I hadn't been to the zoo in a few years and my mom was visiting from BC and she loves animals so we thought it would be a great day out with the family. We were pleasantly surprised with our experience. Got to see Lucy the elephant up close and personal when she went for a walk. It was amazing, we were literally just a few feet from her when she walked by. That's an experience I won't soon forget. We got to chat with one of the keepers and it was very interesting to hear about some of the behaviours of the meerkats. The staff were wonderful, their love and care for the animals was evident and their passionate about animals in general, it was lovely to see. We got some ice cream at one of the stores, my daughter loved the treat. The only complaint we had, and I can't really call it a complaint because I understand why, was that all the birds were missing from the cages because of an avian flu outbreak. My mom was sad as she loves the owls and birds of prey. But otherwise it was an amazing day. read more

Post-Covid visit of The Valley Zoo was not too bad. Of course many things were different. The flow of traffic is now one-way at the zoo which actually makes it less congested and easier to navigate. The only downfall is if you want to back-track to see something again or go grab a beer at the Sandwich & Sons, you have to go against the flow of people which is not too great. They do offer craft beer and canned cocktails now!!! This was exciting for me but when we got there, I didn't know that the ONLY place you can buy beer is at Sandwich & Sons which is actually "outside" the gate of the zoo in the reception area. So I had to back track to go grab our drinks. It would be great if they could serve this at every food / drink area at the zoo. We were able to see a lot of animals, and we got a glimpse of Lucy the Elephant too! So special to have her here and to be able to see her. My kids LOVE the owls and birds area however there are a lot of wasps in that area too so beware and be careful. Overall, it was a great visit and nice to see this place constantly improving. No rides this time either due to Covid but hope they bring those back soon too! read more

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For a zoo this size there's a lot of neat features and animals. They're in the middle of a renovation right now so many exhibits are either closed or being fixed up. The urban farm is pretty neat. Unfortunately as of April 2022, it is closed due to avian flu outbreak precautions. The birds of prey are also away for the time being as they are also susceptible to it as well. The zoo is very accessible and my daughter loves it. Lots of areas for younger kids to play and climb as well. If you live in Edmonton, i highly recommend buying an annual pass. Go any time you have a free morning. Great activity to start the day. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Lucy the elephant on her daily exercise walks - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Lucy the elephant, two tigers, 5 snow lynx, a snow leopard and lots more to see. Go in the afternoon mid week for the best encounters with animals. They are usually very active after lunch time. Love this place because Lucy the elephant wanders the grounds and it's always a surprise trying to find out where she is. So fun to see her walk up outside the enclosures. She's so friendly. The only elephant left in western Canada! But she is so happy read more

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The Edmonton Zoo was a complete disgrace! I truly could not believe my eyes at the lack of care the animals receive there. The white wolf was in an enclosure so small it is more accurate to call it a cage. He/she was by himself which in itself is horrific. Wolves are pack animals and need to be with others. The tiger was also in a completely inadequate enclosure. The information sign gave a "fun fact" for tigers and said they love water. Well I sure didn't see a drop of water although there was definitely a hollowed out area intended for it. I did not see any enclosures for several animals (such as mama and baby zebra) to give protection from the frigid winters in Edmonton. The peacock room had 17 peacocks that I counted and they were so packed in they could not spread out their tails if they wanted to. The elephant Lucy was nowhere to be seen. When I asked a zoo employee where she was I was told she was "retired" and hanging out with her keepers who she loves like family. This employee must have thought I knew nothing about elephants but I do. They may have affection for some humans but they absolutely need other elephants to thrive. In addition elephants need warm climates, not the subfreezing temperatures of Edmonton in winter. The enclosure for the otters was also heartbreaking. There was barely enough water to swim around in. After viewing a few more animals I had to leave. I could not take witnessing any more animal suffering. This zoo needs to be shut down. These animals deserve so much better! read more

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The Edmonton Valley Zoo is an awesome zoo, with a wide variety of beautiful and cute animals!! It's location is very well located in Edmonton's River Valley borough, right next to the Buena Vista Park. I have visited the zoo in the summer a few years, but have visited "Zoominescence: A Festival of Lights" a few times already, which happens in December every year. It's a festival of Christmas Lights, which you can enjoy seeing along with hot chocolate and visiting the zoo animal residents in indoor exhibit rooms. It's a super great activity for families and people of all ages to enjoy!! The meerkats are always a favorite with my wife and I, they are always cute, curious and funny!! The zoo is also great in the summer, as you can enjoy viewing the animals outside during Edmonton's short but warm summer weather, with the possibility of seeing the animals up close and personal. read more

My friend and I decided to check out Zoominiscense at the Edmonton Valley zoo. We brought tickets from Eventbrite and if the weather wasn't fit you could go on a different night, make sure to double check on that before you arrive as I got different answers. The person from the Valley zoo on the phone says that the eventbrite tickets are only valid the day off but their websites says it doesnt matter any day, luckily at the counter at guest services we were able to use the ticket we brought last week but wasn't able to go because it was too cold. The zoo shop was small and overall you have selections for the kids crafts, some clothes, jewelry. You could also donate and contribute by purchasing "adopt an animal," which are $75 that gets you information about the zoo animal, your name on the list and two tickets for the tea at the zoo in the spring. Zoominiscense was good, there were plenty of lights to see, and plenty of places to visit if you have kids like the petting zoo. There were owls, one elephant name "Lucy", wolves, red pandas, otters, peacocks, and farm animals such as cows, chickens, roasters, pigs, sheep's, goats. There were also reindeers. Overall it was a fun night, the food selections were not bad, you can get ice cream, some fast food selections, and mini donuts. read more

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Wow, the zoo really has improved in the last several years! I was there for The Arc Project Zoolander fashion show last night and I really enjoyed wandering the zoo when it was closed to the public (outside of our event that is). It was awesome seeing the capybaras (my favourite animal at this zoo), the zebras, the alpacas, llamas and of course Lucy the elephant. The entrance to the zoo is way more beautiful than it once was. I love the areas where children can play and while there are a few ridiculous things (like why would you want to go find out what the arctic feels like when this is Edmonton which gets mighty cold/windy as it is?), the zoo is pretty awesome, if perhaps a bit small. The walking paths are nice and the zoo employees are really knowledgeable and willing to do things like show off the animals or the wares of the zoo gift shop among other tasks. read more

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I took the family on Easter weekend, there was still snow on the ground so I wondered how many animals would be out. There was a decent amount, a few empty cages but it's a small zoo and with the weather we have, you can't imagine an African Safari. That would be so unfair to the animals. The space is well organised, and easy to navigate. There were a lot of extras the day we went for easter including candy at random places in the zoo, games, easter craft and glitter tattoos. The highlights were the elephant, camel (although I wish they had some friends - they seemed lonely) and primate section was cool too. I wish those indoor spaces were a bit nicer for the winter months since they spend so much time inside. I have a love hate relationship with zoos. I feel like this review is a debate with myself, but I did enjoy my visit to the zoo. And, I'm sure I'll be back in the summer months :) read more

This zoo is heartbreaking. All the enclosures are tiny, run down, and hardly provide what the animals need. Many of the animals were alone and appeared to be in seriously depressed states. We took a group of youth who all asked to leave because seeing the animals in that state broke their hearts. We all teared up when a wolf, who spends its time alone in a small enclosure, would howl when people would walk away. This place needs to be shut down... it is absolutely heartbreaking. read more

I enjoy the zoo enough to have a yearly membership to it. Is it the best zoo? No. I've been to nicer. But it is a zoo that is the perfect size and excitement level for my toddler kiddos to enjoy. Pro: The place is clean. The staff is really friendly. The petting zoo is my kids favorite place. Lots of hands on places for kids to climb. Generally quiet enough that I can let my kids run free without freaking me out. You can rent strollers! The cafe at the entrance of the zoo is wonderful. Con: Can be pricey for a one time visit. At a toddlers pace, you can see the entire zoo under 1.5 hours. Some exhibits are quite run down - reminds me of a high school art project gone bad. At the moment, there is a lot of construction. When it is done with, the improvements should bring a new level of excitement to animal viewing. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Lucy the Elephant out for a walk on public sidewalks! - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Edmonton Valley Zoo, you've made a fan out of me. My previous review was 2 stars and since then the zoo has made significant improvements and expanded animal habitat space. We visited over the weekend on the City of Edmonton Attraction day and were most definitely impressed at the additions! Particularly the Polar Extreme & Beaver Climbing Lodge for kiddos. It's still a bit hard for me to go with 4 stars as I've been spoiled by world class zoos such as the San Diego and Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle) but the updates here are MILES ahead of where it was previously. The staff are always friendly and informative. The new entrance is attractive and spacious enough for vendors as we saw this weekend. Another improvement from our last visit is that the carousel and train ride is no longer an additional fee and thank goodness! We pay $50ish to get in for the day as a family and the last thing I want to do is then fork out $4 for the carousel and $4 for the train. I mean, you're gonna get me in the gift shop anyway ;-) Keep on doing what you're doing Edmonton Valley Zoo! PS - Two thumbs up for the addition of Wild Earth Cafe indoors rather than the only option being burgers and dawns by the carousel. read more

The absolute worst zoo I have ever been to. Over half the zoo is either closed or under construction, a fact that the website does not mention. Of the exhibits that aren't under construction, a large portion are empty. The majority of the attractions are also closed, leaving no activities to distract you from there being no animals. I understand that there needs to be construction sometimes, but there is no justification for charging full admission price when this zoo looks like it currently does. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Construction and chain link fences. Everywhere. - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

This review is for the meeting space at the Valley Zoo. I booked a business meeting here for 70 people. The booking process was very easy, through the City of Edmonton. The rate for the room was quite reasonable, and we were allowed to bring in any caterer we wanted. We booked a picnic site for our lunch, and had a local BBQ restaurant cater. The meeting room one of the best set up rooms I've used. There were two walls, all floor to ceiling windows, but they had blinds that could either total black out, or let some light through. There is a projector screen, but there was an issue with the sound system. We did bring our own. My one major complaint is the glass door to the room was broken, so there was no door to close. Many kids were coming through the building (our meeting was in June... prime field trip season), and they were so loud. I asked one of the employees the zoo to put up a sign saying meeting in process, and that did help a little. However, as a City of Edmonton facility, I would expect they be able to fix a door in a timely manner. It had fallen off the hinge, and doesn't seem like it would to be impossible to fix. The door was off when I viewed the space several weeks prior to the event, and I was told the noise would not be a problem. Our event coordinator was very helpful with anything I needed. Overall, our guests were completely satisfied and I highly recommend using these facilities. Just maybe make sure the door is fixed before your event. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

I visited the zoo on June 22,2023. I wasn't the lest bit impressed with the quality or number of animals, most cages empy, little to no maintenance on cages, the cages with animals had no natural grass to eat. As an Edmonton resident, I can't believe this is what you call a zoo. I will not be taking any of my family or recommending going to it. As we are supposed to be the capital city what an embarrassment, it might as well be close. read more

For anyone who has been to a big zoo, like the one in Calgary or Vancouver, you might not think too much of the Edmonton Valley Zoo. But it's still a cute little zoo, and offers its own kind of fun. Summer, of course, is the best time to go, but I recently went on a warm fall day, and I enjoyed walking through with barely any crowds. There is a train ride and merry-go-round for the kids, pony rides, and different shows and demonstrations on throughout the day. (I was sad that I exceeded the height limit for the pony rides.) Be sure to go in the morning or early afternoon, as that's when all the shows take place. Their Birds of Prey flight demonstration is really cool, if you can catch it. I've never seen a real owl so close up before, and it's absolutely amazing how silently they glide through the air. Also catch the elephant show if you can, where they introduce Lucy the Elephant to you. She's quite famous in Edmonton, because she's a painting elephant (she can paint with her trunk)! They also have lectures on frogs, and teach you how the frog species is becoming endangered. There are paddle boats, but those are closed now due to colder weather. The petting zoo was also closed too when I recently went. The last time I went in the summer however, they were open and I saw a guinea pig giving birth to her babies in the petting zoo barn. My favorite things about the zoo though, are the red pandas and the prairie dogs. They are all so unbelievably adorable! You haven't seen a prairie dog until you've seen it yawn and stretch like a house-cat. I'm telling you, I cracked up so hard I think I scared the poor things into their little holes. So it may not be a big zoo, but it's still a fun place to spend a free afternoon. You can visit the animals, and learn something new! read more

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It was a sunny July day when we went to the zoo for a visit. I like to visit zoos and usually go to the Valley Zoo every few years. It doesn't compare to other large zoos that I've been to but they do have a range of animals. My favourite are the red pandas who are located close to the children's merry go round. It's a zoo that hasn't had any major renovations in years so expect crowded indoor exhibits and outdated exhibits and buildings. For the kids there is a kids' area, green grass, and animals for them to enjoy. The admission price is just over $10 for adults and I'm sure there is a family price. It's a decent way to spend a couple of hours outside. read more

Went to the zoo for the first time this year (second time during covid). You need to purchase your timed ticket in advance. They had people directing you the entire way to ensure everyone was following covid protocols which I really appreciated. Big thing with the zoo is it always seems to be under construction and nothing really gets done.... Stuff that was being "worked on" last year is still being worked on this year. Many of the animals weren't out (except for carnivore alley today!), all indoor exhibits are closed, and with the construction, it just isn't the same. read more

Visited the zoo today to get out of the hotel room and see some of the things Edmonton has to offer. I really love zoo's and just seeing the animals. I always have a great time walking around. I did enjoy getting to this zoo early, around 10am, to beat the kid crowd. I was expecting something more based on zoo's I have been to over the years. The prairie dogs where out running around, so cute! The wolfs were howling, probably because they were waiting for breakfast. I loved that the owls were down near the fence for me to seem them. They were so big! Of course also enjoyed Lucy the elephant! The enclosures are not anything spectacular and some of them see far away so the animals look small. One example being the zebra exhibit. I did feel bad for the sea lions because they are in a small enclosed exhibit but I understand they are building a new area for these guys. The red panda's where not out and that was a disappointment and there were a lot of empty exhibits. I understand animals moving to new areas, but just seemed odd how many were empty. I didn't get a map walking in and was hoping it was easy to get around, which it was. They have good signage to let you know where everything is. The park is kind of like a big circle so you really can't get lost. I would definitely go again because I enjoy seeing the animals but I wouldn't go on and on about how great this is. read more

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I have been visiting the Valley Zoo since I was a small child, back in the days when it was still called the Storyland Valley Zoo. I still make an annual trip there, and lots of memories come flooding back into my mind. However, things have changed quite a bit over the years. The emphasis is less on Mother Goose, and more on improving the animal displays. There are a lot of different kinds of monkeys, which I really enjoy because I am a monkey fanatic. The new lemur house is a wonderful addition. And there are still my old favourites, the prairie dogs, alapacas, and petting zoo. One major criticism I have of the Valley Zoo is that the Saito Centre puts too many different kinds of animals together under one roof. People who are sensitive to snakes and lizards will have difficulty avoiding them as a result -- if they still want to see the primates, birds, and other animals housed there. I believe that lizards, snakes, and reptiles should be housed separately. The Zoo has also received a lot of criticism over the years concerning the elephant quarters. I am not an elephant expert, bu ti is sad that Lucy is all by herself now that Samantha has left to be involved in a breeding program. Opened year-round, I am curious to visit the Zoo in the winter to see what it is like. read more

My daughter and I really enjoyed the photography class ! At the Valley Zoo! We learned a lot and has the opportunity to get closer to the animals and get some great pictures. The class was from 1-3 lots of fun and learning ! Great place for the kids ! Very knowledgeable staff ! We asked tons of ??? The place is super clean ! And organized !!! read more

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Yesterday (September 29) was free day at a bunch of Edmonton area attractions at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, so my friend and I decided to go. She'd never been, and I'd been a couple times, but it had been about 15 years since my last visit. Lot's about the zoo seems to be pretty similar from my memories of being there when I was five and in kindergarten. They still have the train and the carousel, which brought back fun memories. The exhibits at the Edmonton Valley Zoo are not very big, and there are a lot of, more local animals, especially at the petting zoo. Still they do have some more exotic mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds in their collection. Recently the zoo acquire a new red panda from a zoo in Wisconsin, but we didn't see him (or any of the red pandas). It was quite cool when we visited, and I think several of the animals we hiding out from the cool temperatures. That's the thing about visiting a zoo though - you're not exactly guaranteed to see any particular animal. I did get to see some of my favourite animals like the river otter and the wallaby. The zoo is quite small, we were only there for about 90 minutes and I think we got through a good portion of it, but not everything. They're building a new arctic exhibit that looks like it will be pretty spiffy (I think there were seals there, but there was a lot of people so actually see the animals were sometimes hard). I think the indoor exhibits, the Saito Centre and The RoundHouse could be improved and expanded. The Saito Centre people were entering from both sides and there was a bit of chaos trying to navigate in there, especially when it came to people who had strollers, because they had no room to move. Maybe the zoo can set a turnstile up, so people can only got into the Centre at one side. Upgrades to the zoo are definitely needed, and I think the arctic exhibit is a good start. Finally an odd qualm, but at the Arctic Fox exhibit there was a sign saying one of the baby foxes was named Echo, but there were two foxes. The rest of the exhibits have information about the animals, which is great, but I kind of wanted to know the names of the other animals (the infamous Lucy the elephant notwithstanding). My friend and I basically decided to name the animals as we went along. We decided that the bald eagle's name is Jim, but we were unsure if the bald eagle was male or female (that's also not really specified on the exhibits), so if the bald eagle is a girl then Jim is short for Jimberly. You're welcome Edmonton Valley Zoo. read more

Lucy the elephant has been suffering here for many years; it is heartbreaking that she is kept in a small enclosure for an animal her size. A group once donated her a jacket for the cold days which there are many and the zoo refused the gift and does not have one for her. Even at a sanctuary in Thailand the elephants are given jackets for colder evenings. Please don't support this zoo! read more

I had my first trip to the zoo today in a number of years and was fairly pleased with alot of the changes I saw. They dropped the "Storyland" part out of the name and seem to be working towards a more modern look similar to that of the Calgary zoo. Alot of new enclosures have been built like the beautiful new home for the seals and others have been expanded to give the animals more room to roam. Food and beverage options seem to have also been improved upon with the zoo setting up a small indoor cafe near the front entrance which is a much more desirable option then the outdoor stands if you happen to get caught in the rain during your trip. The gift shop seems to have also been given a face lift and now offers much more merchandise that actually has the zoo name on it versus the cheap little five dollar knick knacks and poorly made stuffed animals from before. I wanted to make this a four star review but I had to take a star off due to the extremely unsafe and bizarrely placed igloo structure set up near the big horn sheep enclosure. I did not really understand what it adds to the zoo experience and the whole area is surrounded by large rocks that I witnessed numerous children attempting to climb and subsequently almost fall down off of. I understand obviously parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing and control their behavior but the very fact that something so unsafe was built in a family attraction with no signs to discourage people from climbing on the igloo or on the big rocks surrounding the igloo was a grievous error of judgement on the zoo's part in my opinion. It's still not the five star experience that one could have at the Calgary zoo but I am definitely interested to see what's in store when the renovations are done and highly recommend checking it out for yourself at least once. read more

Our 2 year old Granddaughter loves the zoo so we bought memberships and have made it our go to place. Looking forward to Boo at the zoo on Saturday. read more

I have fond memories of the zoo as a kid. As an adult I can't stand to see the conditions some of the animals are in. We know better. Lucy is looking rough. She needs to be retired at a sanctuary. But at the very least give the poor girl a better barn and pool! read more

I just cannot for the life of me bring myself to give this place anything less than 5 stars - but it is definitely not a 5 star zoo! Last time I was there it was clear that improvements were in the works so I can't wait to see the final result of all this. The exhibits are on the smaller side and the zoo as a whole is not huge - I can walk through it all in about 3 hours. The animals seem to be well cared for in clean enclosures and the staff seem to be knowledgeable and caring. I enjoy the primate house - I could sit and watch those little guys scurrying around all day (especially the lemurs)! Very child oriented as well which I think is great - I think there is a lot of value in getting children to appreciate/respect animals at a young age! If even a fraction of the admission prices (which I find are reasonable) goes towards animal welfare I am ALL IN!! The experience itself is worth the price to me - who wouldn't want to help out a good cause if you can have a blast doing it?! In comparison to some of the larger, more popular zoos, this one may seem like a disappointment but, regardless, it is an awesome way to spend a few hours on a weekend in Edmonton!! Would be really happy to see another elephant or two brought in to keep our beloved Lucy company once they have the resources in place to do so! read more

I want to give this zoo five stars, unfortunately it just isn't one of the better zoos I have visited. I understand that Edmonton weather and the proximity to the homes, river valley, and Fort Edmonton Park limit growth and development to a certain extent. I am not sure if enclosure improvements are due to a lack of funding or a business decision but I would love to see updates to some of the living spaces. The staff are all great and well informed, the school programs are fun and well thought out. Generally by the end of a day spent at the zoo (we have passes) I feel like I had an enjoyable walk but don't feel like I just visited an exciting zoo per say. I will return but wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to visitors. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Seriously? Yes, the animals are in pretty serious condition; not surprising since they're mostly either (or a combination of) injured, maimed, aged, rejects, if healthy are en passant to another zoo or have come here from another place to die. God bless. read more

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As far as zoos go, this isn't the best zoo out there. If you're looking for a great zoo and a really good experience, go to Calgary and make a day trip out of it. But I do think the Valley Zoo is a great place to spend an Edmonton afternoon. Not because of the caliber of zoo, but because it's a nice change of scenery. In fact, my friend just attended a speed dating session there! He said the "couples" got to walk around the zoo for their time together and they actually got to go in and pet the animals! I thought that was a really cool idea because it's a great way to utilize the zoo when it's not very busy (in the winter) and create a fun environment for people. All the controversy over Lucy (the beloved elephant at the Valley Zoo) has cast a somewhat dark shadow over the Valley Zoo. I hope the Valley Zoo can come back from that because it is a fun place to go for a walk and get a change of scenery on a warm Edmonton afternoon. The Valley Zoo is A-OK in my books! read more

Lots of things to do here. Zookeepers are very friendly and patient. Love coming here with kids. As an adult you may pick up a thing or two as well! You can get her by bike, hiking or car. Bus route seems complicated. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Makira Outpost. The House of King Julian's cousins! - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

There are some really nice things about the valley zoo; the lemurs have a huge area, the red-tailed pandas seem happy, some of the outdoor enclosures are really quite big, and most of the animals have somewhere that they can go to 'hide' from the public. The prairie dogs are adorable, and watching them communicate and go about their little lives is fascinating. In general I really like seeing some of the less 'exotic' Canadian wildlife that we never get near usually. The zoo also does quite a good job with its signage, giving some context to all of the animals, a few details and some notes on their endangered level etc. On the other hand it does seem to still be a work in progress; the seals and sea-lions have tiny pools (a new building for them is currently under construction), and the elephant house is quite small and sad. I am not completely sure whether or not I am a fan of zoos, and I don't judge zoos on their size or how 'unusual' the animals are. I feel that the Valley Zoo seems to be trying really hard to do a good job with the budget that they have, and they succeed in making a visit an interesting experience. From a selfish point of view, why is there such a 'kids-only' atmosphere at the petting zoo? Everyone likes to pat a goat or sheep now and them. read more

Been to a few other zoos and this one was by far the worst. Not sure if we came on a "cleaning" day or what but there were almost no animals in their designated areas save the birds, otters and an elephant. Nice set up, but without the animals around there's no zoo. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Snowy owl - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Stop bringing your kids and your self to zoos It's not a way to learn about animals Go see them in the wild it's much more beautiful! This zoo is to small and the animals don't look happy It's not a way of life They may not know any differently But would u like living in your bedroom every day for the rest of your life all alone Not knowing freedom Do yourself myself the animals everyone! A favour Don't support zoos It's a thing of the past now read more

So I was there on Saturday, June 29 with my two grandkids. We went to the only place to get food right now, I cant even recall the name, something 60. It was a horrible experience and my understanding is they received a lot of complaints. First off, they were not ready to be open, so unprepared. The menus were on their side leaning against the wall so you couldn't even decide what you wanted very well before you ordered and then if you did, they only had part of the menu available. Then you would get told they didn't have something and you would see them give it to someone else minutes later, for example the drinks we ordered. They were handwriting the orders and then ripping off corners of the paper to give you your order number on the tiniest piece or paper. It was ridiculous! They debit machine ran out of paper and they couldn't find it so we couldn't have a receipt. The food was so over priced! I paid $ 41.00 for two little kids and one adult. My granddaughter had only a poutine and my grandson had the kids burger and fries and the burger had absolutely NOTHING on it! It was terrible!! None of us finished our meal. My burger was some adult burger that I had no idea what was on it but it was disgusting! It took forever to order and then forever to get the food! We waited so long. Worst experience ever and once I recall the name of it, I will be posting all of this on YELP. I actually want my money back. It was such a bad experience and then to cost so much for what we got made it worse. At least if the food and service was good, you put up the cost. The man running it was rude and really didn't care what his customers thought or wanted! Worst ever! There were lots of people upset and complaining as we all waited! I submitted a handwritten complaint and sent one in by email and they couldn't even be bothered to reply. Pretty bad!! read more

It's been a while since we've been to the zoo so we went there last weekend. The renovations are nice and the zoo looks more modern. We saw Lucy going out for her afternoon stroll and she drew a big crowd. I thought some of the animals looked like they had given up on life. I would too if I was locked up in a small space or the only species of my kind (think of Lucy being the only elephant). So 4 stars for the renovations. read more

Edmonton Valley Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Oh I love the zoo! The lions the tigers the bears oh my! Oh wait! That's the wizard of oz! The Edmonton zoo is not that. It's bare it's empty and rather sad. The concrete cages with chain fence, minimal foliage and poor land scape it breaks my heart. It used to be an awesome zoo well kept and well ran. Within the last 10yrs its gone down hill drastically. I still gobat least once a year if I can to support it an hopefully one day it'll be a lot better. read more

The zoo is under construction and there were quite afew empty in closures .Defiantly wasn't a good experience.Really sad seeing all these animals that looked like they had mental issues.There was a fox that just kept running the perimeter of the in closure.And the Tiger kept pacing back and forth. read more

Can't even comment on the animals at this zoo, because I didn't get to see half of it. I don't blame them for the cold weather, I did choose to go in the middle of the winter. But if you're going to be open for business, you could at least, I don't know, make your grounds walkable? Pathways were PURE slick ice, with some measly pebbles thrown about. We eventually gave up and left- the risk of injury wasn't worth maybe seeing some animals out. Is your winter business so bad you can't afford any sort of ground maintenance or plowing? I'm handicapped, I can't walk on ice, and there's no way the state of those pathways would be wheelchair friendly if I had chosen to rent one. Also surprised there was no student pricing available. read more

Oh Valley Zoo. Growing up in northern Alberta, getting to come to Edmonton and go to the zoo was pretty frickin exciting. Unfortunately, now that I've seen other zoos (and entered adulthood), the Valley Zoo looks much less exciting. I'd probably still recommend stopping by if you've got kids... it's still a zoo, after all. But going back as an adult... the zoo kind of lost it's magic. Also, after writing "zoo" many times, it seems like such a silly word... read more