After three months of closure, Nashville Zoo is excited to announce that we will be reopening our gates to a limited attendance on June 15. Only Nashville Zoo members will be able to visit for the first three days of our reopening. Beginning June 18, the Zoo will be open to everyone.
Advance tickets go on sale June 1.
“All of us here, staff and animals alike, have missed seeing our guests enjoying the Zoo,” said Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz. “Our team has been working this whole time to keep our animals happy and healthy and the Zoo looking beautiful. In appreciation to our members who have waited patiently through these tough times, we’re going to give them a chance to visit before we open to everyone else.”
Limited Attendance:
The Zoo will open at a limited capacity and continue to perform rigorous and periodic cleaning practices. All Zoo staff will be screened daily and required to wear masks while in public areas. The Zoo will also require all guests to wear masks while on Zoo property with the exception of children three years old or younger.
Timed Tickets:
All guests will be required to purchase or reserve, in advance, a timed ticket for entry. Zoo members will have options to reserve entry at the top of each hour from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm. Non-members will be able to purchase timed tickets at the bottom of each hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All tickets go on sale June 1 at noon.
Guest Expectations:
The majority of the Zoo's pathways will be one way guiding guests through the park. Some inside areas including the Unseen New World and the Historic Grassmere Home will remain closed. The Wilderness Express Train and Jungle Gym will also be closed. Animal contact areas including Kangaroo Kickabout and Lorikeet Landing will be closed. Any programing that draws large groups of people will either be limited or canceled.
The Zoofari Café will be open for take-out only with outdoor seating close by. Concession stands will also be available. Water fountains will be turned off. As always, guests are welcome to bring in food and beverages. The Zoo’s indoor gift shop and all restrooms will be open with limited capacity.
Additionally, the Zoo will provide hand sanitizers along the trails and signs that promote social distancing and good health practices. The Zoo will monitor local health officials and leadership to determine when safe practices can be loosened or lifted.
Membership:
Nashville Zoo is happy to state that no member will lose time to enjoy the Zoo. All current memberships including those that were purchased or renewed during the Zoo’s closure, will be automatically extended to accommodate for the time the Zoo was closed. The date adjustment will take place automatically after the Zoo opens on June 15.
About Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. The Zoo is actively engaged in conservation research, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives around the globe as well as in our own backyard. The Zoo attracts more than 1,260,000 visitors annually and is considered one of the top attractions in Nashville. Nashville Zoo is located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information about Nashville Zoo, visit nashvillezoo.org.