Such a fun and affordable day trip from Indy! We took a mini weekend getaway from Indianapolis and spent the day at Columbian Park Zoo--what a blast! This little zoo packs in so much charm. Our favorite part? Definitely the petting zoo with the sweetest goats ever. The open garden area where you can see wallabies up close was such a unique touch, and the monkeys kept us entertained with their playful antics. The zoo is clean, well laid out, and incredibly family-friendly. It's a perfect low-cost outing that still feels special. We're already planning to come back when the penguins make their return! read more

Columbian Park Zoo - Adorable wallabies! - Zoos Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

I don't understand how this place is only $2 a person but you totally get your money's worth. There's only about 10 exhibits but they're thoughtfully laid out and you get up close and personal with the animals. For a few dollars more, you can get food to feed the goats, a train ride around the park, or paddle boats. Feeding the goats was so much fun. I'm not sure what I expected, but you're fully in the pen with about 20 goats and they are going nuts all over you because they want that food. My handful was gone in about half a second. My favorite part was the butterfly exhibit. I walked in and butterflies were just flying all around me. It's decorated like a little garden party. It was almost magical. It's designed with little kids in mind, but it was also fine for our family of three adults. We also pushed my mom in a wheelchair and she could access everything except for the butterfly exhibit. read more

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Yes this is a small zoo but sometimes they are the best. The highlights for me, someone who goes to a lot of zoos and loves them, they have a wallaby walk thru where you can get close to them, a farm animal walk in area with goats which are adorable and a great viewing area for swimming penguins. The penguin area had the cleanest water I've ever seen in a penguin area which made for awesome photos. Also the prairie dogs are so cute! Gift store has magnets! Didn't see any food or drinks here. read more

Columbian Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

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I absolutely loved this park and zoo. It is small so don't expect to spend all day in the zoo. It really tripped me out when the wallaby brushed right past me. Talk about a close encounter! The butterfly house also provided a really close up experience. All of the animals looked to be in good shape. The rest of park area is loaded with options. The boat rental, the train ride, multiple playground areas pavilions, the water park , a baseball stadium and places to walk. Wow I was really impressed. The prices are fantastic as well. If you have children then I would highly recommend this place. Even as an adult I loved it. Highly recommended read more

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The zoo is definitely a fun time. The wallabies, prairie dogs and penguins are super fun. Petting goats is a must! The little ones are so loving. read more

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Super cute zoo! For only a couple dollars I was impressed. What other zoos can you have close encounters with animals like a wallaby? And pet baby goats! No extra charges, no catches. Great place to take the kids, young and old, for a quick stop. Enjoy the park, take your time at the zoo, and have fun! read more

Columbian Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

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This park and zoo is really beautiful. Our family loved strolling through the zoo, seeing a good variety of animals, talking with the employees, and enjoying the peaceful train ride around the parks pond afterwards. The landscaping is done very well, the animals were well kept and fun to watch. We also enjoyed visiting the goat petting area. The baby goats are adorable. Will definitely be back. read more

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porcupine had zoochosis, spider monkeys looked absolutely depressed and overheated, i sat and held a baby goat for like 30 mins or so, i couldn't tell if it was limp because it was sleepy or limp because it was overheating too :(. i loved this zoo, been going since i was a baby, but some of these conditions and enclosures aren't right. the alpaca looked strange and malnourished too. cant believe they're letting the porcupine out there while he's obsessively repeating actions over and over and over again. i'm sure if a little kid asked they'd just tell them he's "dancing" or something. he wouldn't stop making these movements the entire 10 mins i watched him and he showed no signs of being able to stop when we left. i'd hate to see this place close but animal's well-being's are more important than my nostalgia and a place to go when you're bored. read more

Oh my gosh!!! We can't believe how great this little zoo was! We stopped for a break on a drive from Chicago to Indianapolis. It's in Lafayette IN a few miles from Purdue University. They had an awesome butterfly exhibit & we met Lisa which was so sweet & a wealth of knowledge too! Everyone that worked here including volunteers was so amazing!! We absolutely loved playing & loving on the adorable Norwegian Dwarf goats. We were definitely blown away with this place & it's people! read more

Columbian Park Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Great family park. Love the zoo. The train and paddle boats are fun. Lots of shade. Friendly staff. Nice neighborhood.

My review is based upon the entirety of Columbian Park, not just the zoo. With free admission and parking all around the perimeter, there is a lot to enjoy here. Water fountains, a lake with a Veteran's Memorial area, and the Columbian Express train ride for young and old give a variety of options to the visitors. Extensive playgrounds with different ages in mind allow for those a bit older and more adventurous to be entertained as well as the toddlers. The zoo itself has a limited number of animals, but does a good job of trying to make the animals visible. I went on a warm April day and some of the animals were still not on display for various reasons, but some of the exhibits have added windows for unobstructed viewing. (The window is highly reflective, so photos aren't as successful since my camera lens kept focusing on the surface instead of the subject.) There is a farm with a number of domestic animals and a petting zoo area. There is a butterfly garden and a butterfly house that opens during the summer (after Memorial Day) that I hear is really cool. Sure, a more diverse collection would be nice, but this is free, so it was fine by me. Review #284 read more

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After decades of charging no entrance fees and going from a sad zoo where conditions bordered on animal abuse to a modern zoo that is the jewel of Columbian Park, the Zoo decided to charge $2.00 for entrance. You would think they had asked for a pint of blood for entrance. Just $2 for a zoo that features close up encounters with wallaby, butterflies, and baby goats? And they just added a penguin exhibit! There is nothing to complain about here. Bring your kids to the Columbian Park Zoo. When you're done, go over to the new paddle boats on the lagoon. Then head over to the expansive playground that has plenty of shade and accessible equipment. Is it a hot afternoon? Go to the water park. Are the Aviators in town? Catch a baseball game in the brand new Loeb Stadium. Maybe there's a band or a play happening on the new stage on Memorial Island. Check out the entire park on the train ride. And after you've worked up an appetite after all that, check out Arni's or Frozen Custard, two iconic Lafayette eateries, right across the street. There is nothing else like Columbian Park! read more

This is a nice small zoo just the right amount of animals. Great place to take the kids or grandkids. It's a free zoo. They have a petting zoo with goats and chickens but you can't pet the chickens they run. They have Wallabies in a open area and they get real close. My favorite part is there are babies in the pouches. So set up a family reunion or just a picnic and go to this park. Plenty of tables and shelters. And even a train you can ride, tickets can be purchased at the gift shop. Adults are $2.00 kids $1.50. read more

Columbian Park Zoo - Baby wallaby - Zoos Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Nice little surprise! We weren't really expecting a lot but needed a break during a road trip to southern Indiana. It's a nice place to spend an hour or two, depending on what you do. The price is great...$2 a person, 50 cents to feed the goats and $2 for the train. There is playground areas nearby and pavilions. Lots of free street parking also. Our 8 year old grandson had a great time. read more

Well, obviously, this place isn't the San Diego zoo, but for a small local zoo, it's really quite delightful. My wife and I visit my daughter, SIL and 3 1/2 year old granddaughter fairly often and when we do we love taking her here. We got season passes, which if I recall correctly cost 15 bucks each; my daughter got a season pass for her immediate family which lets my granddaughter get in even when she comes with just my wife and me. Regular admission is only 2 bucks a head. The zoo is pretty small but has some very nice attractions. My granddaughter likes the penguin exhibit a lot, as do my wife and I. The wallaby exhibit is also great; you can really interact with them. Last time I was there, a wallaby came up to me and nuzzled my leg. There's also a petting zoo with baby goats, and a butterfly house, and other animals (bald eagle, emus, monkeys and so forth). Also the last time we were there, we took a ride on the train (again, a 2 dollar fee). The train ride lasted awhile and was a lot of fun. There are also paddle boats, but we haven't done those yet. The zoo is also right next door to a very well-equipped playground; we typically spend a little time there after we're done at the zoo. All told, my wife, granddaughter and I really like to visit this place, and we usually try to find time to do so every time we're in town. Very highly recommended. read more

If you're feeling a little blue, take a stroll through Columbia Park and visit this small, but adorable zoo. Did I mention that it's free? You are welcome to make a donation at the gate. Although the space is small, the real stars are the petting zoo and the butterfly garden. Who doesn't love to pet a little goat and then go have butterflies all around you? It's also a great place to bring out of town guests to spend an hour or so. Swing by, pet a fur friend and smile . read more

Columbian Park Zoo - Wallabie - Zoos Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

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There are so many things to enjoy about Columbian Park. It has a train ride, a water park, really nice shelter houses, clean restrooms and super fun playground equipment and green space for running and playing. The feature of this park is the zoo, which is FREE! While it's a small zoo, there are several things to explore including monkeys, wallabys, ostriches, goats, chickens, prairie dogs, otters, mini horse, llama and a butterfly garden. This place is truly a hidden treasure for Hoosier families and my kids love going here a few times a year. Pack a picnic and make a day of it. Thank you for making this zoo free for everyone! read more

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Such an AMAZING zoo for such a (relatively) small city of Lafayette! It's FREE too! I thoroughly enjoy it as an adult, & am certain that any child would find it just as enjoyable. The butterfly garden is excellent, as well as the mini 'barn animal' petting zoo. There are more exotic animals here as well, and it doesn't seem like they are treated in any overtly inhumane manner. Right in the middle of Colombian Park - so you can enjoy the playground before and/or after! Plus, if it's the summer, you can hop down the street to Tropicanoe Cove! read more

This is a pretty nice zoo! It's not a very big zoo with all the types of animals that the bigger zoos have, but I believe they are still in the works of expanding it. Oh, and did I mention...IT'S FREE! How awesome is that?! Two of my favorite areas in the zoo are where they keep Bald Eagles and where they keep the Wallabies. The reason that I like the Bald Eagles area is because all that separates you and them is a wooden fence, not an enclosed cage like most zoos. The reason that I like the Wallabies area is because they have this enclosed pathway that you walk along with just a rope fence and you get so close to them that it feels like you could almost reach out to pet them, but I'm sure that's not allowed. Overall, this zoo has a nice setup with a decent assortment of animals. It's also a great location because it's in the park area that also includes a playground, a water park, and a small train that goes around the park. read more

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It's a nice little, free!, zoo. It was the perfect spot to get out of the car and stretch our legs after a long drive. The wallaby enclosure was pretty cool, allowing the patrons to walk through. There were some spider monkeys and other primates too. read more

Columbian Park Zoo - Bald Eagles! - Zoos Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Four stars for several reasons. Yes, this zoo is small. It can be completed in a half hour or so as they don't have a great deal of animals. They do have a neat variety though. With an interactive wallaby exhibit and a few frisky animals..this little zoo is very worth your time. Favorites here included the wallaby's of course, but also the singing dogs, the different monkeys, and with a special mention..the crazed goats. Yes..crazed..for food. Normally farm animals don't inspire but you might feel differently after 'trying' to put a quarter in the feed machine to get some pellets for these hungry beggars. My quarter is on a goat jamming it's head into the food slot before you can get your hand below it. You have to experience it to know what I mean. This zoo is free so be sure to drop something in the charity box on your way out. The people working here also make the zoo a great place, they love the animals and take good care of them. Cheers. read more

Cute hidden gem in West Lafayette. Great for little kids and a small adventure with the family. The goats were my favorite part. They were everywhere outside the barn and the public is allowed to feed them. Cute and small zoo, perfect for a day trip! read more

We had a family fun day last Sunday at Columbian Park Zoo. It's very nice, especially considering it's free! When we first arrived, I was a little confused because all we could see were playgrounds; playgrounds that were actually kind of hard to navigate. There was one play area on top of a big hill that some older people in our party struggled to get to so they could watch the kids play. After we got to the top, we discovered steps WAY FAR AWAY from the actual play area. We entered the zoo and had a lovely time. There aren't a lot of animals and very few exotic animals, so don't go expecting to see lions, tigers, and bears. The enclosures are quite small for some of them, especially the monkeys. The petting zoo is fun and you can feed the goats and there are a LOT of goats. They like to stick their little faces in the food opening after you pay for the food, so sometimes you don't actually get to feed them from your hands because they have stuck their faces in the slot and eaten all of it before you can get it out. The zoo workers don't help in any way to stop them from doing this. My kids were pretty disappointed when they couldn't feed them. The butterfly exhibit is very boring. We see more butterflies than that in our backyard. The prairie dog exhibit is a lot of fun for the kids. They can climb under the enclosure and pop their heads up in bubbles to watch the prairie dogs. Overall, the zoo was a fun experience. It just seems that many of the exhibits are way too small for the animals to have an enjoyable life. The kids wanted to ride the train, so after we all walked over there to buy tickets, we saw a sign that said to purchase tickets in the gift shop. Grrr... So, we headed back over to the gift shop to buy the tickets. They're reasonable at $2 a person, and since there were more than 7 of us (we had 15), we got a discount of $1.50 per person. The train ride was okay, much more enjoyable to the kids than for the rest of us, but that's okay because this day was for the kids anyway. When we left, we did visit the gift shop. Items are actually very well priced and all four of our kids were able to get something without us feeling like we needed to take out a personal loan, haha. The gift shop has some very interesting snack choices, so be sure to check those out at the counter. No one in our group was brave enough to actually buy any! read more

Loved our visit! Our favorite part was the open wallaby exhibit where you get to walk through and observe the wallabies up close! Beautiful grounds and park. The Gibbons were dun to listen to and watch. What a hidden gem of a zoo, in a sweet neighborhood and it was free! Take the little train ride too :) read more

We love the Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette! Took my kids when they were small, just the right amount of "zoo" for little ones! We still love it, now that they are grown up. Great staff, animals are easily seen, displays are creative, and it is obvious how much care is put into all the animals' environments. And it's FREE, so you can go often, and really get to know the animals. The fountains and photo boards are great, and the petting zoo critters are super-sweet. The park is great as well, it's a fantastic place to spend an hour, an afternoon, an entire day! read more

We took a spur of the moment drive to Lafayette this weekend, and we stopped at the Columbian Park Zoo. What a wonderful experience! There's no admission charge, but they accept donations at the entrance. The animal enclosures allow you wonderful access to view the animals, and in the case of the wallabies, you can stroll right through their enclosure! The butterfly garden is lovely, too. For a free, public park zoo, Columbian Park is very well done! read more

Nice spot for little ones! Can't believe it's free to visit. The grounds were kept up well and very clean. We did the train ride which was perfect for our 16 month old. Liked the farm area with goats and chickens. However, felt sad for the llama or alpaca who was kept in a very small pen. Also, there were three emus in a really small area and the monkeys just looked depressed... :(. Hope they're kept stimulated...and warm In the cold winters. read more

My family (both adults and kids) loves the free zoo that is located at Columbian Park. It is perfect when you have some time to kill. It is not very big, but they are adding to it on a regular basis. Oh, and it's FREE. The park also offers some decent play ground equipment, but when they stopped letting the public feed the ducks it was a huge disappointment. That is something I have done since I was a little kid, and my son and I used to walk to the park several times a week just to feed them. read more

We love the Columbian Park Zoo. I have two small children and my husband and I are always looking for inexpensive activities to keep them busy. It's so easy to head to the zoo and let them run around for an hour or two and it's free! The staff is so friendly and while it's not the biggest zoo around there are lots of cute little animals and a petting zoo. I recommend it if you're in Lafayette! read more