Hey, buddy!
Today I'll be covering Saginaw Children's Zoo in Saginaw, Michigan. Saginaw is 1.5 hours northwest of Detroit. I was originally planning to visit this zoo back in July 2026 when I was visiting Ann Arbor. Unfortunately, smoke from Canadian wildfires led to record high air quality index (AQI) levels in Michigan and the zoo was actually closed for several days (I was able to visit several indoor museums instead). About a month ago, I finally got to visit the Saginaw Zoo on my way back from Cleveland.
These are my completed Michigan reviews thus far:
L4: Saginaw Children's Zoo (this post)
While I still have a lengthy Michigan backlog, I have been gradually making progress:
Detroit Zoo
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium
Museum of Contemporary Art
Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Argus Museum
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Ann Arbor Art Fair
John Ball Zoo (2025)
Potter Park Zoo (2025)
Binder Park Zoo (2025)
All of the pictures in this post were taken by me except for the map of the zoo. If you want to use any of my photos, please contact me to first obtain permission.
SAGINAW CHILDREN'S ZOO
1730 S. Washington Ave.
Saginaw, MI 48601
Website: https://www.saginawzoo.com/
Hours:
Normal season: Open Daily, 10 AM - 5 PM
September/October: Open only on weekends from 10 AM - 5 PM
Starting in November: Closed for the season! (In 2026, the zoo opened for the season at the end of April so it will likely be closed from November through most of April).
The W.I.N. building closes 15 minutes early.
Cost (as of 2026):
Adult: $9
Children (Ages 1 - 17): $9 (same price as adults)
Children (Under 1): FREE
$3 off for Saginaw County Residents
$2 off for Military & Veteran with valid ID
$3 off for Bridge Card holders
As of November 2026, the website shows an adult and child price of $10. I don't know if there was a price increase or if it reflects a price difference between the normal season and the off-season. Also, I no longer see the $3 discount for local residents, the military discount is now just $1, but there is a senior discount for $1 now.
Parking is free.
Saginaw Children's Zoo participates in the AZA reciprocity program at the 100% level. Members of institutions participating at 100% get free admission at other institutions participating at the 100% level and 50% off admission at institutions participating at the 50% level. Members of institutions participating at 50% get half off admission at all participating institutions.
Since I was a member of Buttonwood Park Zoo, I got free admission and did not need to pay the $9 admission.
Estimated Time: 30 - 60 minutes.
Saginaw Children's Zoo is a tiny zoo and you can easily finish the whole whole zoo in under an hour. I spent 1.5 hours and it was plenty.
SUMMARY
The Saginaw Children's Zoo is a quaint and tiny zoo in northern Michigan.
While I rated it 1 star, it is a perfectly acceptable zoo. Most of my 1 star ratings are due to either animal welfare concerns (many of the non-AZA institutions listed like Timbavati Wildlife Park, Blue Zoo Aquarium, Tiger Safari Zoological Park), overpriced zoos that are otherwise reasonable (Stone Zoo, Binder Park Zoo), hybridized zoos spreading themselves thin (Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, CuriOdyssey), or tiny zoos with limited size and scope (Saginaw Children's Zoo, Cosley Zoo, Columbian Park Zoo).
The latter three zoos are all quite nice and I do like them but they are tiny (you can easily finish in under an hour), don't have many animals, and don't have many exotic species. I think the closest analog to Saginaw Children's Zoo is Cosley Zoo, which I do enjoy. Cosley Zoo is really well-kept and maintained with a staff that genuinely cares for the animals but it doesn't have many animals and they are all local species native to Illinois. Saginaw Children's Zoo has a few more interesting species but some areas, especially the underwater viewing cave, seriously need renovation.
The main highlights of Saginaw Children's Zoo are the Mexican gray wolves, African penguins, nice otter exhibit, sloth, handful of monkeys, and a few visually striking birds (particularly the sun conure and eclectus parrot).
I do appreciate that the zoo's website includes names and genders for most of the animals. This helps bring a personal touch. In some cases, you can figure out the name/gender of the animals I saw by default but in other scenarios, it's not immediately clear which individual I saw.
I was able to see most of the animals at the zoo. The map shows a kangaroo which passed away earlier this year. The red-tailed boa constrictor and poison dart frog habitat was under renovation. I did not see the San Clemente Island goats, a few of the birds (green/Inca jay, scarlet macaw, Cuban Amazon parrot, zebra finches), and a couple of the reptiles (red-eared slider, Eastern box turtle, Pueblan milk snake).
The Saginaw Children's Zoo is supposed to have daily keeper chats, feedings, and presentations. Unfortunately, all of them were unceremoniously canceled on the day of my visit. Either the entire team or the head individual in charge of the events was off at a conference. The information about the cancellations wasn't fully distributed among the staff members nor was it clearly communicated to the visitors. I look forward to attending these events so I was very disappointed they were all canceled!
Here is how the Saginaw Children's Zoo compares with other zoos:
5 stars:
- San Diego Zoo (San Diego, CA)
- Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield, IL)
- Taipei Zoo (Taipei City, Taiwan)
4 stars:
- San Diego Safari Park (San Diego, CA)
- Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (Cincinnati, OH)
- Oklahoma City Zoo (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Milwaukee County Zoo (Milwaukee, WI)
- Houston Zoo (Houston, TX)
- Oakland Zoo (Oakland, CA)
- Toledo Zoo & Aquarium (Toledo, OH)
3 stars:
- Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL, Free)
- Zoo Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
- Buttonwood Park Zoo (New Bedford, MA)
- Butterflies of Cape Cod (Bourne, MA)
- International Crane Foundation (Baraboo, WI)
- Henry Vilas Zoo (Madison, WI, Free)
- Indianapolis Zoo (Indianapolis, IN)
- Sacramento Zoo (Sacramento, CA)
- Santa Barbara Zoo (Santa Barbara, CA)
- Fort Worth Zoo (Fort Worth, TX)
- Fort Wayne Zoo (Fort Wayne, IN)
- Zoo Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
- ZooTampa (Tampa, FL)
- Busch Gardens (Tampa, FL)
- Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens (Los Angeles, CA)
- Detroit Zoo (Detroit, MI)
- Virginia Zoological Park (Norfolk, VA)
- Virginia Living Museum (Newport News, VA)
- Minnesota Zoo (Apple Valley, MN)
- Tulsa Zoo (Tulsa, OK)
- Roger Williams Park Zoo (Providence, RI)
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Cleveland, OH)
2 stars:
- Audubon Insectarium (New Orleans, LA)
- Audubon Zoo (New Orleans, LA)
- Sarasota Jungle Gardens (Sarasota, FL)
- Save Our Seabirds Wild Bird Learning Center (Sarasota, FL, Free)
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens (San Francisco, CA)
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA)
- Franklin Park Zoo (Boston, MA)
- Capron Park Zoo (Attleboro, MA)
- Taylor-Bray Farm (Yarmouth Port, MA, Free)
- Racine Zoo (Racine, WI)
- Ochsner Park Zoo (Baraboo, WI, Free)
- John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Potter Park Zoo (Lansing, MI)
- Antalya Zoo (Antalya, Turkey)
- Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito, CA, Free)
- Santa Ana Zoo (Santa Ana, CA)
- San Antonio Zoological Society (San Antonio, TX)
- Cameron Park Zoo (Waco, TX)
- Dallas Zoo (Dallas, TX)
- Caldwell Zoo (Tyler, TX)
- Peoria Zoo (Peoria, IL)
- Miller Park Zoo (Bloomington, IL)
- Scovill Zoo (Decatur, IL)
- Potawatomi Zoo (South Bend, IN)
- Como Park Zoo & Conservatory (St. Paul, MN, Free)
- Akron Zoo (Akron, OH)
1 star:
- Cosley Zoo (Wheaton, IL)
- Stone Zoo (Stoneham, MA)
- Timbavati Wildlife Park (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
- Binder Park Zoo (Battle Creek, MI)
- Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (San Jose, CA)
- CuriOdyssey (San Mateo, CA)
- Columbian Park Zoo (Lafayette, IN)
- Saginaw's Children Zoo (Saginaw, MI)
- Blue Zoo Aquarium Oklahoma City (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Tiger Safari Zoological Park (Tuttle, OK)
FORGOTTEN FOREST
The Forgotten Forest is a small section of mostly North American animals that is easily missed and right at the entrance. You can find this area by turning right after entering. It includes wolves, deer, birds (bald eagle, hawk, owl, crow), and then a random llama.
The zoo has two female wolves who seemed curious about human visitors. They stayed still long enough for me to take some great pictures!
Kizzie & Sydney (Female)
Mexican Wolf
Canis lupus baileyi
Melinda (Female)
White-Tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
The llama doesn't exactly belong geographically but I guess they didn't have anywhere else to put her? I suppose there's some reason why they didn't put the llama with the alpaca in the petting zoo area.
Charlie (Female)
Llama
Lama glama
Aerie (Male)
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Nicodemus (Female)
Red-Tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Hoot (Male)
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Sammy (Male)
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Dean (Male)
Common Raven
Corvus corax
MAIN ZOO
Bootie & Evie (Female)
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Male: Chilly, Robben, Bamm-Bamm, Blake, Jakada, Farley, Eggs Benedict, Butters
Female: Willy, Dewey, Petey, Ms Pac, Melody, Gobbles
African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
Elton (Male)
Hoffman’s Two-Toed Sloth
Choloepus hoffmanni
I was able to take some excellent pictures of the cotton-top tamarins with their wild, rocker-style hair. The first picture turned out especially well despite (or maybe because of) the glass reflection - that tamarin's facial features really stand out, looking almost like a plush toy!
Male: Ramon
Female: Pax
Cotton-Top Tamarin
Oedipomidas oedipus
Mouka & Tyke (Males)
White-Throated Capuchin
Cebus capucinus
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
Pongo (Male)
Domestic Rabbit
Oryctologus cuniculus domestic rex
Image & Sandman (Male)
Miniature Horse
Equus caballus
Charlotte (Female)
Domestic Pig (Juliana Pig; Miniature Painted Pig)
Sus scrofa domesticus
Although Rose is in the petting zoo area, she doesn't seem to like humans and will move away from visitors.
Rose (Female)
Alpaca
Lama pacos
Male: Benji, Flash
Female: Babs, Belle, Blanch, Flopsy
African Pygmy Goat
Capra hircus
Shazam – Harlequin Sheep (Male)
Dolly and Quiet – Tunis Sheep (Females)
Aurora – Welsh Mountain Sheep (Female)
Domestic Sheep
Ovis aries
This was a fantastic picture showing off the glowing colors of the sun conure!
Male: Biscuit, Churro, Paczki, Pancake, Pumpernickel, Toast, Tortilla
Female: Brioche, Challah, Ciabatta, Danish
Sun Conure
Aratinga solstitialis
Hansel, Derek, Baxter, Louis (Males)
Blue-Faced Honeyeater
Entomyzon cyanotis
Male: Podrick, Samanya, Shireen, Stannis, Tywin
Female: Olly, Walda
Ring-Necked Dove
Streptopelia risoria
Male: Clyde
Female: Poppy
Umbrella Cockatoo
Cacatua alba
Aiden Cluckinson (Female)
Domestic Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo domesticus
Curry & Willow (Female)
Orpington Chicken
Gallus gallus domesticus
Mallard Duck
Nero (Female)
American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
Groot (Male)
Sulcata Tortoise
Geochelone sulcata
Male: Boxer
Female: Marcella, Otis
Red-Footed Tortoise
Chelonoidis carbonaria
Honeybees (European/Western Honeybee)
Apis mellifera
WILD IN NATURE (WIN)
This is effectively the zoo's reptile house.
Zelda (Female)
Eclectus Parrot
Eclectus roratus
Wedgie (Female)
Moluccan Cockatoo
Cacatua moluccensis
Horus & Nut (Male)
Egyptian Tortoise
Testudo kleinmanni
Petoskey (Female)
Spotted Turtle
Clemmys guttata
Ox (Male)
White-Throated Mud Turtle
Kinosternon scorpioides albogulare
Wiffle & Disco (Males)
Ball Python
Python regius
Yoshi (Male)
Uromastyx
Uromastyx geyri
Indigo (Female)
Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua scincoides
Pete (Male)
Prehensile-Tailed Skink
Corucia zebrata
Biscuit (Female) Nickname: “Leachie”
New Caledonian Gecko
Rhacodactylus leachianus
Big Mac (Male)
Asian Giant Toad
Phrynoidis asper
Rosa (Female)
Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula
Brachypelma hamorii
African Giant Millipede
Archispirostreptus gigas
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Gromphadorhina portentosa
NOT VIEWABLE
It was too cold for the zebra finches.
Some of the reptiles were off display.
A portion of the bridge was under construction.
And the gazebo area in the Forgotten Forest was also being renovated.
POND
There is a scenic pond in the middle of the zoo.
This leads to the Underwater Viewing Cave.
Although there is an informational display about beaver dams, I do not believe the zoo actually has a beaver.
The underwater viewing cave is in sore need of renovation. Most of the windows were so encrusted with algae you couldn't see anything!
This was the one window where you could look into the pond.
There were a few diorama displays hidden away in the cabinets.
Along with a really cute raccoon statue!
ART
Polar bear sculpture at the entrance
Grizzly bear sculpture at the entrance
Giraffe sculpture at the entrance
Snow leopard mural on the gift shop window
Arctic fox mural on the gift shop window
Penguin statue near the African penguins
OTHER
Carousel
Carousel Ticket Booth with raccoon statues
Other Carousel Decorations
Train
Bridge across the train tracks
Amphitheater
Vet Clinic
Fossil Find
Playground
Dolphin bench
Originally dedicated to Saginaw resident, lumberman and entrepreneur Hiram Still, this fountain was carved by Forest Lawn Marble and Granite Works of Saginaw. The granite was quarried in Barre, Vermont, in 1914. It was relocated and restored by volunteers as a reminder of Saginaw's rich history. It features a water trough for horses, a bowl for dogs and a fountain for humans.
Photo op
HALLOWEEN
The zoo was replete with Halloween decorations. Some were just generic for Halloween and some were garden decorations - I'm not sure if the gardens are decorated differently during other parts of the year.
OTHER DECORATIONS
GIFT SHOP
Aurora Blue Penguin Plush
$15
Black-Footed Penguin Plush
$16.50
Anya Dragon Palm Pals Plush
$10
Wild Republic Dodo Plush
$19.99
Assorted Palm Pals Plushes
$10
Assorted EcoPals and Wild Republic Plushes
Assorted Plushes