Washington Park Zoo

About Washington Park Zoo

Washington Park Zoo sits across the street from the Lake Michigan shoreline in Michigan City, Indiana, on about 15 acres of hilly, tree-lined ground. It began in 1925 when a retired animal trainer moved his pet brown bear, Jake, to the Washington Park lakefront, and grew from there after the local fire department began adding misplaced exotic animals to the informal menagerie. The Zoo is owned by the City of Michigan City and managed by its Division of Parks and Recreation, with fundraising and community support handled by the independent nonprofit Michigan City Zoological Society.

The Zoo describes itself as more than a zoo: it also functions as a sanctuary for exotic animals that were once pets, were rescued from difficult situations, or carry injuries that rule out release into the wild. It is accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) rather than the AZA, a status it has held since 2016. The collection today generally runs to about 90 species and roughly 220 animals in total.

The Zoo's stated goals, laid out in its own planning materials, include organizing the grounds around distinct zoogeographic areas, strategically locating guest services, and using storylines and cultural themes to reinforce educational messages, alongside a broader mission of helping families understand the relationship between people, animals, and their environments.

History

City Manager Albert R. Couden began organizing a formal zoological garden in 1927, and in 1928 he appointed the Zoo's first official board and moved the animals to their present location in the sand dunes above the lake. Construction relied almost entirely on donated materials and volunteer labor through the Great Depression, and the Zoo became a major beneficiary of New Deal relief programs — Washington Park Zoo is believed to be the only zoo in Indiana built entirely by the Works Progress Administration and its predecessor agencies, the FERA and CWA.

Landmark WPA-era structures still stand on the grounds, including "Monkey Island," a moated island built in 1934, an observation tower built from a repurposed steel railroad tower faced in limestone, and the "Castle" building constructed in 1937 as a replica of the official insignia of the Army Corps of Engineers, which today houses small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Eleven Zoo buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Zoo submitted an updated Master Plan to the Park Board in 2015, revisited every few years since, to guide funding priorities and habitat improvements alongside a push toward pollination-garden landscaping that attracts native birds and insects. Since that plan, the Zoo has opened a Discovery Building, an Animal Care Clinic, the Peacock Café, Coop Concession, pollinator gardens, a Wolf Outlook, a koi pool, an Australian Walkabout exhibit, and Fallow Deer Woods, restored the Castle building in 2019, and expanded its Big Cat Complex in 2022. A new all-season Wings of Wonder Aviary exhibit is under construction and expected to open in spring 2027, replacing the Zoo's older outdoor aviary.

Exhibits and habitats

The historic core of the Zoo includes Monkey Island and the Castle building, both dating to the WPA era, alongside a stone observation tower overlooking Lake Michigan. Newer additions include the Australian Walkabout exhibit, Fallow Deer Woods, a Wolf Outlook, and an expanded Big Cat Complex.

The Wings of Wonder Aviary, closed for construction until spring 2027, is planned as a temperature-controlled, walk-through exhibit intended to house macaws, parrots, parakeets, and cockatiels. Until it reopens, the Zoo's animals are otherwise drawn from Australia, Africa, Asia, and North and South America, reflecting both the sanctuary side of its mission and its broader zoo collection.

Animal highlights

The Zoo's own figures put its collection at about 90 species and roughly 220 animals in total, drawn from Australia, Africa, Asia, North America, and South America. Several are part of Species Survival Plans for endangered species, while many others are rescued or non-releasable animals — former exotic pets or native wildlife that sustained injuries preventing their return to the wild. No public species-by-species list is available on the Zoo's website beyond these totals.

Conservation and programs

The Zoo's Green Team works on efficient and sustainable resource use across Zoo operations, from recycling and reusing materials to installing energy-efficient lighting, and educates staff and the public on conservation practices. A "Coins for Conservation" donation display collects spare change to support wild conservation efforts for African lions and wolf species. Staff also take part in the Michigan City Park Department's Adopt-a-Beach program, cleaning a stretch of Washington Park Beach and contributing litter data to the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and the Zoo promotes bat gardens and bat houses to the community as part of its work addressing threats such as white-nose syndrome. The Treehouse Gift Shop also stocks eco-friendly merchandise, including items made from recovered ocean plastic and reusable metal straws, as part of the same conservation push.

Planning your visit

As listed on the Zoo's website, hours vary by season: weekdays run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last entry at 3 p.m., weekends extend later, and the Zoo is open weekends only, weather permitting, from early December through the start of April. The observation tower keeps its own hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and animal buildings and the gift shop close half an hour before the Zoo itself. The Safari Train was closed for the 2026 season, and the Wings of Wonder aviary is closed for construction until April 2027.

Michigan City residents receive a ticket discount with valid ID; the Zoo does not participate in the Museums for All program, so SNAP and WIC discounts aren't available. A separate parking fee applies for non-residents during the summer season, managed independently of the Zoo. Food is available at the Peacock Café and the Coop Concession, both weather-dependent and seasonal; outside food and coolers aren't permitted. The Zoo notes the grounds are hilly, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and suggests September and October visits for a quieter experience. Check current hours, ticket prices, and seasonal closures on the Zoo's official website before visiting.