Rides and Attractions
There’s so much to do at the Zoo! From play spaces to an incredible theater experience, there’s no shortage of fun add-on experiences to make your day at the Zoo one to remember.
4D Theater
Select Days in April
The Detroit Zoo’s 4D Theater is the first of its kind at any Michigan zoo. Located in the Ford Education Center, the 4D Theater experience includes special effects, a state-of-the-art sound system and 126 seats. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience! Additional purchase applies.
Carousel
Open daily 9 AM to close
Take a ride on the wild side! Our custom, wood-and-brass carousel features 33 hand-carved and painted animal seats — from horses to insects to peacocks and more. Rides are $3 per person at the carousel.
Charley Harper’s Natural World
Coming Soon | May 1 – Sept. 7, 2025
Included with Zoo admission I Free for members
See the natural world take shape!
Dragon Forest
Open Memorial weekend
Dragons, faeries and wyverns — oh my! Get ready for an enchanting summer adventure at the Detroit Zoo.
Korman Tadpole PlayVenture
Open daily 9 AM to close
Kiddos can enjoy an adventure all their own in this Zoo-exclusive play area. Kids will be able to climb through a spider web, crawl through animal burrows and engage in imaginative play throughout the area. Children must be supervised at all times.
Rackham Memorial Fountain
Open daily 9 AM to close
Grab the perfect selfie at one of our most recognized landmarks! Located in the center of the Zoo, the Horace H. Rackham Fountain was dedicated in 1939 and features bronze bears, seals, turtles and frogs.
Rissman PlayVenture
Open daily 9 AM to close
Parents can take a break, and children can explore at the Rissman PlayVenture. Complete with log steppers, slides, toadstools and climbing rocks, this is the perfect escape for kiddos at the Zoo. The play structure is intended for children ages 5 to 12. Children must be supervised at all times.
Science On a Sphere
Closed for Maintenance
Learn the wild way! Located inside the Ron Kagan Wildlife Interpretive Gallery, Science On a Sphere is a display system that projects dynamic simulations of the Earth, its atmosphere, oceans and land. This spherical wonder will help you understand the environmental issues that impact us all.
Tauber Family Railroad
Reopens End of May
Get around the Zoo in style! Take a one-way ride on our Tauber Family Railroad to experience a piece of Zoo history — and lessen your walking time! Additional purchase applies.
