As a foreward, I like all of these exhibits.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Honorable Mention: Penguin-Seabird House
Out of the now closed exhibits I had the pleasure to visit, this is the one I most wish could have still stood. I respect why it was dismantled, but I do miss it. Seabirds are a fascinating group and made for a solid focus.
Honorable Mention: Nature Boardwalk
I have a lot of nostalgic memories of the old swan boats and feeding ducks here as a small child, which makes it all the more impressive the zoo committed to and rebuilt this as a natural ecosystem. It's a lovely walk, and it's great to see wild waterfowl in the ponds, even better the water is clear enough to actually see fish and underwater plants. It's a lovely space.
#16. Farm-in-the-Zoo
It's good to have a farm in the city that kids can explore, but it's hard for a farm to be a great exhibit. Habitat immersion is beside the point, after all. I do think for a small city, the farm is densely packed with a nice variety - cows, goats, pigs, chickens, ponies, and rabbits - although these days it rarely feels bustling. The dairy demonstrations, goat petting, garden and activities in the barn all seem to suggest a lot to do, but when these activities aren't in use, the space is light.
#15. Camel-Zebra Area
There's some really good enclosures in this complex, particularly the camel yard is spacious, but it feels a little ill cohesive. The Chacoan peccary is a wonderful species, but so hard to see in their enclosure, the red kangaroo have always been an odd fit here alongside hoofed animals, and the current ostrich enclosure is rather swallowed up. The camel exhibit is fantastic and the deer and takin each have access to two enclosures, and then there are Grevy's Zebra, an exhibit that is undermined by the long closed paths to the indoor Antelope House. The loop can also feel like a waste of time if the species are inactive. I do have a fondness for this exhibit and hate to sound so negative.
#14. Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond
There is nothing wrong with this exhibit, I don't mind watching the swans. I'm not sure what benefit there is to treating this and Waterfowl Lagoon as separate exhibits, personally as they share the same strengths. Although there are supposed to be some exotic waterfowl here, I've usually just seen swans and wild mallard.
#12. Regenstein Birds of Prey
The cinereous vulture/white stork aviary is superb and it's nice to see a slice of Europe here, with two different impressive birds that don't always have room to fly. The eagle and snowy owl aviaries are just fine. I'm glad all four species have room to stretch their wings and it's great to have it placed right next to the actual bird house.
#12. Waterfowl Lagoon
Stopping to see the flamingos is always a highlight, especially when they use the lagoon. It's a beautiful space with wild birds and the occasional turtle alongside our pink birds, and multiple viewing areas.
#11. Robert and Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove
This is a decent exhibit, but I've not yet seen it at full activity; often I pass and the penguins are standing inactive. Occasionally one is in the water. Maybe someday it'll capture me fully, but so far it feels more like an obligatory penguin exhibit than a new experience.
#10. McCormick Bird House
The free flight room in this building is incredible and justifies the building by itself, with a dizzying number of species flying around and lots of space. Some perch over your head or walk comfortably across the path; others hide towards the back. The individual cases are mostly fine. I like the Guam display but have trouble finding the rail, the shore display is always a highlight, too. Blyth's Hornbill, aracari and toucan have left the collection, leaving the building feeling a bit missing something at points, especially as maps often advertise it with a toucan. (similar to London's Blackburn Pavilion being associated with a hummingbird.)
#9. Helen Brach Primate House
This exhibit should perhaps be lower, but I'm a big fan of it. I'd love to see the primates have outdoor access but setting that aside criticism: they are fairly effective indoor habitats with lots of climbing materials allowing the animals to be arboreal, with some decent species-specific educational signage and a good collection of species that show diversity from major primate groups with some strength, including a number of mixes.
#8. Kovler Sea Lion Pool
This mix of an amphitheater for shows and a public pool works surprisingly well, makes a great first impression at its entrance, and I love the seal and sea lion silhouettes on the building to help educate guests on the difference. There are two species present right now which allow for a nice contrast, and the seal demonstrations are quite good. I do wonder how many people notice the underwater viewing option.
#7. Walter Family Arctic Tundra
Although this exhibit often feels like a waste to me when the bears are not visible (possibly because it requires going out of your way compared to the entrances for African Journey) it is much bigger than it looks and has a varied terrain for polar bears to explore, and distinct viewing areas. I thought it looked too small until I actually saw two full-size bears enjoying themselves.
#6. Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House
Despite the name this building manages to include amphibians, birds, fish and arachnids as well, managing to be the zoo's biodiversity hotspot, and mixes a number of impressive species with some more standard. I love the nocturnal mammal section a lot, with pygmy loris and the cave areas among the highlights, but the exhibits for larger snakes are well-done and I love looking for the saki monkeys. There is wasted space here at times - the second floor of the building only offers enhanced viewing of the overall room and the parrot enclosure, when it could be perfect for viewing arboreal species, and the former sloth/tamarin exhibit often appears empty, and I miss when there was an open-air enclosure for mara. Still, it's one of my favorite spaces in the zoo by miles, and in the top four by personal preference.
#5. Pepper Family Wildlife Center
I never imagined an impressive reimagining of the historic lion house could turn out with such a perfect blend of respecting the building's history and modernization. While the south side of the building often feels quiet with the shy lynx, sleepy red pandas and snow leopard. the north side has a large habitat for lions that can be separated. The animals have tons of grass to play in and four cubs have already been produced. The classic building acts as a viewing area for the outdoor lion enclosure and is a huge success in this regard - many love the 'Lion Loop'.
#4. Regenstein Macaque Forest
Despite my skepticism pre-opening, this exhibit has been a fantastic addition, the modern answer to the famous, historic 'monkey island' type of exhibits. Two viewing areas almost guarantee the visibility of macaques, built with limited rockwork to help bring guests into the space, with a large, active social group and plenty of trees, grass and a hot spring for the animals. They make a great display year-round.
#3. Pritzker Family Children's Zoo
I think this exhibit is a near perfect blend of appealing to children while also being a great exhibit for adult visitors to enjoy, acting much like a North American complex - bears, wolves, otters and beavers are all popular animals, and then for good measure we have birds and reptiles inside and a huge play area that doesn't feel like it's sucking space from the animals. The wolf and bear exhibits are natural and surprisingly effective for an urban zoo, and the animals have enough space to hide and plenty to show. The beavers and otters are often big favorites.
#2. Regenstein African Journey
I think it's impressive how many exhibits and species this building holds while only having a few dated spaces. Guests can visit a variety of habitats including swamps, dry forests, deserts, the savanna, and more, and there are birds, crocodiles, cockroaches, fish, spiders, and mammals small and large, with a great contrast between giraffe and meerkat. The lack of indoor viewing for several species is a bit annoying, and it'd be great to see the pygmy hippo outdoors, and the outdoor savanna feels understocked even with the plains zebra added... but this is definitely a stand-out exhibit that showcases the biome and species diversity of Africa well.
#1. Regenstein Center for African Apes
This is an impressive structure for some of Chicago's most beloved animals. The seldom-used outdoor exhibits contain impressive space, varied terrain, and lots of climbing structures, while the indoor habitats have substrate, lots of corners for some privacy, and plenty of climbing opportunity. Apes are often above your head and prone to showcasing some interesting behaviors, including using an artificial termite mound or playing with blankets, while often having the choice between indoor and outdoor spaces. Excellent signage discusses not only conservation for these species but also the stories of individual specimens. Gorillas will always have a special association at this zoo and both a family and bachelor troop are present, while a chimpanzee retirement community is also here. The old Great Ape House was a Chicago icon and the Center for African Apes succeeds it beautifully. The highlight of almost every visit.
