Really nice little zoo! It was very busy because of nice weather and had a long line but it…read morehonestly moved quickly and the staff was so organized getting everyone checked in fast and directly traffic. There's a lot of construction going on right now (March 2026) so lots of empty areas but hopefully these will be more lively in the summer. But we did see a lot of animals out and about and we were able to loop around the whole zoo in about 90 minutes.

One of the best overlooked small town zoos in the United States...! While the Des Moines metro…read moreisn't exactly a "small town" we're not a huge city either. https://www.blankparkzoo.com/ I held season tickets to Blank Park Zoo for quite a few years when my kids were younger. Now it's an annual photo walk outing for me. Maybe twice a year. The zoo boasts a diverse collection of nearly 1,500 animals representing over 100 species, including African lions, Amur tigers, giraffes, Eastern black rhinoceros, red pandas, sea lions, Magellanic penguins, an okapi, and many more including aquarium and touch exhibits... Don't skip the Outback and children's zoo area! The zoo's 22 acres of developed exhibits make it easy to navigate, allowing visitors to see everything in a few hours without feeling overwhelmed. Very manageable for all ages... Blank Park Zoo always has something in the works whether it's expansion, a special event, or a special display. No outside drink or food is allowed inside the zoo, and the food on the grounds can be a little on the pricey side if you are feeding an entire family. I like to plan my visits between meals and eat outside the park. I'm not saying to not support the zoo... Not at all! I'm just saying I'd rather spend my money on a t-shirt or a momento of the trip in the gift shop than on something that I will literally flush down the drain later on... You know what I'm saying. Open daily from 900 AM - 500 PM. $20 for an adult and $15 per child. Check out their membership packages (with reciprocity to nearly 200 zoos and aquariums) and their calendar! You may be able to buy an annual Family or Family Plus membership for less than a single visit... And then be able to enjoy the zoo all year long...! https://www.blankparkzoo.com/membership

My biggest gripe was that this is a family centered destination and there is nowhere for nursing…read moremothers to feed their babies? A worker suggested I feed my baby in a port a potty. I had to go all the way back to the car to feed her. :( A lot of the food stops are closed at the end if the season. The funnel cake place wasn't taking orders because they set the oil too low or something and couldn't give a clear time they would be ready. However! There were some cute photo stops and my kid had a blast in the big corn pool I have never seen anything like it. They also have the BEST applesauce I have ever had.

In my opinion the pricing is out of whack. You must buy admission to the barnyard in order to go…read morepick apples on their twenty acre orchard. Basically thirty bucks for two adults before you buy apples for $65/bushel. If you want a bag of apples just get them from the store.

Since moving to Iowa last summer, one of the most fun things we have done is visiting Rusty Stars…read moreAlpaca. It's more than a half-hour from Ankeny but well worth the drive. Led by owners Kari and Aron, this place has such a good vibe. Their availability on the property makes the whole visit memorable, regardless of your age, your awareness of alpacas, or your experience with farm life. They have 42 alpacas and a llama on the property, and it is a unique experience to wander among them. Each of the alpacas has a name, looks different, and is interactive. As Kari described, they are "food-centric. " Being able to feed them from your hand was fun for this city boy. The alpacas have their own personalities, too. They have walking trips, too, but we refrained due to the snow and ice on a February day. We loved their gift shop, which was loaded with fun items and alpaca-themed apparel. I'm glad I bought a warm pair of valuable socks, which came in handy just a few days later! There is no paid admission to the property, just a suggested donation. The owners accept Venmo and cash. We were happy to contribute at the end. Aside from the obvious fun to mingle with alpacas, the owners elevate the entire experience, adding kindness, knowledge, and a great tone throughout. I wish everyone were as nice as Kari and Aron! Check out their social sites for fun photos and videos.

I have visited Rusty Stars Alpacas 6-7 times now and had a wonderful experience each and every…read moretime. The owners of this small farm are so friendly, welcoming and passionate about their animals. They have 40+ alpacas and know each one by name, age and temperament. They patiently answer all visitors questions, which certainly are repeats. The alpacas are adorable and gentle, the owners will even help you get a selfie with them! Don't let the wether stop you from visiting, we were the only visitors on a cold January day and were able to hang out in the barn. It didn't occur to me until after we left how clean the barn, certainly these animals poop but I didn't see any. Did I mention the super cute gift shop with quality alpaca wool items? Love my new hat!

My wife, son and I went together and had a horrible experience. The employees barely paid attention…read moreto the children that were running amok. My son slipped on a busted pumpkin on the ground, breaking his arm. When the owner came out, she was very disrespectful and told us if we came after her for it, she would win because she has lawyers for situations such as this. Steer clear of this place. Not only is it a dangerous environment, but she clearly has no regard for the customers that visit the farm.

My family and I visited Blacks Heritage Farm and had a wonderful experience. Staff was very…read morefriendly and showed us where everything was . We enjoyed seeing all the animals and picking pumpkins. 10 out of 10 would recommend!

If you are looking for an amazing ham for the Holidays, this is the place!…read more This may also be a Veteran owned or operated business, but can't confirm. I can confirm they are Veteran Friendly and Support Veterans. This is my second year coming to Berkwood Farms and it won't be my last. What do they have that isn't delicious. Last year I got a Cherry Wood Smoked ham and it was absolutely amazing. This year I got a pit ham, Apple wood Ham, Cherry Wood Bacon, and Berkwood Dogs. I believe maybe the owner not sure, but he was also a Veteran gave me the bacon for free. Everything I have had, has been absolutely freaking delicious and had amazing flavor. No additives. The flavors are top notch and quality through the roof. I will be back more often because that bacon was like an additive drug and the pit ham was like pure addiction, and I am planning on going back to get my fix. The Gal at the register and the guy who gave me the bacon were super super nice. They also gave me a veterans discount which was awesome!

I have had ham, ribs, bacon, brats and sausages from there. All quality meats. People are…read morefriendly and helpful too!

Located in town. I didn't do any of the rides, but only entered market area for baked goods…read more Front of the house pumpkins for sale by weight. Plenty of pies, donuts, caramel apples and etc for purchase. 6 pack of apple cinnamon donuts will run you $7. I also picked up single serving baked apple oatmeal. Not very large facility, but enough parking spots.

This place has epic stuff. The baked goods are wonderful (pies, crisps, caramel apples, fudge,…read moreapple cider. Plus they are a full service orchard, pumpkin patch, berry farm. If you want it they have it. They also can accommodate large orders without a problem. Oh and did I mention this a family owned local place... well it is so I to support local! They treat everyone with respect. It isn't fancy like some of the other orchards but what they produce is quality. Fancy isn't always better! Especially in this case! Support local!

It's a cute small petting zoo. It won't take very long. Wish there was a little bit more to see…read more I loved feeding the animals and our granddaughter got to find her courage and get in with the chickens.

Cute little petting zoo with free admission, small charge if you want to feed the animals. It's a…read morepretty small petting zoo. You could probably walk around and enjoy watching the animals for a good 10 minutes and cover the whole petting zoo. Or it could take much longer if you wanted to stop and interact with the animals, pet, and feed them. We couldn't stay long enough to do this, but my son enjoyed looking at all the animals there. They had a cow, goats, alpaca, deer, peacocks, rabbits, and more. It's a great place for what it is (a small what seems to be family-owned petting zoo), but can't give this place a full five star rating if I'm comparing it to real zoos that are free. Of course this is in a slightly different category.

I am from California, moved to Minnesota in 2016 and Waukee the end of 2016 - needless to say, I've…read morebeen around and visited many pumpkin farm/apple orchard places. Wills Family Orchard is, by FAR, the best I've EVER been to. The lady in the shop, the gentleman leading the hayride and the young man overseeing the pumpkin patch were all very friendly and helpful! They went above and beyond to ensure my two young daughters and I had an amazing time. Every step of the way they were informative, friendly and engaging. The apple picking was amazing - petting the goats was unforgettable and the play area for the children was so much fun. We highly recommend this place!!

Had a great experience here! Went with my family and the kids really enjoyed all the activities and…read morewe picked apples. You must get some of their apple cider donuts- made fresh and so good!

I came here the other day to look for more supplies for my turtles that the mainstream pet stores…read moredon't have. They have a great selection of fish and they have a ton of snakes which is unique! If you have a snake phobia, beware. They have most of the animals you'd see at pet stores and the staff are very knowledge. My only complaint is that it is very cramped which makes me feel bad for the animals. They deserve more space. There also isn't enough ventilation in the store because it always feels super stuffy and dry. Overall, it's worth a shot to visit if you're looking for a local shot but beware the environment isn't the best.

the fact that the snake section is a locked wall with little tubs told me all i ever needed to…read moreknow. i only come here to get rats and mice for my snakes and i have literally watched their rats ripping each other apart. another time i seen the hamsters fighting and tapped on the glass one time to try to get them to stop and an employee walked up and acted like i shattered the glass. dont understand why every employee is so rude there let alone cant take care of their fucking animals.