louisville zoo tour

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Louisville Zoo

1100 Trevilian Way Louisville, KY 40213

Phone: (502) 238-5348

• Capacity: 4
• Total Square Footage: 11000

Meeting Space

Meeting spaces, african post, gheens room in the islands pavilion, hillside gazebo, oasis festival tent, zoo buy out, related events.

Trivia Nights 2024 at the Louisville Zoo 1100 Trevilian Way\r\nPO Box 37250 Louisville, Kentucky 40213 Details   Open in Google Maps

Trivia Nights 2024 at the Louisville Zoo

Join us after hours for a wild-themed trivia game. These fun-filled evenings will feature music, prizes, and, of course, trivia! Food and drink specials will...

Flutter Fest 1100 Trevilian Way Louisville, Kentucky 40213 Details   Open in Google Maps

Flutter Fest

Come and be part of our 8th annual Flutter Fest presented by PNC Grow Up Great, where we commemorate the autumn migration of the monarch butterfly as they...

301 South 4th Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202

1.888.LOUISVILLE (1.888.568.4784)

Louisville Zoo

• Facilities 5.0
• Atmosphere 3.5

Open since 1969, the Louisville Zoo is home to more than 1,500 animals across its 134 acres. Among the highlights for recent visitors were the polar bear, tiger and giraffe sightings, as well as the camel rides.

Recent guests praised the zoo for its engaging guides and clean facilities and particularly note it's a good spot to take very young children (because Louisville Zoo is small, it's easily manageable for short legs to walk through). Travelers also described the zoo's atmosphere as relaxing and said that it never feels overly crowded thanks to its well-designed layout.

General admission (which does not include extras like camel or train rides) c osts $16.25 for adults ages 12 to 59 and $11.75 for kids between the ages of 3 and 11 and seniors 60 and older. You can save a little coin by scheduling your visit during the zoo's summer "Twilight Hours" (Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.): admission costs $9.95 for adults and $6.95 for children. You'll also need to budget for the parking fee, which costs $5 per vehicle. The zoo is open daily year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m., depending on the season. For more information, visit the zoo's official website .

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More Best Things To Do in Louisville

#1 Churchill Downs

Just its name inspires romantic images of spectators dressed in their Sunday best sipping on mint juleps as thoroughbreds race past them. Recent travelers agreed –  Churchill Downs, the racing facility that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby, is just as idyllic as you might have imagined. In fact, visitors said that if there's only time for one stop in Louisville, this Central Avenue racing complex is the place to go.

General admission costs $3 per person (except on Kentucky Oaks and Derby Days), and reserved seating costs $10 per person. Keep in mind: T icket prices climb higher the more prestigious your perch (in spots like the Matt Winn Dining Room, Millionaires Row, Jockey Club Suites and the Stakes Room). Racing occurs in the spring, from the first Saturday in May to early July, and in the fall from late September to late November. Look here for the schedule. If you're interested in attending the famed Kentucky Derby, prepare to fork over some serious coin. Tickets are sold in two-day packages, with prices that range from $300 to $3,400 per ticket.

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Louisville Orchestra

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ROARchestra

Saturday, july 6, 2024 7:00pm, event description.

ROARchestra is back! Your Louisville Orchestra and your Louisville Zoo have partnered again to present a wildly entertaining musical evening. Bring your blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy live music under the stars at the Zoo’s renovated Oasis Stage.

Under the baton of conductor Teddy Abrams, we will present a vibrant mix of classical and contemporary pieces. Experience the rhythm and soul of America through performances by vocalists Jason Clayborn, Daria Raymore, Teaira Dunn, CeCe Dunn, and Latiana Clayborn. Enjoy Bernstein’s energetic On the Town, the sweeping beauty of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, and timeless hits by legends like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Lionel Richie.

Zoo opens at 7:00 PM (Enjoy Zoo grounds until 8:00 PM) Concert begins at 8:30 PM (expected ending 10:00 PM)

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.  No outside alcohol permitted. No refunds, rainchecks, or exchanges for this Zoo fundraiser.

Jason Clayborn

Daria Raymore

ROARchestra Program

Leonard bernstein.

Experience the exhilaration with “Three Dance Episodes from On the Town,” featuring the lively “The Great Lover” and the iconic “Times Square: 1944.”

Antonín Dvorák

Dive deep into the emotional landscape with the powerful first movement, “Adagio-Allegro Molto,” from Symphony No.9 in E minor.

Soul Classics Reimagined

• Soul-stirring performances and electrifying arrangements by Gabriel Globus-Hoenich of hits like:
• “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (by Carole King and Ashford & Simpson), featuring vocalists Jason Clayborn and Daria Raymore.
• “Cold Sweat” (originally by James Brown), featuring vocalist Jason Clayborn
• “Rock Steady” (by Aretha Franklin), performed by Daria Raymore
• “Sir Duke” (by Stevie Wonder), featuring vocalist Jason Clayborn
• The romantic duet “Endless Love” (by Lionel Richie), performed by Jason Clayborn and Daria Raymore.

Contemporary Works

• Creator Corps Composer, Tyler Taylor’s introspective “…Do you really wanna know?…”, inspired by Tytianna Wells’ poignant “American Dream” and commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra in 2021.
• Teddy Abrams’ “Overture to The Greatest,” a dynamic new composition from Music Director Teddy Abrams.

Terms of Use and Refunds

All actvities are seasonal and subject to the cooperation of the weather, animals, & Zoo maintenance. This ticket is one time use for ROARchestra, a special after-hours event. 

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624 W. Main, Suite 400, Louisville KY 40202 + 502.587.8681 + [email protected]

• Creators Corps

Louisville Zoo

'Wild Lights' returns to Louisville Zoo for fifth year

The Louisville Zoo, recently nominated for two awards, best zoo, and best exhibit, in USA Today’s “ 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards ,” is bringing back its popular lantern festival.

According to a news release from Louisville Zoo , “Wild Lights,” the zoo’s beloved lantern festival, is returning for its fifth year from March 23 to May 19. Furthermore, it’s time to act fast and buy your tickets early, as they are already on sale.

The event, taking place in rain or shine, takes visitors along the zoo’s 1.4-mile path, featuring hand-crafted, vibrant and illuminated art displays. “Dive deep and celebrate the vibrant colors of the coral reefs, see nature come to life with interactive moving displays and explore ancient Chinese myths and legends, including magnificent dragons and a breathtaking phoenix tunnel. The festival includes all-new illuminated archways and larger-than-life displays allowing you to become part of the magic,” according to the website.

The non-refundable event, with more than 60 displays, takes place over 38 nights and highlights include the 23-foot-tall octopus, a blooming morning glory corridor, and more, according to the news release. Photosensitive elements are featured in “Wild Lights,” and those prone to seizures or with light sensitivity should be aware.

When is 'Wild Lights'?

“ Wild Lights ” is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday from March 23 to May 19. Furthermore, it will run every night during Jefferson County Public Schools Spring Break, from April 1-5, and a special preview event exclusive to Louisville Zoo members is scheduled for March 22.

How to vote: Louisville Zoo nominated for 2 USA Today readers' choice awards

How much are tickets to Wild Lights at the Louisville Zoo?

Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased here . Costs are as follows:

• General Admission: $22 per ticket for ages 12 to 59, $18 for children 3 to 11 and seniors 60
• Zoo Members: $20 per ticket for 12 to 59, $16 for children 3 to 11 and seniors 60+.
• General Admission: $23 for ages 12 to 59, $19 for children 3 to 11 and seniors 60
• Zoo Members: $21 for ages 12 to 59, $17 for children 3 to 11 and seniors 60+.
• Family 4 Pack General Admission: $70
• Family 4 Pack Members: $60
• Anytime Tickets: A limited number of tickets can be purchased for “any time,” beginning at $26 per ticket.
• Active Military discounts: Available with a valid ID, for $18 per ticket for up to three family members. A family pack is available for $65.
• Exclusive to zoo members for $16 per person (not age variable) or $55 for a family of four.

On the prowl? Love birds? Meet the Louisville Zoo's cutest couples and most eligible singles

How much is parking?

According to the news release, parking for the event is $7. It can be purchased online in advance or at the zoo admission windows.

To learn more, click here .

• (877) 614-6342
• [email protected]

Attractions

Mega Tram Cavern Tour

Important tour details.

The Mega Tram at Louisville Mega Cavern is a 60-70 minute tram tour led by a guide. It takes you on an underground adventure through a man-made cavern, showcasing the cavern’s geology, history, and much more.

Requirements

• A wheelchair tram is available for those needing additional assistance. Please call ahead to reserve.
• Handicap parking is available inside the main entrance to the Louisville Mega Cavern. You must have a valid handicap parking permit to use these spaces.
• Please arrive 15-20 minutes before your scheduled check-in time.
• Parking is free for all cavern attractions and is available in our lower parking lot.
• We strongly recommend guests to purchase tickets in advance.
• This is an all-weather attraction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your experienced tour guide will provide information about the Cuban Missile Crisis Bunker, the history of the Cavern, the use of the facility for green building applications, and mining techniques used in the space.

A working service dog with a leash is permitted on the Walking and Tram Tours.

Since the Cavern has a 26-foot-thick rock ceiling and as much as 50 to 60 feet of dirt above that, it was intended for use as a shelter from weather and nuclear attacks.

Within the Cavern, there are currently 12 different businesses utilizing our commercial tenant space of over 500,000 square feet. The Cavern stores corporate records, museum artifacts, boats and RVs, public storage units, emergency supplies, concrete block manufacturing, and PODS (among other things). We cannot divulge all the tenants that are located here due to privacy and security reasons.

During the Cavern’s period as a mine, enough rock was removed during operations to build a four-lane highway 357 miles long. That’s the same amount of rock that it took to build all three of the Great Pyramids in Egypt!

The Louisville Crushed Stone Quarry.

The mine was founded by Ralph Rogers back in the 1930s. He was a great visionary who saw the need for additional highways in the United States, particularly in the South. Legend has it that he could look at a potential site and know almost exactly how much rock he could get from it. His business did very well during the Great Depression because of federal programs that provided work to unemployed men in the form of new road and bridge construction. 

The Louisville Mega Cavern is a 100-acre limestone cavern capable of shrugging off a 260 mile-per-hour tornado! Year-round, it remains a consistent 58 degrees. The Cavern under the Louisville Zoo has remained virtually dormant since the last load of limestone was mined nearly 40 years ago. This limestone was used to build bridges and roads across the Midwest.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960s, state and federal officials made plans to house 50,000 people in the Cavern in case of a nuclear attack. The Cavern is a natural bomb shelter.

Geologists say that the Louisville Mega Cavern is the safest place in Kentucky.

Since the early 1990s, a massive amount of recycled concrete, brick, rock and dirt were (and continue to be) off-loaded at the Cavern to fill in holes and create additional floors and internal roads. Construction to carve out offices and storage spaces is ongoing. Even still, these efforts have made a mere dent in filling the more than 4,000,000 square-feet of available space.

The temperature remains a relatively constant 58 degrees year round.

The Cavern is classified by the Louisville Metro Government and the State of Kentucky as a building. As a matter of fact, it is considered the largest building in Kentucky and even has its own building code.

The Louisville Mega Cavern was created to be a massive limestone quarry. Miners blasted a mind-boggling amount of rock for over 42 years throughout the 20th century. It was acquired in 1989 by private investors who saw the potential to develop a portion of the cavern into an environmentally conscious high-security commercial storage facility.

Yes! Let us know what you’re wanting to celebrate, and we can make special arrangements. We have an outdoor pavilion that can accommodate up to 100 people and an events space that can hold up to 350! Please contact the marketing department for more information.

Yes, you may. However, please note that most of our tours offer free photos.

Because all activities are on specific start times and scheduled in advance, we do not offer cancellations, reschedules or refunds within 7 days prior to your scheduled activities. Please note that we are located in the Eastern Time Zone. INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY – When Louisville Mega Cavern must close due to inclement weather, it is based on the safety factors that affect both our customers and our employees. These include winter weather warnings issued by local government agencies, which could include the Louisville Metro area, State of Kentucky or Federal government officials which will be the basis for the decision. Management will analyze all data in advance of the event and decide on a possible closure in a timely manner. The company could attempt to call all advanced sale customers to notify them of the closure. Closing the cavern will be based on weather that affects the Louisville, Ky Metro area and does not reflect other areas or states in which visitors may be traveling from. In the event of closure of the cavern, each customers will be entitled to a RAIN CHECK for a period of six months after the bad weather event. WE WILL NOT ISSUE REFUNDS. If you are not comfortable about the weather in the Louisville Metro area, we highly recommend that you simply show up on a first come first served basis rather than making an advanced reservation for any of our tours. This allows you to wait to the last second before making a commitment which may result in no refund.

FROM I-264 WATTERSON EXPRESSWAY

From lexington on i-64, from cincinnati on i-71, from indianapolis on i-65, from nashville on i-65, from st.louis on i-64, the mega tram at louisville mega cavern is a 60-70 minute tram tour led by a guide. it takes you on an underground adventure through a man-made cavern, showcasing the cavern's geology, history, and much more..

Brew at the Zoo allows adults to experience Louisville Zoo at their own pace

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A tasty event to raise money for the Louisville Zoo made its return Saturday.

Brew at the Zoo with Wine and Food Too is an all-inclusive VIP experience for guests. They have beer and wine tastings, catered food and special encounters with zoo animals.

While many parents normally take their kids to the zoo, this event was only for folks 21 and older, meaning adults were able to slow down and enjoy the zoo on their own terms.

“It’s the atmosphere, the memories that you make here with your kids, but then you get to come and enjoy it as an adult,” Samantha Dubourg, a first-time Brew at the Zoo patron, said. “I have memories here as a kid myself. So I was telling my kids that it was like Boo at the Zoo, which is their trick-or-treating around, only it’s for the adults tonight.”

Brew at the Zoo also had live music, lawn games and even a silent disco.

Copyright 2024 WAVE. All rights reserved.

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