Welcome!
This post features Scovill Zoo in Decatur, IL, which was the third and final stop in my recent 2026 foray at central Illinois zoos. Earlier in the day I had already visited Peoria Zoo and Miller Park Zoo. This isn't the first time I have done 3+ zoos in a single day. Last year (2025) I visited 3 Michigan zoos in one day (John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, and Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek), as well as 4 Wisconsin zoos on a different day (Ochsner Park Zoo and the International Crane Foundation both in Baraboo, Timbavati Wildlife Park in Wisconsin Dells, and Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison).
These are my current posts on central and northern Illinois:
H1: Peoria Zoo
H2: Miller Park Zoo
H3: Scovill Zoo (this post)
Upcoming posts include:
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.
SCOVILL ZOO
71 S. Country Club Rd.
Decatur, IL 62521
Website: https://decatur-parks.org/scovill-zoo/
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM - 4 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 9:30 AM - 5 PM
Zoo grounds close one hour after last admission.
Cost (as of 2026):
Adults: $10
Children (2 - 12): $8
Seniors (65+): $9
Children (1 and Under): FREE
Admission is FREE Mondays from April 6 – April 27.
Admission is FREE Thursdays from June 4 – October 8.
Parking is free.
Scovill Zoo participates in the AZA Reciprocity program at the 50% rate. Members of all other participating zoos (whether those zoos participate at 50% or 100%) get 50% off the admission rate at Scovill Zoo. And Scovill Zoo members get 50% off the admission of all participating zoos (regardless of whether that zoo participates at 50% or 100%).
Since I was a member of Buttonwood Park Zoo, I got 50% off admission so I only had to pay $5 instead of the full $10.
Estimated Time: 1 - 2 hours.
I spent 1 hour and 15 minutes at this small zoo. It was enough time to go through the whole zoo twice.
SUMMARY
Scovill Zoo in Decatur is comparable to other small zoos in the area, including Peoria Zoo and Miller Park Zoo. Like Miller Park Zoo it is inexpensive and has a pair of red pandas. However, Scovill Zoo only participates in the AZA reciprocity program at 50% while the other two participate at 100%. I enjoyed seeing the red pandas, the new mountain lion exhibit, the cheetahs, the white wolf, and a baby wallaby. My overall rating is an average 2 stars.
I was able to see the vast majority of the animals, which is rare! I didn't see the two-toed sloth or the alligator and the map shows a mongoose but that area was empty. While I got glimpses of the toco toucan and golden lion tamarin, I wasn't able to get any good pictures.
There did not seem to be any Keeper Chats or other such daily events.
Comparing Scovill Zoo to other zoos:
5 stars:
4 stars:
3 stars:
2 stars:
1 star:
RED PANDAS
Zin (Zinfandel)
I came to Scovill Zoo from Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, MI on May 27, 2024
My birthday is June 24, 2023
In Burmese, Zin means 'orchid' which symbolizes beauty and refinement
Everest
I came to Scovill Zoo from Greenville Zoo in Greenville, SC on April 7, 2024
My birthday is June 23, 2023
I was named after the famous mountain, Mt Everest, which is located in the habitat of wild red pandas
(I visited Binder Park Zoo last year!).
Himalayan Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens fulgens
FURRY CRITTERS
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
Nap time for kitties
Cheetah Taxidermy (a king cheetah and spotted cheetah)
Mountain Lion / Cougar
Puma concolor
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
(Is a white wolf but not albino)
Red-Necked Wallaby
Macropus rufogriseus
Mommy and baby
Ring-Tailed Lemur
Lemur catta
A lot of tail action while they were being fed
Black Howler Monkey
Alouatta caraya
Spider Monkey
Ateles geoffroyi panamensis
Bactrian Camel
Camelus bactrianus
Plains Zebras
Equus burchellii boehmi
Zebu
Bos taurus indicus dwarf
African Pygmy Goat
Capra hircus
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
Guinea Pig
Cavia porcellus
BIRDIES
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascensis
Common Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
(Some of them seem to be partial albinos rather than complete albinos)
This peacock unfurled its tail feathers during a massive gust of wind
Humbolt Penguins
Spheniscus humboldti
The East African Crowned Crane
Balearica regulorum gibbericeps
Chilean Flamingo
Phoenicopterus chilensis
Scovill Zoo has two male American White Pelicans named Taylor & Wiley. Both are unable to fly due to permanent wing injuries.
Because these birds are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act, we have to have a special permit from the US Fish & Wildlife Service in order to keep and rehabilitate injured pelicans.
Taylor is an extremely curious bird. He usually will come running to investigate new things in his exhibit. He loves to pick items up in his beak, so we have to be careful not to leave anything out that he might swallow. He tends to try to “help” his keepers by getting in their way and playing with all their tools. Taylor forms fairly strong bonds with his keepers and likes to be near us, especially when we are in his pen. He tends to enjoy one-on-one interaction and sometimes becomes shy when there are several people around.
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Scovill Zoo's current emu is named Mel.
Emus
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Lady Ross’s Turaco
Tauraco erythrolophus
Aviary
OUTDOOR TORTOISES
Galapagos Tortoise
Geochelone nigra
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis (used to be Geochelone pardalis)
REPTILE BUILDING
Woma Python
Aspidites ramsayi
Green Tree Python
Morelia viridis
Blood Python
Python brongersmai
Rhinoceros Iguana
Cyclura cornuta
Argus Monitor
Varanus panoptes
European Glass Lizard
Ophisaurus apodus
Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanum
Ornate Horned Frog
Ceratophrys ornata
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
Brachypelma hamorii (used to be Brachypelma smithi)
Unlabeled fish
EDUCATION CENTER
Animal photographs within the building
OTHER
Project Playground
Endangered Species Carousel
Rope bridge near the mountain lions
Benefactor plaques
Virunga National Park Monument
Africa's oldest park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa.
Virunga and its neighboring parks in Rwanda and Uganda are home to the world's remaning population of mountain gorillas, numbering only 880 in 2016.
More than 160 of Virunga's park rangers have been killed in the line of duty since the late 1990s.
In loving memory of
Joseph W. Borders
His quick wit, humor, and love still makes us smile
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and zoo volunteer
2006
In Loving Memory Of
A.E. (Ike) Idleman
2002
GIFT SHOP
Wishpets Red Panda Plush
$14.35
Petting Zoo Red Panda Plush
Wild Zoomies Red Panda Friction Truck
Petting Zoo Black-Footed Ferret Plush
$26.99
Mermaids and Purse Set Plushes
Scovill Zoo Branded Plushes
Assorted plushes
Mora Mora Crafts Made in Madagascar
$19.75
3D Printed Dragons
Elephant Statue (might be a decoration as opposed to merchandise)
