction phases of Great Ape Trust will include an interpretive center which will further enhance the great ape experience for visitors.
Visit there site here, for more info. www.GreatApeTrust.org
