Zoos in Michigan

Michigan's zoos split between large accredited city zoos in the south and a long tail of farms, petting zoos and seasonal attractions. The Detroit Zoo, on 125 acres in Royal Oak, opened at its present site in 1928 and was the first U.S. zoo to extensively use barless, naturalistic exhibits. John Ball Zoological Garden in Grand Rapids dates to 1891, Potter Park Zoo in Lansing sits on 102 acres, and Binder Park Zoo near Battle Creek covers 433 acres. Deer Tracks Junction in Cedar Springs offers a drive-thru safari, and in the Upper Peninsula the privately owned DeYoung Family Zoo in Wallace opens seasonally, from May to October.