Blank Park Zoo: Giving Everybody Their Wildest Adventure in Iowa

First established as the Des Moines Children’s Zoo and opened on 8 May 1966, the present-day Blank Park Zoo is named in honor of Mr. A.H. Blank who donated $150,000 in 1963 for the construction of a children’s zoo. The zoo’s original concept was a nursery rhyme-inspired place that features a petting zoo, a replica of Noah’s Ark, a castle with a moat, and even a miniature railroad.

In the next 16 years, the city government failed to make the necessary improvements until the zoo was on the verge of closing. In 1981, a group of civic-minded business leaders established the Blank Park Zoo Foundation with the aim of providing financial support for a wide range of purposes. These included animal acquisitions, capital improvements, and marketing activities, all of which are intended to make Blank Park Zoo offer its visitors the “wildest adventures in Iowa”.

Today, the Blank Park Zoo spans 25 acres of prime land in Des Moines near Fort Des Moines and takes pride in its status as the only accredited zoon in the state. Its mission of inspiring an appreciation for the natural world among kids and adults alike through recreation, conservation, and education venues continues to inspire its dedicated men and women.

The zoo has several exhibits featuring a wide range of wildlife including the Discovery Center, an enclosed area where several types of flora and fauna are displayed. The center is divided into several separate sections, such as the Meredith Alpine Exhibit featuring furry animals like red pandas and The Cave, an exhibit of nocturnal animals and reptiles including boa constrictors. The Free Range Aviary contains forest-dwelling birds including mountain peacock-pheasants, pink pigeons, and scarlet-chested parrots.

The Blank Park Zoo also has meaningful conservation initiatives designed to protect animals in their natural habitats. These include Species Survival Plan, International Snow Leopard Trust, and Giraffe Conservation Foundation.