Sunrise Children's Zoo
Waterloo, IA
- Admission
- —
- Accreditation
- None listed
not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Everything below is directory information drawn from public sources and the zoo's own site.
Animals at Sunrise Children's Zoo
6 confirmedMammals3
Feathers & Fangs from visitors
What people who've been to Sunrise Children's Zoo say
A Feather is something this zoo does well; a Fang is something it gets wrong. Left by people who've been, and read by us before they appear.
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About Sunrise Children's Zoo
Sunrise Children's Zoo is a seasonal children's petting zoo on the National Cattle Congress grounds at 250 Ansborough Avenue in Waterloo, Iowa. It is operated by the Waterloo Sunrise Exchange Club, according to the club's website. The club says it was founded in 1970, belongs to the Lakes and Prairies District of the National Exchange Club, and has about 25 members from the Cedar Valley. The zoo operates from May through September each year and is not AZA-accredited.
Exhibits and habitats
The club's website lists goats, donkeys, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, a baby horse and peacocks. The page says these animals are donated for the summer by a local farmer. Visitors can buy food to feed the animals for a small fee. Experience Waterloo, the local visitors bureau, lists the same animals.
Conservation and programs
At the end of the season the cats and dogs can be adopted, according to the club's website.
Planning your visit
The zoo is on the National Cattle Congress grounds at 250 Ansborough Avenue, Waterloo, Iowa 50701. Experience Waterloo lists free admission, with the option to buy food for the animals, and says birthday parties are available.
During the May to September season, Experience Waterloo lists the zoo as closed on Mondays and open 11 AM to 7 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 11 AM to 6 PM on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 4 PM on Sunday.
The club has also held Race for the Zoo, a 5K race and walk at the Cattle Congress grounds, according to its website.
What we haven't confirmed
Everything above came from public sources. These specifics we haven't stood behind yet:
- Parking
- History of the zoo
- Phone number
Sunrise Children's Zoo compared with nearby zoos
How Sunrise Children's Zoo lines up against other zoos in the same state. We don't have coordinates for it yet, so these aren't ranked by distance.
| Zoo | Admission | Hours | Size | AZA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Children's ZooThis zooWaterloo, IA | — | Seasonal petting zoo open May–September on the National Cattle Congress grounds; daily hours not published. | — | No |
| Blank Park ZooDes Moines, IA | from $20 | 10 am – 4 pm | 49 acres | Yes |
| Storybook Hill Children's ZooDubuque, IA | Free | Open 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM every day from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Closed for the 2026 season; reopens Memorial Day weekend 2027. Closed for the season until Memorial Day weekend 2027. | — | No |
Distances are straight-line. A dash means we haven't confirmed that detail yet, not that the zoo lacks it.
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Sunrise Children's Zoo: common questions
Who runs Sunrise Children's Zoo?
The Sunrise Exchange Club of Waterloo, Iowa.
When is it open?
May through September each year.
What animals are there?
Goats, donkeys, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, a baby horse and peacocks, according to the club.
Can visitors feed the animals?
Yes, the club says food can be purchased for a small fee.
Is there an admission fee?
Experience Waterloo lists admission as free, with a small fee for animal food.
Can the cats and dogs be adopted?
The club says they can be adopted at the end of the season.
Something wrong here? Tell us — we correct in place, with a dated note.