Review of the John Ball Zoo
https://jbzoo.org
Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the John Ball Zoo was established in 1891, making it the 10th oldest in the nation. It was originally founded when its namesake, explorer John Ball, donated 40 acres to the city. This was followed by an additional 100 acres for attractions like ball parks, playgrounds, and of course, the Zoo. The facility was hit hard by the Great Depression before recovering with the opening of its first major exhibit: “Monkey Island” in 1950. Since then, the Zoo has grown and prospered, all while facing controversies with relocating and ownership disputes between being under Kent County or working non-profit. The animal collection today currently sits at around 2,000 animals, making up about 240 species.
Lately, I’ve been starting to get interested in some of the mid-sized zoos around the country, as they slowly begin to emerge from the shadows and, in some cases, even give some the major players a run for their money. For me, John Ball Zoo was one of them that caught my attention the most. From the financial struggles it once faced, to the impressive exhibitry that it turned out in recent times, it represented itself to me as an underdog of sorts. After touring it for myself, I left feeling like it met that expectation, for it is indeed well on its way to carving its own niche in the zoo world.
Pygmy Hippo Pavilion – Perhaps the most well-known aspect of this complex (which just opened last year) is the tragic event that unfolded shortly before opening. The exhibit was originally going to be a mixed-species habitat with the still present pygmy hippos and white storks (that I didn’t see), along with sitatunga. Unfortunately, the male antelope was killed during introductions with the hippo, putting plans for that unique feature to an end. Moving onto the present day, the pair of hippos has a highly impressive set of habitats – among the top ones I’ve seen for the species. The interior reminded me a lot of Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago: a large visitor area provides both above and below water viewing, looking into a slightly narrow, but still decently-sized and tastefully designed riverbank for the hippos. There is even a small cave for children (and kids at heart like me!
) to crawl into for more intimate views beneath the surface both indoors and out. Speaking of which, the first view of the outdoor enclosure is via another underwater window into one of two pools for the small pachyderms. The rest of the habitat consists of a large, grassy environment dotted with trees, logs, boulders, and more, all enclosed by artificial mudbanks with excellent detail. The size works well for the hippos and storks, but I can see how adding the sitatunga probably would’ve made the habitat on the small side for the intended mix. It had to endure an immense tragedy in order to be possible, but this complex makes for a good first impression, and it gets bonus points for something uncommon - putting pygmy hippos in the spotlight.
Americas – Located in the direct center of the establishment, this complex starts at the bottom of a gradual slope with a tiny aviary for two golden eagles, followed by a river otter pool that is spacious, but the land area is predominantly terraced concrete. Across the pathway, a highly active North American porcupine occupies a smaller tree-filled exhibit that allows guests to get surprisingly close to the quilled mammal; there is also a bit of a predator-prey illusion as behind the large rodent is a small, average-detailed exhibit for Canadian lynx (see my “HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY” section for more). Up the incline, the next habitat is a small, updated grotto for a brown bear (didn’t see as the female was undergoing a medical procedure). This space was modified in 2013 with up-close viewing, a keeper demonstration area, and some natural substrate added; however, I felt that the mock-rock backdrop was very dominant, and seemed to encroach on more space that could’ve been given to the bear. Then, comes my favorite part of the complex – a pair of mountainous cages for one cougar and one snow leopard. Despite the geographical mismatch for the latter, these enclosures take advantage of John Ball’s steep layout nicely, with a vast amount of height and rocky crags to leap and bound across. It is true that the primary land area is limited and some natural features would’ve been nice, but it’s not often that these felines are shown off in their alpine element. Going around the corner is a narrow, rocky, grotto-like exhibit for a rotating set of South American mammals. Giant anteater, capybara, and Chacon peccaries (new this year) are the participants in this set-up. During my visit, it was the peccaries that were out and about – they made for an engaging watch as they snorted about and even chased each other before calming down in the shade. Even more mock-rock landscapes await visitors next-door, with a flock of 13 Chilean flamingos residing in a shallow pool with a tiny land area, followed by a rocky primate enclosure that overlooks the elegant birds. Cotton-top tamarins and white-faced saki monkeys rotate in this exhibit; it was the former that was bouncing all over the branch-filled space on my visit, and they seemed to fit better in comparison to the larger sakis. The last exhibit in this complex is a small and lightly detailed toco toucan aviary – getting a close look at the bird was both fascinating and slightly freaky at the same time!
Living Shores Aquarium – This large structure is one of the first things visitors see when they get to the main area of the facility, opened in 1995, and is easily one of the Zoo’s highlights. The journey begins before going through the doors with a scenic trout and native fish pond and cascading stream that is seen from above, and through underwater viewing windows in the Aquarium’s lobby. Next, the sights, smells, and sounds of the Patagonian Coast fill the air, with a large colony of Magellanic penguins waddling along the rocky shores, or flying through their deep pool. The open-air viewing is very impressive, as not only is there loads of space to gather at the underwater window, but I was within inches of a penguin bobbing along the surface - and even almost got splashed a couple times! Interpretive displays of penguin parenthood and life also can be found amongst the rockwork as one winds through the boulders. Other than a few free-flying birds (sadly, I don’t recall the species but I think I saw a night heron), the only other animals around are tanks with lake sturgeon and Arctic grayling (a first for me). These fish were once extinct in the state of Michigan, but recently re-introduced last year, so it was pretty cool to observe this example of a local conservation success story. Then after being engulfed by artificial rock, the Pacific Northwest takes shape, starting with a small tank for Japanese giant spider crabs (new this year). The main feature is a kelp forest tank, a rather narrow space for the larger species, but it has a neat half-tunnel design and well-furnished with a sandy floor, a rocky wall, and plenty of kelp to weave in and out of. The tank’s inhabitants include a wide variety of fish with the stand-outs being peacock wolf eel and leopard shark. This leads to the final room with another open-air tank backed by a pretty natural landscape. The pool is much shallower for smaller fish, but the primary draw is the large surge of water that crashes out of nowhere, filling the pool and soaking the surrounding stones. This is meant to be a demonstration of tides coming in, and how it affects the species just beneath all the intense splashing; it made for a fun and educational touch. This structure finishes off with a small tank for spiny lobster and eel (don’t remember the species).
Frogs & Friends – A small building dedicated to amphibians that is seen just before heading down Wild Way Trail. The terrariums for these little guys are well-done with lush and constantly moist vegetation and a good amount of space. Add on the solid signage that goes into the importance of amphibian conservation and adaptations, and you have an exhibit area that can be best described as short but neat. Some of the species: red-eyed tree frog, Kaup’s caecilian, gray tree frog, tiger salamander, and a variety of poison dart frogs.
Red’s Hobby Farm – A big red barn overlooks an average-sized contact yard with goats and sheep. Off to the side, there’s a tiny pen for a Scottish highland cattle that adds a little bit of variety to the usual set-up. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but it gives kids their dose of interacting with cute domestic animals.
Wild Way Trail – This is a mish-mash of several different animals from different continents, with exhibit style that is also quite a mish-mash. Some small cages are scattered throughout the trail, containing various Asian birds (Nicobar pigeon, bali mynah, and crested wood partridge), howler monkeys, a single female ring-tailed lemur, a sulphur-crested cockatoo, and barn owls. The primates get bonus points for the new mesh tunnels that appear to be a work in progress, allowing them to scamper amongst the trees or over guests, but other that these cages are rather standard for their kind. Near the start of the trail is a tiny pen for two tortoise species (one of which is red-footed), a small butterfly walkthrough, and a pair of glass-fronted indoor exhibits that look brand-new. These contain a plethora of climbing opportunities for coati and two-toed sloth, although it would’ve been nice to see outdoor habitats included for these species. The last habitat on the trail is the smallest walkthrough macropod habitat I’ve ever seen; a trio of Bennett’s wallabies reside in an area that is half guest path and half grass, with only a few furnishings for detail. There are a couple of bright spots and the hilly forest makes for a lovely setting, but this is perhaps the least successful part of the Zoo in my opinion.
Natural Treasures – Other than a few mammals, this building serves as the Zoo’s reptile house. The Zoo’s original “Monkey Island” from the mid-20th century still stands, and it is a lush and grassy haven surrounded by a wide water moat, packed with ropes and artificial trees to swing around on. A troop of spider monkeys live here, and they also have an indoor room attached, serving as the welcome wagon to the building. The other resident mammals are a pair of six-banded armadillos (another first) and Goeldi’s monkeys (didn’t see). Moving onto the cold-blooded denizens, most of the terrariums are actually well-done for the most part; they give the reptiles a lot of space, the naturalism is prevalent depending on the represented environment, the viewing is great thanks to expansive windows, and even the man-made elements are incorporated well, like a cowboy’s boot functioning as a rattlesnake’s shelter. On top of that, a few exhibits mix some species together, making for engaging viewing. Some species do have smaller, more basic terrariums, but they’re mainly situated on a single wall. The only other exception is the Grand Cayman blue iguana, which has a lush outdoor habitat to catch some sun rays. Some of the other highlight species: Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, gila monster, prehensile-tailed skink, Mexican west coast rattlesnake, Eastern massasauga, Brazilian rainbow boa, broad-banded copperhead, Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko, chuckwalla, and Crevice spiny lizard. I have to admit, other than the guest halls not being as detailed or kept up, this complex was a bit of a pleasant surprise.
African Animals – Of the exhibit areas that John Ball has to offer, it’s the cluster of animals from the Dark Continent that stood out the most. A series of singular habitats that opened through the years all come together to form a high-quality and cohesive unit. Up first is “Mokomboso Valley,” a chimpanzee enclosure that opened in 2001. A wooden viewing shelter, an open-air view across a deep-water moat, and finally a shaded window area look out into a superb great ape oasis. The long, grassy space is complimented by an array of lush foliage and wooden climbing frames. Additionally, there is an indoor room off to the side for the troop that guests can see from mid-level. This is loaded with ropes, mulch, hammocks, and more to keep the chimps occupied in the multi-leveled environment. Down the path is 2008’s “Lions of Lake Manyara;” what I like about this lion habitat is how it deviates from most others I’ve come across. Lion habitats I’ve seen have mainly focused on savannas or kopjes; John Ball, on the other hand, appears to have adopted a “bushland” design, including an artificial tree that is supposedly climate-controlled to entice the lazy cats to interact with it. The surrounding signage emphasizes the unique climbing behavior and adaptations studied in Lake Manyara’s lion population, and how it inspired the Zoo’s approach to its big cat habitat. It isn’t a huge enclosure, but it's a nice size, has variable terrain, and is one of the more unique lion exhibits I’ve seen in a while. Next door, bongos and Southern ground hornbills share a shaded, spacious exhibit fronted by a pond, making for a scenic and tranquil environment. There is also a mesh-enclosed warthog habitat that borders the bongos on one side, however it was closed off at the time of my visit; I was told by an employee that new warthogs will be introduced to the space soon. Heading up the hill, one will come across the final pair of exhibits. One is a basic mesh aviary for a pair of Von der Decken’s hornbill, and the other a mixed-species habitat with a mob of meerkats and a pair of Cape porcupines. The latter habitat is excellent as it is spacious, has great viewing opportunities in the form of windows and a bubble, a great variety of terrain, and several interactive elements for guests. A good example is finding all the miniature statues of critters that make up a meerkat’s diet, from scorpions to lizards. It makes for an engaging and enjoyable finish to the Zoo’s awesome set of African exhibits.
Idema Forest Realm – It wasn’t until ten years ago that this nature walk section gained some animal exhibits. The first of these was 2014’s “Tigers of the Realm,” one of the more creative tiger exhibits I’ve seen in a while. The Zoo’s pair of Amur tigers has two different habitats to explore; one is an average-sized environment that almost blends in with the surrounding woods, if not for the glass and mesh viewing areas, while the other is much smaller and steeper, focusing on the rocky pool in front. While the pool was mostly drained, the line on the glass indicates that this is meant for underwater viewing. What really spices up this cat complex is the metal tunnel that runs next the boardwalk. The striped cats can prowl along the ridge from one enclosure to another – a very creative use of the space, providing new scents and sights for the animals. Aside from the support beams, the mesh appears nearly invisible when looking through the greenery - I saw a tiger dozing at one point and the effect was impressive. Further down the trail is a good-sized but minimally-detailed aviary for two snowy owls, and then it’s a fairly long way before anymore wildlife is seen. The stroll is worth it however, as the final exhibit is home to the ever-popular red pandas, added in 2017(?). The sibling pair on display had a shady, spacious slice of woodland that takes advantage of its surroundings with little effort other than the metal fencing, a couple of shelters, and some wooden ramps and platforms; an above-average area for the red critters overall. While this complex would do well with more animals, I realize this is a relatively recent undertaking. From what I saw on my visit, this is off to a nice start.
Other Exhibits – A couple of bird exhibits not part of any particular area are set up near the front entrance. There’s a tiny shaded pool for black swans next to the gift shop, while up the hill past the hippos, a single bald eagle was found in a decent tall aviary, complete with a flowing stream into a pool of reeds.
Similar to the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, the John Ball Zoo has a hillside layout, where one parks at the bottom of the hill, pays admission, and then climbs their way to the top of the establishment. Fortunately, the Zoo is easily accessible for the most part, as most of its pathways are gradual so that it doesn’t feel like a strenuous walk. Even the animal habitats take advantage of this layout to give its inhabitants a more varied environment, most notably with the tigers, African animals, and even some of those in the Americas despite its dated appearance in places. Likely due to this layout, there’s not a whole lot in the way of flashy landscapes for visitors. The most the property offers is the natural terrain with its hilly forest, although there was one part on Wild Way Trail where a tall waterfall crashed down into a shallow pool that made for a gorgeous setting. But again, this isn’t necessarily the Zoo’s fault as it likely could only work with what it has, and the environment itself is still scenic and pretty to hike through.
The Zoo’s 103 acres (31 of which are developed) has a fair amount at its disposal to keep visitors entertained beyond captive wildlife. The entrance plaza isn’t super flashy, but it is relatively new, modern, and clean-looking with the Zoo’s logo prominently featured above the ticket booth. The most notable features are a good-sized souvenir shop, and nearby just outside the gate is an education building and the statue of John Ball himself. Around the Zoo, there’s a few snack and drink stands, but the main eateries are located in front of “Monkey Island” (mostly standard zoo food), and up in Idema Forest Realm (more “high-class” food like dole whip, pretzel bites, alcohol, etc.). Finally, the attractions consist of a ropes course on Wild Way Trail; a zip line that zooms through the canopies of Idema Forest Realm; an animal ambassador pavilion in the Americas, where I saw a ball python being shown off; a camel ride arena in the African area that was closed for the season; and the funicular ride that takes exhausted visitors between Idema Forest Realm and the front entrance. It’s also worth noting that the facility had a dinosaur special exhibit running at the time of my visit, with animatronic prehistoric beasts roaring and towering over guests at both the entrance and the top of the Zoo. By the way, the “Jurassic Park” theme playing as I was entering through the front gates really added to the atmosphere!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: At the time of my visit, John Ball was experiencing a baby boom including three Canadian lynx kittens, a snow leopard cub, three Magellanic penguin chicks, and a bongo calf. Of these I only lucked out with the lynx, but they still made for a great time at the exhibit! At first, they were resting with their mom off to the side, but when I passed the exhibit later on, they were quite active, pouncing up and down the rocks and logs, while occasionally interacting with one another. I’ve been lucky to observe Canadian lynx kittens in the past, and it was a treat to witness their playful antics once again.
OVERALL: While John Ball has its fair share of improvements it can make, such as with a few exhibit complexes, a little “oomph” to visitor spaces, and a fairly standard animal collection (though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing), it stands out as a rising star in my opinion. After a few sparks around the start of the 21st century, the last decade has seen some solid, worthwhile investment, from most of the newer exhibit complexes (the African area and pygmy hippos in particular), to taking advantage of the property’s unique terrain. I enjoyed my visit, and I am rooting for this place to continue its upward trajectory. As a whole, I probably wouldn’t set this as a high priority to tour, but it’s a solid mid-sized facility worth seeing if in the area or if you’re in the mood for something a bit smaller than a major zoo.
For the future, I’ve heard about a couple new enclosures that will be built near the front entrance, specifically for flamingos and river otters. The big focus, however, is bringing in a giraffe habitat, complete with at least one antelope species and ostrich.
https://jbzoo.org
Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the John Ball Zoo was established in 1891, making it the 10th oldest in the nation. It was originally founded when its namesake, explorer John Ball, donated 40 acres to the city. This was followed by an additional 100 acres for attractions like ball parks, playgrounds, and of course, the Zoo. The facility was hit hard by the Great Depression before recovering with the opening of its first major exhibit: “Monkey Island” in 1950. Since then, the Zoo has grown and prospered, all while facing controversies with relocating and ownership disputes between being under Kent County or working non-profit. The animal collection today currently sits at around 2,000 animals, making up about 240 species.
Lately, I’ve been starting to get interested in some of the mid-sized zoos around the country, as they slowly begin to emerge from the shadows and, in some cases, even give some the major players a run for their money. For me, John Ball Zoo was one of them that caught my attention the most. From the financial struggles it once faced, to the impressive exhibitry that it turned out in recent times, it represented itself to me as an underdog of sorts. After touring it for myself, I left feeling like it met that expectation, for it is indeed well on its way to carving its own niche in the zoo world.
Animal Exhibit Complexes
Pygmy Hippo Pavilion – Perhaps the most well-known aspect of this complex (which just opened last year) is the tragic event that unfolded shortly before opening. The exhibit was originally going to be a mixed-species habitat with the still present pygmy hippos and white storks (that I didn’t see), along with sitatunga. Unfortunately, the male antelope was killed during introductions with the hippo, putting plans for that unique feature to an end. Moving onto the present day, the pair of hippos has a highly impressive set of habitats – among the top ones I’ve seen for the species. The interior reminded me a lot of Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago: a large visitor area provides both above and below water viewing, looking into a slightly narrow, but still decently-sized and tastefully designed riverbank for the hippos. There is even a small cave for children (and kids at heart like me!
) to crawl into for more intimate views beneath the surface both indoors and out. Speaking of which, the first view of the outdoor enclosure is via another underwater window into one of two pools for the small pachyderms. The rest of the habitat consists of a large, grassy environment dotted with trees, logs, boulders, and more, all enclosed by artificial mudbanks with excellent detail. The size works well for the hippos and storks, but I can see how adding the sitatunga probably would’ve made the habitat on the small side for the intended mix. It had to endure an immense tragedy in order to be possible, but this complex makes for a good first impression, and it gets bonus points for something uncommon - putting pygmy hippos in the spotlight.Americas – Located in the direct center of the establishment, this complex starts at the bottom of a gradual slope with a tiny aviary for two golden eagles, followed by a river otter pool that is spacious, but the land area is predominantly terraced concrete. Across the pathway, a highly active North American porcupine occupies a smaller tree-filled exhibit that allows guests to get surprisingly close to the quilled mammal; there is also a bit of a predator-prey illusion as behind the large rodent is a small, average-detailed exhibit for Canadian lynx (see my “HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY” section for more). Up the incline, the next habitat is a small, updated grotto for a brown bear (didn’t see as the female was undergoing a medical procedure). This space was modified in 2013 with up-close viewing, a keeper demonstration area, and some natural substrate added; however, I felt that the mock-rock backdrop was very dominant, and seemed to encroach on more space that could’ve been given to the bear. Then, comes my favorite part of the complex – a pair of mountainous cages for one cougar and one snow leopard. Despite the geographical mismatch for the latter, these enclosures take advantage of John Ball’s steep layout nicely, with a vast amount of height and rocky crags to leap and bound across. It is true that the primary land area is limited and some natural features would’ve been nice, but it’s not often that these felines are shown off in their alpine element. Going around the corner is a narrow, rocky, grotto-like exhibit for a rotating set of South American mammals. Giant anteater, capybara, and Chacon peccaries (new this year) are the participants in this set-up. During my visit, it was the peccaries that were out and about – they made for an engaging watch as they snorted about and even chased each other before calming down in the shade. Even more mock-rock landscapes await visitors next-door, with a flock of 13 Chilean flamingos residing in a shallow pool with a tiny land area, followed by a rocky primate enclosure that overlooks the elegant birds. Cotton-top tamarins and white-faced saki monkeys rotate in this exhibit; it was the former that was bouncing all over the branch-filled space on my visit, and they seemed to fit better in comparison to the larger sakis. The last exhibit in this complex is a small and lightly detailed toco toucan aviary – getting a close look at the bird was both fascinating and slightly freaky at the same time!
Living Shores Aquarium – This large structure is one of the first things visitors see when they get to the main area of the facility, opened in 1995, and is easily one of the Zoo’s highlights. The journey begins before going through the doors with a scenic trout and native fish pond and cascading stream that is seen from above, and through underwater viewing windows in the Aquarium’s lobby. Next, the sights, smells, and sounds of the Patagonian Coast fill the air, with a large colony of Magellanic penguins waddling along the rocky shores, or flying through their deep pool. The open-air viewing is very impressive, as not only is there loads of space to gather at the underwater window, but I was within inches of a penguin bobbing along the surface - and even almost got splashed a couple times! Interpretive displays of penguin parenthood and life also can be found amongst the rockwork as one winds through the boulders. Other than a few free-flying birds (sadly, I don’t recall the species but I think I saw a night heron), the only other animals around are tanks with lake sturgeon and Arctic grayling (a first for me). These fish were once extinct in the state of Michigan, but recently re-introduced last year, so it was pretty cool to observe this example of a local conservation success story. Then after being engulfed by artificial rock, the Pacific Northwest takes shape, starting with a small tank for Japanese giant spider crabs (new this year). The main feature is a kelp forest tank, a rather narrow space for the larger species, but it has a neat half-tunnel design and well-furnished with a sandy floor, a rocky wall, and plenty of kelp to weave in and out of. The tank’s inhabitants include a wide variety of fish with the stand-outs being peacock wolf eel and leopard shark. This leads to the final room with another open-air tank backed by a pretty natural landscape. The pool is much shallower for smaller fish, but the primary draw is the large surge of water that crashes out of nowhere, filling the pool and soaking the surrounding stones. This is meant to be a demonstration of tides coming in, and how it affects the species just beneath all the intense splashing; it made for a fun and educational touch. This structure finishes off with a small tank for spiny lobster and eel (don’t remember the species).
Frogs & Friends – A small building dedicated to amphibians that is seen just before heading down Wild Way Trail. The terrariums for these little guys are well-done with lush and constantly moist vegetation and a good amount of space. Add on the solid signage that goes into the importance of amphibian conservation and adaptations, and you have an exhibit area that can be best described as short but neat. Some of the species: red-eyed tree frog, Kaup’s caecilian, gray tree frog, tiger salamander, and a variety of poison dart frogs.
Red’s Hobby Farm – A big red barn overlooks an average-sized contact yard with goats and sheep. Off to the side, there’s a tiny pen for a Scottish highland cattle that adds a little bit of variety to the usual set-up. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but it gives kids their dose of interacting with cute domestic animals.
Wild Way Trail – This is a mish-mash of several different animals from different continents, with exhibit style that is also quite a mish-mash. Some small cages are scattered throughout the trail, containing various Asian birds (Nicobar pigeon, bali mynah, and crested wood partridge), howler monkeys, a single female ring-tailed lemur, a sulphur-crested cockatoo, and barn owls. The primates get bonus points for the new mesh tunnels that appear to be a work in progress, allowing them to scamper amongst the trees or over guests, but other that these cages are rather standard for their kind. Near the start of the trail is a tiny pen for two tortoise species (one of which is red-footed), a small butterfly walkthrough, and a pair of glass-fronted indoor exhibits that look brand-new. These contain a plethora of climbing opportunities for coati and two-toed sloth, although it would’ve been nice to see outdoor habitats included for these species. The last habitat on the trail is the smallest walkthrough macropod habitat I’ve ever seen; a trio of Bennett’s wallabies reside in an area that is half guest path and half grass, with only a few furnishings for detail. There are a couple of bright spots and the hilly forest makes for a lovely setting, but this is perhaps the least successful part of the Zoo in my opinion.
Natural Treasures – Other than a few mammals, this building serves as the Zoo’s reptile house. The Zoo’s original “Monkey Island” from the mid-20th century still stands, and it is a lush and grassy haven surrounded by a wide water moat, packed with ropes and artificial trees to swing around on. A troop of spider monkeys live here, and they also have an indoor room attached, serving as the welcome wagon to the building. The other resident mammals are a pair of six-banded armadillos (another first) and Goeldi’s monkeys (didn’t see). Moving onto the cold-blooded denizens, most of the terrariums are actually well-done for the most part; they give the reptiles a lot of space, the naturalism is prevalent depending on the represented environment, the viewing is great thanks to expansive windows, and even the man-made elements are incorporated well, like a cowboy’s boot functioning as a rattlesnake’s shelter. On top of that, a few exhibits mix some species together, making for engaging viewing. Some species do have smaller, more basic terrariums, but they’re mainly situated on a single wall. The only other exception is the Grand Cayman blue iguana, which has a lush outdoor habitat to catch some sun rays. Some of the other highlight species: Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, gila monster, prehensile-tailed skink, Mexican west coast rattlesnake, Eastern massasauga, Brazilian rainbow boa, broad-banded copperhead, Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko, chuckwalla, and Crevice spiny lizard. I have to admit, other than the guest halls not being as detailed or kept up, this complex was a bit of a pleasant surprise.
African Animals – Of the exhibit areas that John Ball has to offer, it’s the cluster of animals from the Dark Continent that stood out the most. A series of singular habitats that opened through the years all come together to form a high-quality and cohesive unit. Up first is “Mokomboso Valley,” a chimpanzee enclosure that opened in 2001. A wooden viewing shelter, an open-air view across a deep-water moat, and finally a shaded window area look out into a superb great ape oasis. The long, grassy space is complimented by an array of lush foliage and wooden climbing frames. Additionally, there is an indoor room off to the side for the troop that guests can see from mid-level. This is loaded with ropes, mulch, hammocks, and more to keep the chimps occupied in the multi-leveled environment. Down the path is 2008’s “Lions of Lake Manyara;” what I like about this lion habitat is how it deviates from most others I’ve come across. Lion habitats I’ve seen have mainly focused on savannas or kopjes; John Ball, on the other hand, appears to have adopted a “bushland” design, including an artificial tree that is supposedly climate-controlled to entice the lazy cats to interact with it. The surrounding signage emphasizes the unique climbing behavior and adaptations studied in Lake Manyara’s lion population, and how it inspired the Zoo’s approach to its big cat habitat. It isn’t a huge enclosure, but it's a nice size, has variable terrain, and is one of the more unique lion exhibits I’ve seen in a while. Next door, bongos and Southern ground hornbills share a shaded, spacious exhibit fronted by a pond, making for a scenic and tranquil environment. There is also a mesh-enclosed warthog habitat that borders the bongos on one side, however it was closed off at the time of my visit; I was told by an employee that new warthogs will be introduced to the space soon. Heading up the hill, one will come across the final pair of exhibits. One is a basic mesh aviary for a pair of Von der Decken’s hornbill, and the other a mixed-species habitat with a mob of meerkats and a pair of Cape porcupines. The latter habitat is excellent as it is spacious, has great viewing opportunities in the form of windows and a bubble, a great variety of terrain, and several interactive elements for guests. A good example is finding all the miniature statues of critters that make up a meerkat’s diet, from scorpions to lizards. It makes for an engaging and enjoyable finish to the Zoo’s awesome set of African exhibits.
Idema Forest Realm – It wasn’t until ten years ago that this nature walk section gained some animal exhibits. The first of these was 2014’s “Tigers of the Realm,” one of the more creative tiger exhibits I’ve seen in a while. The Zoo’s pair of Amur tigers has two different habitats to explore; one is an average-sized environment that almost blends in with the surrounding woods, if not for the glass and mesh viewing areas, while the other is much smaller and steeper, focusing on the rocky pool in front. While the pool was mostly drained, the line on the glass indicates that this is meant for underwater viewing. What really spices up this cat complex is the metal tunnel that runs next the boardwalk. The striped cats can prowl along the ridge from one enclosure to another – a very creative use of the space, providing new scents and sights for the animals. Aside from the support beams, the mesh appears nearly invisible when looking through the greenery - I saw a tiger dozing at one point and the effect was impressive. Further down the trail is a good-sized but minimally-detailed aviary for two snowy owls, and then it’s a fairly long way before anymore wildlife is seen. The stroll is worth it however, as the final exhibit is home to the ever-popular red pandas, added in 2017(?). The sibling pair on display had a shady, spacious slice of woodland that takes advantage of its surroundings with little effort other than the metal fencing, a couple of shelters, and some wooden ramps and platforms; an above-average area for the red critters overall. While this complex would do well with more animals, I realize this is a relatively recent undertaking. From what I saw on my visit, this is off to a nice start.
Other Exhibits – A couple of bird exhibits not part of any particular area are set up near the front entrance. There’s a tiny shaded pool for black swans next to the gift shop, while up the hill past the hippos, a single bald eagle was found in a decent tall aviary, complete with a flowing stream into a pool of reeds.
Visitor Experiences
Similar to the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, the John Ball Zoo has a hillside layout, where one parks at the bottom of the hill, pays admission, and then climbs their way to the top of the establishment. Fortunately, the Zoo is easily accessible for the most part, as most of its pathways are gradual so that it doesn’t feel like a strenuous walk. Even the animal habitats take advantage of this layout to give its inhabitants a more varied environment, most notably with the tigers, African animals, and even some of those in the Americas despite its dated appearance in places. Likely due to this layout, there’s not a whole lot in the way of flashy landscapes for visitors. The most the property offers is the natural terrain with its hilly forest, although there was one part on Wild Way Trail where a tall waterfall crashed down into a shallow pool that made for a gorgeous setting. But again, this isn’t necessarily the Zoo’s fault as it likely could only work with what it has, and the environment itself is still scenic and pretty to hike through.
The Zoo’s 103 acres (31 of which are developed) has a fair amount at its disposal to keep visitors entertained beyond captive wildlife. The entrance plaza isn’t super flashy, but it is relatively new, modern, and clean-looking with the Zoo’s logo prominently featured above the ticket booth. The most notable features are a good-sized souvenir shop, and nearby just outside the gate is an education building and the statue of John Ball himself. Around the Zoo, there’s a few snack and drink stands, but the main eateries are located in front of “Monkey Island” (mostly standard zoo food), and up in Idema Forest Realm (more “high-class” food like dole whip, pretzel bites, alcohol, etc.). Finally, the attractions consist of a ropes course on Wild Way Trail; a zip line that zooms through the canopies of Idema Forest Realm; an animal ambassador pavilion in the Americas, where I saw a ball python being shown off; a camel ride arena in the African area that was closed for the season; and the funicular ride that takes exhausted visitors between Idema Forest Realm and the front entrance. It’s also worth noting that the facility had a dinosaur special exhibit running at the time of my visit, with animatronic prehistoric beasts roaring and towering over guests at both the entrance and the top of the Zoo. By the way, the “Jurassic Park” theme playing as I was entering through the front gates really added to the atmosphere!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: At the time of my visit, John Ball was experiencing a baby boom including three Canadian lynx kittens, a snow leopard cub, three Magellanic penguin chicks, and a bongo calf. Of these I only lucked out with the lynx, but they still made for a great time at the exhibit! At first, they were resting with their mom off to the side, but when I passed the exhibit later on, they were quite active, pouncing up and down the rocks and logs, while occasionally interacting with one another. I’ve been lucky to observe Canadian lynx kittens in the past, and it was a treat to witness their playful antics once again.
OVERALL: While John Ball has its fair share of improvements it can make, such as with a few exhibit complexes, a little “oomph” to visitor spaces, and a fairly standard animal collection (though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing), it stands out as a rising star in my opinion. After a few sparks around the start of the 21st century, the last decade has seen some solid, worthwhile investment, from most of the newer exhibit complexes (the African area and pygmy hippos in particular), to taking advantage of the property’s unique terrain. I enjoyed my visit, and I am rooting for this place to continue its upward trajectory. As a whole, I probably wouldn’t set this as a high priority to tour, but it’s a solid mid-sized facility worth seeing if in the area or if you’re in the mood for something a bit smaller than a major zoo.
For the future, I’ve heard about a couple new enclosures that will be built near the front entrance, specifically for flamingos and river otters. The big focus, however, is bringing in a giraffe habitat, complete with at least one antelope species and ostrich.
