As Minot steps into summer I’ll be sharing some of my favorite warm weather activities with you. Today, I’m talking about the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot. Much of this information can be found at the zoo’s website. I’ve compiled it here alongside my personal experience. A big thanks to BeLOCAL Minot for partnering with me to make Minot Mondays possible.
Summer in Practically Canada
Summer brings out a whole new set of funtivities in Practically Canada (AKA, Minot.) We start to come out of our winter cocoons of dinners in, church potlucks and game nights. Instead we venture out into the endless daylight to enjoy parks and ice cream and gardens and hikes.
The Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot is a great small town zoo. It’s a great zoo for our community and a wonderful resource for a city the size of Minot. It’s a perfect place to take a walk and enjoy the perfect North Dakota summer weather. Don’t fall into the trap of negativity by comparing it to a zoo in a bigger city like Omaha, Colorado Springs or Dallas. Those zoos are great–but Minot isn’t a metropolis. We are blessed to have a zoo in town to enjoy!
One of the things I appreciate most at the Roosevelt Park Zoo is that they are constantly improving (at least since I first moved to Minot in 2012.) The community has rallied around this resource to raise money to improve dated habitats and offer lots of valuable community education (for adults and littles) all year long.
I always like the zoo. But now that I have a little who loves animals, I’ve realize just how special it is to have a zoo right here in our back yard.
What’s a Day at the Zoo Like?
Zoo staff is working hard to keep things clean and safe during the COVID-19 era. Facilities are clean and things are regularly wiped down. There are hand sanitizer stations available near the petting zoo. (The “petting” portion was closed during our visit.)
You can bring snacks into the park. But staff asks that you do not bring disposable straws and lids inside. (I just learned that naughty squirrels like to dig them out of the trash and place them in animal enclosures.) There are benches throughout the park and a few tables near the concession building, but no “official” picnic shelters–so just keep that in mind when you pack up to come.
Pro Tip: Keepers and staff told me that many animals are fed and enclosures cleaned shortly after opening. This is a prime time to see animals active and interacting with staff (and to ask staff questions.) Gideon and I arrived at 10:30–which gave a good opportunity to see lots of morning activity.
Strollers and wagons are welcome in the park. You can also rent a wagon at the gate.
On our inaugural trip we spent about two hours exploring and watching the animals. This allowed us to walk the whole zoo and revisit our favorite exhibits again before leaving.
For a list of things that may be closed or limited access see here.
What Kind of Animals Are There At Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot?
This summer Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot is celebrating 100 years since it first opened! It’s grown since 1920 and is now home to more than 200 animals.
Here is information about animals at the zoo.
New big-cat habitats are under construction. A new lion habitat recently opened. As I said earlier, the zoo is working hard to continue offering an excellent experience into its next century.
Gideon and I love seeing the giraffes and primates. Those were animals he was excited to revisit.
Tell Me About Admission. Is a Membership Worth It?
Full admission prices are here. However, I’ll give you my personal opinion on this:
If you are a mom of a little who likes animals, you should become a zoo member. Admission is totally reasonable ($9.50/adult during the summer, $5.50/adult in winter.) Kids have lower admission and kids under 3 are FREE!
An annual zoo membership is $45 for an individual or $75 for a family (other membership options with additional perks are available. See here.)
A little math will tell you, it won’t take long for a membership to pay off. We’ve already used our membership twice and they just opened on May 9!
A membership takes pressure off of needing to spend a “whole day” at the zoo to make admission “worthwhile.” You can come and go as you please and only stay 30 minutes if your kids have a melt down. It’s great and I highly recommend it. Additionally, members get discounts on classes that happen year round–another great investment.
What Happens During the “Off Season?”
Glad you asked. The answer is “a lot.” The zoo continues to be open (weather permitting) with limited hours. They also offer classes for all ages throughout the year. I’ve heard AMAZING feedback about the Zoo Tots classes from other moms in town.
Look here for more on year round education.
Where is the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot?
The zoo is only a short drive from anywhere in Minot (like most things in Minot.) It’s just east of downtown off of Burdick, as you head to the fairgrounds. The parking lot is at the entrance of Roosevelt Park.
Because the zoo is attached to Roosevelt Park, it’s a perfect place to have a day’s worth of adventure. The park has a nice walking trail, beautiful gardens and a nice playground. Roosevelt Park Pool is also located there and will be opening for the season May 31.
Get Outside
I hope you’ll get outside this week and enjoy the start of a North Dakota summer. More on the zoo and other fun summer activities is here at BeLOCAL. What other places do you love to explore in nice weather? I’d love to hear from you. Comment below or join the positive-vibes community, committed to loving where they live by hanging out with me on Instagram or Facebook. Have a great week!
