Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens in El Paso
Categories
Location on the map
El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, US
Accessibility
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
Phone: +1 915-212-0966
Site: http://www.elpasozoo.org/
Site: http://www.elpasozoo.org/
Opening hours
- Monday:9AM–3PM
- Tuesday:Closed
- Wednesday:9AM–3PM
- Thursday:9AM–3PM
- Friday:9AM–5PM
- Saturday:9AM–5PM
- Sunday:9AM–5PM
Comments (199)
Celebrating my moms 81st birthday with family in from out of town. We all had a blast at the zoo!
Staff were very kind and welcoming, the animals were gorgeous and the fun never ended. Highly recommend!
As far as zoos go, this one is disappointing. Viewing angles for visitors around enclosures are poorly thought-out. Animal density is low. In my past experience with other zoos, enclosures with giraffes, monkeys, elephants, lions and tigers typically had multiple animals in them. Most enclosures here had just one or two animals. There is a river-like feature in the zoo, however, it was dry with no water in it making it more of an eyesore. The ticket booth at the entrance of the zoo says the zoo is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays - we went there on a Monday and it was open. They have not bothered to update signage at the entrance of the zoo or throughout the zoo where daily events are listed. Unfortunately, this makes the whole experience sloppy and not up to expectation. A lot of the shortcomings can be fixed with just a little bit of due diligence. On the plus side, the entry fee is minimal. There are some family-friendly attractions like a play area, splash pad (open seasonally) and a train that goes through the zoo. They are upgrading to have a penguin enclosure and there seem to be other repair, maintenance and upgrades being done which I hope will enrich visitor experience here.
Awesome zoo! Very small but I think it’s great would be nice to see more things opened up, some animals cages are dirty and need to be taken care of better
Great day trip for families. Reasonably sized with a good number of animals to see and activities. Opportunity available to feed the giraffes between 11 and 11:30am currently.
Although a number of the animals werent on display, we had an Amazing time. We spent 3 hours exploring, taking pictures, having fun. Well worth the price of admission.
A good place for a weekend getaway. Tickets are not expensive, highly recommended to go with family or friends.
Great to pass time in family or friends to just have a good time I do recommend going at least once a year so it doesnt get boring.
Always a good experience. Today I got to see new animals I had not seen at this zoo. I love going to the zoo to see the animals but also to because it is one of the few places in El Paso that has lots of trees and plants.
Great place for walking but was very busy this weekend.plus sum of my favorite animals were not there.I was a bit disappointed to see all my giraffes were not there😕hope there here next time I come back.it has a lot of new attractions for little ones.it includes horse carousel,little water park to get wet,big jungle gym area to play.plus attraction of waterfall that will wet you when you pass by it.you have to catch it every 5 minutes to feel it💦it was still great to be here👍💚nature
Great zoo. They have an amphitheater with 2 shows a day. They have a nice gift shop, a penny smasher and face painting. There is a park with slides for the kids. A beautiful carousel and some rope climbs available if you feel like having an adventure. The sea lions look adorable. They close at three so get there early. The parking was free.
I absolutely loved it! I spent about 6 hours here and I enjoyed every minute of it. The animals are amazing and each enclosure was wonderfully designed. You can tell that they care about their animals.
It was a decent zoo sadly some of the animals werent there
It needs work but its a beautiful experience to share with your offspring.
Even though it isnt a big zoo with more animals but my kids loved it and they enjoyed everything that they saw and they loved the play ground that it has where they can enjoy after seeing the animals and where the parents can relax too. They even want to go back and enjoy everything again. Would definitely go back.
Just visiting with my membership of me and my parents for a nice relaxing walk and lots of animal being active.
Definitely a beautiful Zoo. They always have great events for kids. A new super high climbing jungle gym is open now. They have a great bird show but its not always available. The gift shop is amazing too. I always get something.They seem to be working on an aquarium area and a Chihuahuen exhibition. Cant wait! Im sure they have all the details on the website.
Really neat zoo. It isnt a huge zoo which makes the experience easy to do within a day. My wife and I finished in about 5 to 6 hours and we got to see everything. The exhibits are neat the animals seem to be well taken care of, and the information provided is awesome. Overall a really cool experience. We had a great time.
Loved that they have improved it and they have awesome activities for kids now.
El Paso has come a long way! One of the nicest zoos Ive been to .Compares to any big city zoo and they are still adding on .Good job!! 👏
Lots of things to see and do, my favorite is the monkeys and lions of course, I even adopted a fur friend near their cafe and I absolutely adore her!They have open adoption of sweet cats aged 4months to a year.The adult fee was 12$ per person I believe and the snacks can be a bit pricey but overall is a good time and I recommend going early morning or weekdays so as to avoid too large of crowds 👌🏻
We took the kids to zoo today had a lot of fun seen some animals ate some snacks went on carousel played in the water and at the park had so much fun will go again
Great place to take the littles. They have an awesome playground to take the kids to when they get a little distracted from seeing the animal. My kids had an awesome time seeing the animals, playing and having some special treats. The layout uses the small square footage super effectively.
This review is only for a birthday party held at the El Paso Zoo. Positive review: the place where the party was held is a nice place for about 50 people. I had reserved for 49 individuals and the space was adequate. I paid a total of $2,300 I had extra charges due to having the shaved ice truck for 30 minutes; popcorn and the train ride for 23 kids. The cost included a cheeseburger, nachos, lemonade and water. First the food - it was not good at all the burger patties had no flavor and they did not take salt & pepper to at least add a little seasoning, the nacho cheese is exactly the one you buy out of a can and it was just poured into a hot tray. They took no utensils for those people that did not want to eat the buns and only wanted the patty with the lettuce and tomatoes. The party started at 1 pm, and I scheduled the catering for 1:30 pm, but we had no drinks for 30 minutes until the catering started and I was not allowed to take a cooler with bottle waters since it was being catered but they did say I could take water bottles once the party was over - I don’t even understand this concept. Additionally, they had no options for additional food items so I asked if I could take chips or a big bag of chips to have them serve themselves along with a salad and they said no.Another issue: My guests started arriving and they were initially led in without standing in line, but then around 1:15 pm they started telling my guests that they needed to stand in the long line where people were buying tickets, keep in mind I already had everyone’s tickets at the front gate - again just disorganized. I also had to pay for each tent which I ended up getting 4 of them because there was no shade, so EP zoo please include shade I think it should be part of the package - by the way each tent was $30 so I paid $120 for 4 small tents. For paying over $2300 I would expect better food options - please do better, it ended up being $46 per person. As it stands right now I would not recommend anyone have a birthday party I was very disappointed. For a day visit I think the zoo is great.
Wednesday March 30th.The zoo was very clean and the staff super friendly. It has nice spots to take selfies and an area to let the kids play and have fun.The downside is that we were unable to find the animals in a lot of the exhibits, like the mountain lion and the giraffes. It might have been that we went early in the day. The zoo has a cafe and their is a decent variety of items in the menu but it is pricey, so be prepared.Thursday March 31Okay, so we went back again with another group of kids and it was great. We actually got to see most of the animals. The zoo was again very clean and the staff super friendly and helpful.I guess it depends on the time you arrive and the weather. Yesterday was a little windy and we arrived earlier. Today the weather was really nice.
I’ve been going to the El Paso zoo since I was 4 years old, miss you Mona! The El Paso zoo is even better today, I love the improvements they’ve make and the kids have a wonderful time. Avoid long lines by purchasing the membership card, well worth it if you plan on going every month. The Merry-go-round is cheap and there plenty of snack bars around the zoo. They allow you to bring your own food and drinks which is important for many who are on a budget, thank you! Once again thank you El Paso Zoo for bring so many upgrades to our Neighborhood!
Always a great place to spend a few hours. The staff is helpful and the atmosphere is welcoming. Clean and well-kept, the new exhibits are a plus.
Went on a Saturday afternoon and there was a line to get in. Was pretty crowed but the animals were out and about especially the monkeys. They were putting on a show today 😁😁🤣. Enjoyed this zoo and me and my family will definitely visit again manly because we spent 4hrs there and didnt even explore the whole zoo...sheesh
Great little zoo. We go every few weeks. Bathrooms are always clean. Thankful we can bring our own food and drinks. I appreciate the zoo opening back up, and trying to keep us safe with mask wearing. Sadly my boys were the only kids with masks at the splash pad.
Over the last ten years this zoo has seen a tremendous change, especially by El Paso standards. It has a spray park, 4 story obstacle course, and new construction for the Chihuahua Desert section. Penguins will be there after they finish the construction for their enclosure. I suggest early arrival, giraffe feeding time is 11:30 am. Picnics are permitted!
Very great place for family, nice and big and plenty of animals to see. Snacks are normal with snow cones, popcorns and hot dogs. Social distancing is very difficult, everybody wears a mask, except in the splash pad area. As clean as a zoo could be.
The zoo is ok, there are several projects in progress limiting access to some exhibits. One thing that is lacking is customer service. The people who are at the entrance and wear the gray uniforms need to understand that theyre the first face and impression people see. So a Good morning or Welcome to your zoo! or at least a smile would go much further than Wheres your ticket!, Stay in line! All with a scruffy voice and rough tone. Just be welcoming, just a suggestion.
Even with a lot of stuff closed down due to Covid, theres plenty to see. The animals all look healthy and happy and the park itself is clean. Admission price is reasonable and the family pass will be worth it once things are able to open a little more.
There was a line when we decided to go around noon or so, understandable because this was a Sunday. Nonetheless a great place for the kiddos & adults. We went around feeding time so some animals werent present but that was very few. Great memories for sure! 👌👍🦧🦓🐅🐆🐎🦌🦒🐘🦆🐍🐟
Always a great experience when we go! It is so much fun
Went w/a larger group. To begin security staff esp. a thin build red hair lady and the old white haired gentleman at exit were extremely rude. Just their tone and almost like they talk down to you rather than speak with you. Overall park is nice and clean. There just is a lot of empty spots w/ no animals or sorta sad exhibits.
My visit to the zoo was fun. However I feel like they should have more activities. Most if the animals were asleep. The play ground for kids and slapsh park were nice.overall a good experience.
One word to describe this zoo. Disappointing. Overpriced for the entertainment. Most exhibits are closed down. Animals dont appear to be very well taken care of. Lots of smelly spots (I know its a zoo) but I mean more smell than your typical zoo in places that shouldnt stink. Really probably saw more wild birds flying in to eat trash than animals. Most were asleep or not even there. Train was not running. Line to feed giraffe was 50+ people long. Most indoor exhibits are run down. Cant even see in some of the exhibits because the glass is so old and fogged over. Overall just a waste of time and money.
In 2014 I would have given it 3 stars. It was bland, not too special or eye catching. Just a basic average zoo. Now, they are adding new equipment for the kids, new animals, new shows and buildings, the artwork is fantastic throughout, and it is really a pltgay Ive seen grow into a beautiful zoo that is something to be proud of. Great fun
Very small zoo. A lot of closed off exhibits.
Zoo has expanded since last there. Great experience to see all the animals exhibited. Fun experience for the family! Copper Canyon attraction fun for courageous individuals! Enjoyed my afternoon there with family! 😊
I went to the El Paso Zoo 4/1/22. I was at the Asia exhibit when I witnessed inexcusable reasoning by employees. A class on a field trip set up tables and chairs (yes the tables and chairs belong to the zoo). The tables and chairs were folded and not being used. I overheard the conversation between school staff and security/ employees of the zoo. Zoo employees told the school they weren’t allowed to use the tables and chairs because the chairs and tables were for reserved parties. The only reservation mentioned by staff was the for the following day 4/2/22. School staff told zoo employees they received permission from the zoo to use the table and chairs. School staff also told the employees the tables and chairs would be placed back where they were previously, after the elementary children rested and ate their lunch. In the middle of eating their lunch the children had to gather their food and relocate to a different area of the zoo. If anyone at the El Paso Zoo would like to reach out and explain this, I would appreciate it.
Small but adequate zoo. The animal seem healthy and well taken care of. The setup is a little odd, no way all the way around the zoo without lots of back tracking but there was a lot of construction going on so maybe that will change.
It could of been better. Its more of a if you got nothing else to do in el paso go here type of place. What made it not interesting was that the animals werent active at all. Theres not much of the same animals as well. There was barely much to see and the food stands inside were so expensive. The only thing that made it nice was my daughter loved the small park and carousel. But thats about it.
The El Paso zoo has really undergone an incredible transformation. Feels like an actual large city attraction. Great amenities, beautiful and clean grounds, and delicious food at the cafe.
They say it closes at 5 and last tickets are sold at 4. They don’t tell you that they start putting all the animals away around 4:00, and if you are not in the parking lot before five the employees follow you around and harass you to leave. Basically plan on being out by 4:00 if you want to see all the animals and not be treated rudely
This zoo is always enjoyable, the staff is usually friendly and the animals are usually out and about. We have yet to be able to make it to a giraffe feeding though. The times/dates listed online dont seem to be correct so if you are goi g for that maybe try calling or something in advance. We got to the feeding today and since there was still a long line of people waiting to feed the giraffe we figured we had made it on time only to be informed the feeding was at 11:30. It was 11:33...so apparently be waiting there by 11:30 so you can get there on time. We have been trying for several years now so my daughter could do that specific thing, so maybe next time we can finally make it.
Really liked this zoo. Exhibits are really beautiful. In many of the exhibits they incorporate a waterfall which is a nice touch. I just wish they had a bigger gift shop. Its rather small and items are limited.
Great place to take the family and walk around checking out the animals and exhibits. Parking is easy. We have a yearly pass that makes it very affordable fun.
WORST ZOO EVER!No train rides, no carousel rides, no indoor exhibits, no shows, no elephants, no sea lions and the lost goes on!The animals that where out looked depressed and unkempt. The employees and all staff look like they hate their jobs.The only thing to do here was to drink a beer and watch my daughter play in the playground.WORST ZOO EVER!
As an el pasoan who comes every year, I was really sad this time around. We came for bug fest which was great. But, I was really disappointed with the zoo this time around. Most of the exhibits were closed, although I love the growth the zoo will eventually have. My suggestion, just wait till 2023 when everything is expected to be done. That was the least of my worries though, the staff and mangers…. Uhm…. For being a family place, the staff is a huge killer. Slow, no enthusiasm AT ALL, horrible customer and just no care to work at all. Specifically at the Grassland Cafe, but I feel like it might be a little all around as well, from reading the other comments🥺
Better than expected for a Zoo in a small city. But….they just don’t have enough space for the larger animals. I’m not sure they’re helping the cause of conservation with the large herbivores.
We were told before purchasing tickets that 3 of the animals were not going to be out because of the weather, zebras, giraffes, and sea lions.... we decided to pay anyways cause it was only 3. We walked the entire thing and 90% of animals were nowhere to be seen!! The other 10 % was mainly small birds and insects. Tried to talk to a woman who im assuming was the manager and her attitude was horrible!! She kept saying they told you about the animals and we kept telling her we were only informed about 3. She could care less... there was no talking to that woman. Dont waste your money!! My guess is the best time to go will be in the summer, hopefully they will have better service then as well.
There has been so many new additions and its so beautiful! They are even adding penguins next year. My family and I had a blast!
Animals at this zoo are a maybe at the best of times. To paraphrase Jurassic Park: You do plan to have animals, on your animal tour, dont you?We basically paid $30 to look at habitats.
They really should reevaluate their menu and pricing. This zoo is small and unorganized to the point of 2nd class, in my option. This should be more family directed. Remember they service an entire base of military families who serve this country.
I really enjoyed the beautiful day at the zoo. El Paso zoo has made great upgrades to the park. Kids had a blast. Well organized for the number of people that were at the park.
Its a great place to visit. We always have a good time. It keeps getting better and better every year. Its worth the visit and were always glad to help out the animals. 😁
Friendly staff and the price reasonable. The zoo isnt very large but exhibit are well place and cared for. It looks as if they or doing some expansion and adding. Its a nice and fun place to take the family or date. There are some shows to attend while there as well. Take a ride on the train and even get a splash . If not from the area Google will probably take you around back and you will be lost and confused. Stay on paisano
Is worth the $12 per person now. They have more activities and animals.
The Zoo has remodeled and really upped their game from the past few years. My children had such a lovely time and there was so much to do and see that we are definitely getting the season pass for the family to explore this location all summer long!
The zoos a great place to pass good family time. Great expansions and improvements have been made to improve the experience and animals well-being! Love that the zoo is continuing to grow even this summer! Support for the zoo, lets keep it going!!
Honestly, for it being THE El Paso zoo, they need more maintenance for the animals instead of attractions for guests :(But overall, it’s a great experience, I’m always trying to go when I can and donate too.
This place is soooo run down . I paid $24 dollars and only cause two sad animals. I decided to used the photo booth to create memories but after paying $7 that machine had a malfunction and didn’t even print the pictures . The staff there didn’t even care. All they did was hand us a piece of paper with a number to call that no one picks up. That zoo was the worst experience ever. DONOT VISIT!!!! Save your money and time . Just visit a pet store you will see more animals ….
Really nice place for the kids. The zoo is expanding and has some nice events on the holidays, giraffe feeding is awesome. There are a few suggestions I would make: clean/replace some of the glass dividers (specifically the sea lion glass is impossible to see through), a vendor or two on normal weekends might keep people at the zoo longer.
Smaller than the other zoos Ive been to. Was also about half the price. Was very clean, had a nice layout and a nice variety of animals. The only exhibit I didnt like was the elephants. They were separated and didnt appear happy or very healthy.
Had fun with my family I was just confused on the botanical gardens. I thought it was gonna be like Albuquerque where the botanical gardens was separate from the zoo but other than that I had a great time!
Great new updates to the zoo! I do miss the old stables, but they were replaced with wonderful new additions including a jaguar who has a large enclose with overhead bridges to roam, and a larger space for the wolf that she really seemed to enjoy running through. The flood simulation is great, and the parrots who live near it seem to love when the water starts going.
Love it! Only $40 for a family of 4. We took the train ride, the kids played in the little water park and we saw the birds show. Prepare to walked a lot. Parking is accessible and theres a cafe and a restaurant.
Loved that there was plenty of shade at the park. The splash area was a hit with the kids and was a great way to beat the heat. The playground was another highlight. There are a lot of animals inside so you can stay cool there as well.
In as much as it is a nice place to take kids, to me its not really all that. There are only afew animals to see and its crowded so go prepared to stand in line for a while If youre not a member.
There was a massive remodeling taking place, so that along with the winter weather had quite a few exhibits closed, but yet & still this was one of the best zoo experiences I can say my family and I have had! The animals were so interactive, it was almost as if we were the exhibits and they were checking us out! The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake came from the back of its enclosure to get face to face with us as well as most of the other animals. Excellent zoo, top notch!!
Well organized with an easy to follow layout which ensures you will see all the exhibits. Great for little kids and adults!
Awesome new Chihuahuan Desert exhibit! Winter is a great time to go since it isnt crowded and the animals are more active when its not so hot. Also the new obstacle course looks really fun! Its $6-$8 to try it out.
Really enjoyed my recent visit to the El Paso Zoo with my 2 year old son. There have been many great renovations like the addition of the merry-go-round and the new Leopard exhibit. The staff were really friendly and the kids play area is nice and clean when taking a break with your little one. The merry-go-round and train costs extra ($2/ticket) but are worth it to fully experience this zoo. It is close to the USA/Mexico border so pay close attention to the signs or you may end on your way to Juarez, MX. Overall great place for a day of fun at an affordable price.
We love this zoo. We received a free year pass from ACS and we want at least 2 times a month. It maybe small but my kids loved it. My only problem is only one time did we see the male sea lion trainer and he was the best. Sushi was my kids favorite reason for going and as we went the trainers seemed to make the show more and more bland and unappealing. The man was very good with the crowd and sushi. Plenty to do. My youngest was typically done after 4 hours once it hit nap time but my oldest could have went for hours. They loved the train, gift shop was not to badly priced but I mean it is a gift shop. We went to almost all the events. Just a great little place to go with the family or anyone really. We have since moved and really miss having this get away on the weekends. When we left they were adding attractions so I hope it has only improved!
The Zoos layout is easy to navigate, its not the biggest zoo but for the price it is well worth it. Several locations for refreshments and activities for children. Definitely enjoyed the variety of animals from the Americas Asia and Africa. There is also an aviary with several bird species.
The zoo was great, there were many aatractions for the kids such as the jungle gym, the splash pad and the zoo has plenty of shows with the animals as well.
Very memorable experience, it has really improved very much! I had not visted the zoo since 1968,Iam Proud of the way they improved it good job El paso, iam proud of our zoo!
The zoo has a couple of interesting animals. But there’s not many of them. People will say it’s because of covid. But back home the zoo I was going to aka the BRONX ZOO, NY had much more selection of animals that also were happier looking and active. The location is small. Luckily the price is very cheap if you’re active duty like myself.I went with my friend/co worker and her son. The only thing that made him really happy was a little park and the dippin dots station. We went to some parts of the zoo and it just felt like a rip off you couldn’t see anything through the glass because they were dirty.If you’re not picky and just want to see animals I guess this is an OKAY zoo.
This is maybe the BEST zoo I have ever been to! My kids (age 1, 4, and 10) all loved it too! Almost all the animals were out, there were few people (on a September Thursday), an awesome playground and splash pad. It looks like a new area is opening soon, too. Would definitely visit again in the future.
We love going to the zoo here. My little one really enjoys it. Though, choose your times to go wisely due to the high temps. Overall, it is a very enjoyable time, just plan ahead, bring some snacks, drinks and enjoy a few hours of family and animals time. The new area that just opened with the carousel is really nice. Be warned ,if you are going to take pics with the cement elephants touch them first, they get very hot and will burn you. Other than that, we love our little zoo.
This was my second visit to the zoo in more than 10 years. This zoo has been growing a lot and you can see it from its exhibitions. Just make sure to plan ahead and bring something to cover yourself from the sun. Is a good exercise to go see the whole zoo.It is nice to see this zoo grow.
We had such a fun time at the El Paso Zoo. It was very calm and relaxing. We saw all of the animals. The zoo has restaurants and stores to buy drinks and food from but it is very expensive. I paid four bucks for a small water. The exhibits were nice and the staff was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.
Its a great atmosphere, great attractions and events. Over priced like crazy, but I get why. Glad they are still bringing more animals and events.
Animals around every corner! Great place to spend the day with a toddler. He played on the jungle gym, devoured a hot dog and lead the way using his map!
It was a smaller zoo but had play areas for the kids to cool down, splash pad, tree house, can take your own sack lunch and cooler. I will be taking the kids agian and the staff were super friendly.
There is a great deal of construction around the zoo making it difficult to navigate. Many of the exhibits appear to have only one animal, even those who normally live in groups or packs.
Coming from Atlanta, I am pretty biased when it comes to zoos. Elpaso stole my heart! Its so interactive. You feel as if you were in the pens with the animals. Love the layout! The staff was so friendly and even gave me a suggestion for lunch. Love love love
Great place to bring the grandkids when I came to town. We brought our own lunch so cost wasnt too high.
I see the 5 star reviews and I just dont get it. Did I visit on an off day? Or perhaps my expectations were to high. The entire zoo just looked so sad!!! Let me start by saying that I havent visited since I was a child, I am 31. So I was super excited to visit because Ive heard of all the expansions and remodeling they have been doing. We headed straightaway to see the African exhibit, the giraffe so beautiful and majestic, it broke my heart to see its enclosure so close to the damn freeway!! Poor thing forever hearing the sound of passing cars. The tiger seemed thin and malnourished (unless Im missing something, Im no tiger expert). We then headed to the sea lion exhibit and the water was so murky you couldnt see him ( there was a sign stating the water had just be cleaned and thats why there was no visibility it also stated that the cleaning is safe for the sea lion). The saddest part for me was the elephant exhibit. The poor thing was stuck doing repetitive behavior, swaying back and forth.The zoo just wasnt for me. On a positive note the staff was very warm and friendly. And my daughter really enjoyed the new playground. Its really beautiful and it was our favorite part of our visit
Many exhibits and the wildlife encounter are not available due to construction. It was disappointing. The sea lion observation area is also abit dirty a door was missing which gave access to equipment.
This is a pretty good zoo with a great layout. I highly recommend trying catch the giraffe feeding times. It can get hot here so consider water bottles, you can refill them at the drinking fountains.
Very nice, big and well maintained Zoo.I would absolutely recommend
We had a family trip to the zoo♡ We enjoyed it♡ Cant wait to go again
Lots of fun with the family! The new Chihuahuan Desert exhibit is so awesome!! Favorite part was the flash flood experience! It startled me at first because I thought something was going wrong. But it was just a really great execution of just how severe flash floods can be.
Most of the animals in El Paso zoo look miserable. Do something about the sea lions water. Also some of the enclosures are neglected, or don’t have the right things needed for the animal.
Fun for families and kids of all ages. They have quite a few Meet the keeper events throughout the day where you can see the zookeeper feed a certain animal. Very interesting!
Family friendly, small enough to not feel rushed. Bathrooms need some maintenance, some sinks didnt work, missing soap dispensers, etc. Some enclosures were very nice, others could use some improvement.
Lots of potential, but not there yet. When we arrived, we were told 1/3 of the zoo was closed for construction. It looks like it is going to be nice eventually!Positives - on a busy Sunday we saw several animal trainer interactions in small venues. We hand fed a giraffe and watched a trainer work with the giraffe, a lion and a sea lion. They demonstrate real behaviors to prepare for get visits, not silly tricks.Negative - on a busy Sunday, only one food option was open (a bunch were closed). Food options were popcorn, nachos and churros. Water or Powerade were the only drinks.All in all, $12 per adult to get in, and a good time for 3 hours.
Some of the attractions and facilities were still closed due to Covid restrictions. Though, there was still plenty fun to be had! Had a great time!
The new Chihuahuan Desert area is a great addition and the Copper Canyon Ropes Course is great for kids of any size. Turning the splash pad into a snowy play area for Santa at the Zoo was a nice touch, all of the kids loved it.
Felt like I was 7 years old, Awesome ! Great job with the modifications and new animals. God Bless
Ive been to a bunch of Zoos all over the country and this one is pretty good. It isnt the biggest Zoo by any means, but it has just the right amount of animals and you can see them all in about 2 hours. The Tiger and Lions both came right up to the glass! Exhibits are small enough that youll actually get to see the animals depending on what time the zookeepers put the animals out. Well be back again for sure! The only downside is they say that they have a military discount so I showed my veterans card and the girl at the front gave me an attitude and said its active duty only. Uhhh..ok? For myself and my 2 kids it was right under 30 bucks to get in. Also, going during the week is good to prevent the massive crowds, but youll probably run into little kids on field trips. So work your way around the kids to avoid the screaming and insanity that comes with a group of 73 5 year olds.
Had a good time,kids loved it
Complete waste of money!!! Hardly any animals , all the exhibits are worn and dated, construction going on making the zoo smaller. Be prepared to waste 14 Bucks a person to get in and pay 7 dollar drink prices and 13 dólar burgers. What a classic El Paso thievery “attraction”. So upset I brought my family!!!
My family and I come to El Paso for the Holidays every year and today was our first time to El Paso Zoo. We were all impress. Well kept, clean and not crowded. zookeepers are very responsive, informative and kind. Must be the weather but all the animals were very active except the bear...lol
I might not be the primary demographic but for young adults the zoo is still fun. Its a nice place to walk around and talk with friends. Plenty of shaded benches with nice views of the animals.
Very organized 👌 and clean. Not a lot of people, so it was the perfect day to visit. All food stations were open.
Zoo has had a lot of renovations done that makes it fun for the entire family. I highly recommend getting the yearly subscription as you can take advantage of numerous visits a year plus discounts at other zoos around the country.
We went when it was sprinkling and we had an awesome time. Some of the animals were indoors but the weather waa nice.
We loved seeing the animals an enjoyed the food they had. The sun was strong that day but we were able to rest from it. There was squirrels running around, so cute.
Am sure the handlers take the animals home at night and groom them.They are in excellent condition.
I really enjoy this zoo, small and quaint but very well managed. I would love a larger exhibit for the animals and more interaction with park staff and visitors. This place has a lot of information dispersed throughout but it’s kind of like you roam around and stumble through the park. Love the Africa exhibit and the monkeys. The staff is awesome.
We love the El Paso Zoo! My grandson loves getting wet (always take extra clothes for the kids to change). The staff was welcoming and helpful.
We took my two toddlers to the zoo and had a blast for our total spend for admission, foods and two toys to bring hom3 within $100! The admission ticket prices are reasonable and the 6-min ride train was free ! Staff is courteous and helpful!
Not to big, but for kids its great for walking. Its not like the bigger zoos where the kids get tired of walking halfway through the visit. Great exhibits and friendly staff!
I got to see a lot of animals outside there cages or living quarters whatever you want to call it and I really enjoyed myself
The remodeling is coming along nice, but not a lot of animals. The trick or treating was cute.
Great evening supporting the El Paso Zoo for Dia de lost Muertos Gala. Meet some very nice fellow El Pasoens.
The zoo is going under alot of construction and improvements, we didnt see alot of animals because of the weather but honestly thats great they care so much for the animals
My son loved the zoo even though it could use some major renovations I enjoyed the little zoo. Cute little family outing.
Its a nice zoo, I just feel that the habits are smaller compared to other zoos. People were pretty friendly as well and it was fairly clean.
I work for a construction company and we are building new additions to the zoo. The new habitats are going to look super when we finish. I personally love going to the zoo and cant wait to see the new exhibits. Its a great family destination or place to take a date.
Actually I was disappointed due to the animals were hiding didnt come out and there were only 1 animal per cage..!! Food not to good..not interested going back...I can see more animals in the streets..!
Great place , price is fair you can take lunch with you and have a break to eat while enjoying the scenery. Family place
Besides the beautiful upgrades to the zoo and animal exhibits, the after hour events such as Brew at the Zoo is a must go to experience. With great support from the craft community this bash is a blast.
Nice, clean, easy to get around. Exhibits are great. There are plenty of food options indoor or grab and go. I recommend for families and groups. Staff was courteous and efficient. We are members of our city zoo and they allowed reciprocal membership.
Very amazing animals. Enjoyed very much
We love this zoo! It takes my family roughly 2 hours to walk the entire zoo, and that is with kids 8 and under. They have enrichment for both the animals and the kids, with a little treehouse park and splash pad. There are food stands throughout the park and we have enjoyed the dippin dots. The animals are well taken care of and are quite active when we have gone. I appreciate the open exhibits with safety in mind for both animals and humans.
My first time visiting, a little crowded to get in. We all wore masks. Sanitation stations in many areas.
Amazing best place to visit I recommend the memberships if you plan going more than once a year. One time payment and free for the year. food is a little bit pricey but good. People Are Awesome there the employees and the volunteers.
Much needed escape from el paso, its like a little oasis, my husband and I love coming here. The only complaint I have is that some of the exhibits are starting to look more run down and after a year and a half later they still havent brought in the penguins which was the thing I was most excited to see today, other than that very reasonably priced and everyone is super nice. But give me some cute penguins sliding on ice please
I love the zoo. And it doesn’t disappoint. Sure it’s small compared to others. But it’s still a great place in the city to go
Glad we got our membership, loved it! Havent been here in 6yrs! Love what they have done!
It definitely was better than what I expected. The new addition is nice the old section not nice at all. Also they should try to keep the aquarium clean, cant see anything through green glass.
Decent zoo for the area we are in. Most of the animals were hidden/sleeping. Some of the exhibits were dirty (with random trash) ESPECIALLY the sea lion one. That one was actually really really gross. The glass was disgusting to the point you couldn’t even see through it :( If you look HARD ENOUGH you can see the outline of the sea lion in both photos.Overall it’s a nice way to spend 2-3 hours or your day. We went on a Saturday and I’m so surprised that EVERYTHING was basically closed. No drink or food stands, and didn’t really see any workers. Didn’t seem like very interactive with kids or their guests.
We recently purchased the membership and the kids love being able to come whenever we want. finally went in to the water section and the kids loved bowling able to touch and play with different things, they even experienced a rainfall.
The shows are cool. When you go check for the shows and times. Especially seeing a parrot so close is awesome. You can also feed a giraffe for example.
Was a fun time. Nice place. They are adding a place for penguins, so some things you dont get to see...but still was a great day.
Growing into a beautiful zoo. Its is awesome and fun for everyone to enjoy. Can wait for the Chiuahuan Desert section to open.
It was great. Seeing all the animals was fun. Was able to meet Santa at the zoo!
We saw 99% of the animals. Bring your own food and water!!!Our food at the cafe was good, but it took a long time to make and was way over priced.
Omg were to start with this great experience. The zoo was very clean and the live animal experience was awesome my kids, wife, and I loved it. Their food courts were clean and the prices were fair. We aet the nacho supreme and they were hot the best nachos especially the. Chicken. They updated the park so much that my family and me were impressed, I cant wait for the penguin exhibit. And the new wolf area was so amazing we got to see the mom wolf feed her Cubs and the cubs were so adorable. The thing we loved the most was the big water rush by the jaguar area. We defenetly had a blast. The only thing that sucked was that the train was down bc my son loves trains but other then that it was epic.
My 11 month old loved seeing all the different animals. We rode the carousel, it was 2 per adult and she got to ride free.
We had a blast there and seeing all the different animals.
Clean, well maintained, great parking, plenty to see, affordable admission and annual memberships. The animals are so close! Theres even a water splash pad area. We had a wonderful time! Will certainly use our annual membership many times.
Im a bit fan of smaller, hometown zoos. Theyre usually less crowded and are a more intimate experience with the animals. This zoo is no exception. It has the main draws for little ones — tigers, lions, elephant and giraffe, along with a variety of other unexpected surprises.Pre-COVID, it has a playground, train, carousel, dining facilities, splash pad and high-rise rope and beam climbing. Theres a little bit of everything, all for a reasonable price.Go early before the animals get too hot and lethargic!
Kids always have fun here and thats what really matters. There is still constructiongoing on in some places and some animals look sad but thats almost in all the zoos no matter where you are.
It was fun, however at the middle of the day most of the animals were asleep. It’s not a big zoo, but certainly fun!
We went to the El Paso zoo we had a blast the Sea Lion show is Amazing😊
The zoo was nice I wish they had more shade for the animals. I’m glad they are recycling and teaching kids to take care of the planet.
Love this zoo, the animals are very beautiful ♡ The food is more affordable than other zoos, and the gift shop has good prices.
Very nice zoo. Some of the attractions were closed because of making it nicer for the animals. But that was okay.
Had fun with the family it’s getting very nice on the new edition there adding. Well worth every dollar can’t wait to come back to see the edition.
Its not one of the worlds top zoos, but very kid friendly and a nice day trip.
Always super fun, theyve added so much to the zoo and it looks amazing
Had a wonderful time...but I believe train ride should be included as well as giraffe food should be included in the price you pay to enter..just saying..alot of older people and children 😀 on fixed lower incomes
Its been a long while since Ive been back to the El Paso zoo its still an awesome place to go to awesome location animals, employees everything
Almost everything was closed, paid to go see 4 Pigs 8 Deers and 1 Turtle . The only fun thing was feeding the Giraffe but they closed it right away.
I LOVE THIS ZOOBut I have to say as many times as I went I noticed less & less animals. Lots of stuff to see and look at tho and for kidsThe playground is awesome
Its a pretty and clean place but Juárezs zoo has wider variety of animals. Regardless I recommend the place
Had a great time! Definitely recommend going during the off season since its so much quieter than going in summer!
Everything was under construction and very few animals were out except birds and a few sleeping lions. It should have just been closed for the day. Even the concession stands were closed.
Always a fun time for everyone.
The exhibits are good. A lot of construction going on and some exhibits were not open. They have a nice play area and splash area for kids so bring attire to get wet in because it can get hot.
Not a very large zoo nor do they have many exhibits. However, a lot of the animals they do have you see up close and personal like the jaguar. Nice for a family afternoon.
Some good planning and updates to the Zoo and Botanical Garden. Keep up the great work and making El Paso Zoo better
The membership is totally worth it to make quick visits throughout the year when looking to kill time or just get the kids out of the house. Always something new to see, e.g. I saw the wolves for the first time this visit...we didnt do it this time but feeding the giraffes is a blast for kids and adults alike!
Awesome place to visit with family or by yourself. Very educational even without talking with staff, you can read the signs and learn alot .
Had a lot of fun with my 4 kids. Very clean and friendly staff. Recommend becoming a member
Due to the pandemic shows are canceled, however, it has grown. Plenty of space for people to spread outdoors and enjoy the animals. You can still bring your own food, drinks, snacks. Remember no glass allowed. Some vendors were open inside, selling food, snacks and beer. The Mexican wolves were more active as they have a new enclosure in a hole new section of the zoo. Penguins are coming soon.
It had a good crowd, quite surprised. I feel the El Paso Zoo can be soo much better and larger.
Sad that some of the exhibits were closed, but Im very excited to see the new exhibits coming in. The lemonade is delicious too.
Was Great every attraction is great and well as pricing for tickets, would highly recommend that they would clean the windows for the attractions
It was a really unique experience, the zoo keepers and trainers are friendly and the elephant workout was awesome
Its green and a lot of space for animals to roam around. I love it.
My family enjoyed it so very much. Our town doesnt have a zoo no where as big. I thought the prices are great!
It was ok. The walk was good, and the animals too. Just that the consetion stands werent open, i dont know if its only certain days that they sell. But those wouldve been nice. Also the gift shop was a little bit over priced.
Getting ready for more renovations. They will be removing the original 1940s area of the zoo. Come see it before its gone.
Nice zoo for citys size. Wasnt too crowded today (Thursday, late May). Very reasonable price for admission with seasons passes available and discounts at other zoos.
ROCK AND ROAR AT THE ZOO WAS AMAZING! OUR WHOLE FAMILY LOVED IT!
Great place to have fun at for a reasonable cost! Bought the season package which is more than worth the little money I paid.
Staff attitude was horrible, half of exhibits had no animals and many areas were closed, it is understandable if new construction is happening but there is area that have been closed for years, whoever is in charge of the zoo has really allowed it to go in complete decline for years.
Took visitors from Austin to visit the EP zoo. El Paso should be soo proud of such an amazing zoo. Since I’ve been going there, it just keeps getting better and better! Can’t wait for the new Chihuahuan area to open up.
The weather was pleasant, a nice breeze helped keep us cool. It was 80 degrees and there were many animals not on display because of the weather...odd. The guard letting us in misinformed us and said the event at 1:30 had been rescheduled to earlier so we didnt get to see it, found out later it WAS at 1:30. 😡 We normally browse through at slower pace because we have my 91 yr old Mom with us, however this time we were done in 3 hours since there was so much less to see AND since we missed the 1:30 event. Zoo staff needs to give CORRECT information!
Great place to take your children, lots to do besides see the animals
Zoos in general are horrible, but this zoo should just close down. Its so sad to see how they have their animals in there. They look miserable!
Kids enjoyed all the different animals. Next years pinguen addition will be great!
Total reviews rating 4.3
199 Reviews for El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-15Nice size zoo. It’s a little hot in June (what else is new…) but there is plenty of shade. We saw quite a few animals including the Red River Hog which was new to us. Make time for the special activities (including the giraffe feeding which is only $3)Great place to spend a couple of hours.
Review №2
2022-06-07The El Paso Zoo is a fun place for kids and adults. New exhibits are being worked on. It could use some sprucing up in places. Some equipment was showing its age and needs replaced. The animals were well taken care of and appeared in their enclosures as at some larger zoos Ive visited. Families were enjoying the place getting wet in the fountain pad area. Also many were boarding the miniature train that circled the zoo. We spent 2 hours roaming around.
Review №3
2022-05-05Had a great time saw some big animals which was nice. Some exhibits were closed or didnt have anything which was sad, but overall it was fun. Granddaughters first visit to the zoo.
Review №4
2022-05-22This was our second trip to the zoo since moving here. First time was a let down because there was trash in most of the exhibits and over half did not have animals. This time we went for the Bug Extravaganza. That part was cool, but there were even less animals in the exhibits and still trash in many of the exhibits. Sea lions glass were still filthy and hard to see through.
Review №5
2022-02-01Kids liked it, especially the playground with the slides. Many of the animals were not out for viewing as it was kinda cold. Would be better in warmer weather.The train was a little overpriced for how little you can see from it, but it was fun anyway. There are no paper maps any longer so you need a digital one.
Review №6
2022-03-07Our visit started off nice but because of the attitude of the staff our visit was no fun. They have really let the place go. We have visited many time over the past 10 years and it was always nice even when we went and there wasn’t as many animals we didn’t mind because everyone was friendly but this is no longer the case. There was a employee she was tall, thin black hair with a bob. She had the worst attitude. She yelled at guests. She ruined a video a young couple was trying to make of there daughter because she ran in font of them to yell at someone else. I heard another employee yelling from across the park at another kid. Im not being dramatic either this employee was extremely angry and yelling. The employees need to understand that they will be dealing with a lot of kids and if they don’t have the proper training then maybe this is not the job for them. Having a stranger yell at a little kid is quite terrifying. Especially when they go there to have fun. I understand that kids cannot be climbing and jumping around on certain things but there’s a way to tell them without yelling at them. If anyone had done that to my kids I would’ve definitely had a problem.
Review №7
2022-05-21Its a good outing for the family and kids. They could improve it by having more events and sponsors in the park. Like perhaps a Chihuahua store. Diet Cokes. How is there no diet Cokes or diet anything inside the park. Better food. Hot dogs for example.
Review №8
2022-04-21First time going to the Zoo on Easter, and I must say I was impressed. I havent been for over ten years and the renovation is beautiful! Drinks are overpriced but its a good time.
Review №9
2022-04-11Cute little zoo. Admission prices were reasonable. Something to do to for the morning with kids. Coming from being a zoo member in Tampa Florida, it just wasnt the same comparing the two. Would have like to see more of a active kid play area space with more to do. And was surprised you had to pay for the Carousel. Overall, we did get to see different animals compares to what we are use to seeing in Florida.
Review №10
2022-04-15My kids got to see many animals there were some empty inside the building and the birds area was closed to public but other than that it was a great experience!