Discovery World is now completely closed until further notice.
US zoos closed due to COVID-19 and duration
- Thread starter Great Argus
- Start date
Imperator Furiosa
Well-Known Member
Like I said I'm going by what facilities themselves share on their websites, in emails, or on social media to ensure the most accurate information possible. If things change and SEA LIFE Minnesota announces that they're re-opening with the rest of the Mall of America I'll update the Google Sheet to reflect that.
Brookfield Zoo is now closed through April 30th.
Memphis is now closed til further notice
Both Ripley's Aquariums are now closed until further notice
El Paso is closed until further notice
Sunset is closed until further notice
All three SEA Life aquariums that were still open are now closed until further notice
Both Ripley's Aquariums are now closed until further notice
El Paso is closed until further notice
Sunset is closed until further notice
All three SEA Life aquariums that were still open are now closed until further notice
Unless I've counted wrong, 238 US zoological institutions are now closed.
~Thylo
~Thylo
Probably more than that, the "hole in the wall" institutions have been difficult to find information on. Either way it's still rather depressing...
Only AZA facilities still open I think are Topeka, Wildlife Safari, Fossil Rim, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Lion Country Safari, and Zoo Montana... at least for now...
Yikes! That just about does it, every major zoo in the country is shutdown.
Despite these difficult times, I would really like to thank @Imperator Furiosa for going out of their way to keep us posted on everything. It has been much appreciated.
Despite these difficult times, I would really like to thank @Imperator Furiosa for going out of their way to keep us posted on everything. It has been much appreciated.
At this point it might be easier to make a list of all the zoos that are still open.
Imperator Furiosa
Well-Known Member
The following updates have been made to the sheet:
- Brookfield Zoo is closed through 04/30
- Memphis Zoo is closed until further notice
- Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies & Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach are closed until further notice
- Arizona SEA LIFE Aquarium, SEA LIFE Grapevine, and SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord are closed until further notice
- El Paso Zoo is closed until further notice
- Sunset Zoo is closed through 04/06
Probably more than that, the "hole in the wall" institutions have been difficult to find information on. Either way it's still rather depressing...
Only AZA facilities still open I think are Topeka, Wildlife Safari, Fossil Rim, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Lion Country Safari, and Zoo Montana... at least for now...
I suspect you're right on that, which is pretty crazy to think about. I also counted the Ripley's aquariums as one collection so the number we have so far is actually 239.
Interesting thing is Stamford Museum & Nature Center claims to still have the nature center open with the museum being closed and events postponed, but that goes against the state mandate to have all nonessential public facilities closed.
~Thylo
Yes a huge thanks to @Imperator Furiosa for taking on this project and keeping it up to date. I have not looked at the spreadsheets but based on recent posts above there are at least two Arizona zoos still open (Bearizona and Out Of Africa). Arizona also has more national parks and monuments than any other state, and as far as I know those are still open. So if your spring travel plans are falling through, come on out to the great state of Arizona!
If I were to visit Arizona, the Desert Museum would be the number one thing on my to do list!
Imperator Furiosa
Well-Known Member
A few updates to the sheet this morning:
- Blank Park Zoo is closed through 03/31
- Big Bear Alpine Zoo is closed through 04/03
- Hutchinson Zoo remains open but all buildings are closed to the public until further notice
- Rolling Hills Zoo is closed until further notice
- Lee Richardson Zoo remains open but all buildings are closed to the public or are limiting capacity
- Wolf Hollow is closed the weekend of 03/21-03/22
- Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is closed through 03/31 (closure stated to last the remainder of March)
Well then I guess you should postpone a trip since they are closed. I agree, though, that is a must see destination.
I expect to see a lot more of this. Given the virus can take 14 days for symptoms to even appear, and with almost no tests available in the USA still, there's no way places were going to be able to close for just a week or two.
Agreed. I hope the long closed stretch does not cost us any good facilities. It is mostly the smaller ones I have concern for, and those managed by the city...
I'm concerned this will go into the summer. That could doom even larger zoos (and other things too). Not to mention constant annoyance about all sorts of other things.
It wouldn't surprise me to see many major exhibits delayed as a result. I'm sure construction is being temporarily halted during closures, so many exhibits scheduled for this summer could probably not open until the fall at the earliest.