Presentation. Who has the best zoo entrance?

[Tim May]

It's in critically-poor condition now, and nowhere as impressive as it was even a decade ago between the scaffolding, and missing stonework otherwise I'd have mentioned it myself.

I concur; unfortunately, the Hagenbeck's entrance gate is in a poor state of repair which, obviously, detracts from its appearance today. However I mentioned it because of its historical importance not because of its current appearance. It is definitely one of the most famous zoo entrances ever constructed so deserves to feature in this discussion.

 

[Wanderer]

My favourite would be Tiergarten Nürnberg, I love the design of the bronze statues, combined with the lush trees.

Hagenbeck is iconic but I find it to be ugly.

Antwerp has a really interesting design, but it just sits awkwardly next to the gigantic train station. I really like the mosaics.

You guessed it, I am a sucker for 1900s architecture. I'm sure there are some really well-designed recent entrance buildings though. But none that comes to mind from the few places I have seen with my own eyes.

 

[EagleScout610]

I have to give Akron's welcome center a shoutout

 

[Toledo Zoo Guide]

View attachment 763234
I have to give Akron's welcome center a shoutout

This is another very good one, it kinda reminds me of an entrance to a ski resort lodge. It’s very different from other ones I’ve seen.

 

[Gelada]

The first one that came to mind for me was Pairi Daiza! The only zoo entrance too have ever left me mesmerised!

 

[TNT]

Well, the entrance at Pyongyang Zoo certainly stands out...

- Pyongyang zoo entrance, North Korea

 

[Enzo]

Hello.

My local zoo, BioParque do Rio (formerly RioZoo), surely has the most iconic entrance gate of any Latin American zoo. It has even been featured in a few foreign movies, like Rio.

@David Matos Mendes

 

[David Matos Mendes]

Hello.

My local zoo, BioParque do Rio (formerly RioZoo), surely has the most iconic entrance gate of any Latin American zoo. It has even been featured in a few foreign movies, like Rio.

@David Matos Mendes

Surely one of the prettiest zoo entrances. The architecture is a great representation of the glorious times of our country's former capital.

 

[Terry Thomas]

Who visits a zoo to look at the entrance? It's what they have on exhibition that interests me!

 

[David Matos Mendes]

Who visits a zoo to look at the entrance? It's what they have on exhibition that interests me!

I don't think this thread intends to say the entrance is one of the main reasons you should visit a zoo or not, but rather highlights zoos that happen to have beautiful entrances...

 

[Toledo Zoo Guide]

I don't think this thread intends to say the entrance is one of the main reasons you should visit a zoo or not, but rather highlights zoos that happen to have beautiful entrances...

I think you are right on.

 

[tigris115]

Berlin's Elephant Gate is the winner for me

It goes unreasonably hard and I wish they sold miniatures of it at the gift shop.

 

[Rizz Carlton]

While not as grandiose as the other entries here, the elephant tusk arcs of Taman Safari Indonesia is very iconic and recognizable for most Indonesians.