The Washington Park Zoo is a zoo located in Michigan City, Indiana, which covers 15 acres (61,000 m2) on a hilly sand dune close to the southeastern tip of Lake Michigan.

Year-long free admission to the zoo
Membership in the Michigan City Zoological Society
Free subscription to our periodical newsletter, the Zoo News
10% discount on all gifts and souvenirs purchased from the Zoo Gift Shop
Reciprocal membership in zoos across the country.

For Groups – up to 30 people
Cost $50 per group (Does not include admission)
Length About 1 hour
Program An experienced guide can tour your group around the zoo. Groups will enjoy learning stories and 'behind the scene' information about our animals. See artifacts from our tour bag, hear facts and trivia about our different animals and meet some of our outreach animals.

For Groups visiting the zoo
Cost $35 (Does not include admission)
Length About 30 minutes
Program If you want a quick introduction to the zoo, this is for you! Meet some of our outreach animals and enjoy a hands-on experience.

For Groups of 1 – 12 people, age 12 and older who are interested in zoo jobs.
Cost $15 per person (Includes admission)
Length About 4 hours
Program Learn and do everything a zookeeper would do. Work with the barn animals, make diets, tour behind the scenes, learn how to look at x-rays and more!

For Groups and kids that want to spend the night at the zoo.
Cost CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION
Length Beginning Time - 7:30 p.m. Ending Time - 8:00 a.m.
Program Participants will enjoy games, activities, live animal encounters, a night hike, a camp fire dinner and more. Bring a tent and a flashlight and Spend the night at the Zoo!

For College students interested in pursuing an animal career
Cost N/A
Length One semester (spring/summer or fall/winter)
Program Students gain necessary experience working with animals and experiencing an in-depth enrichment and observation project. Intern positions are unpaid.

For Children ages 6-11
Cost Ages 6-8, member $50.00, non-member $60.00
Ages 9-11, member $60.00, non-member $70.00
Length Summer
Program Have a Summer Animal Adventures! This is your child's ticket to the wonder and excitement of the world around them. This program utilizes the Washington Park Zoo as a living classroom. Spaces are limited!

For individual classrooms and various grade levels.
Cost Rent a complete teaching kit for $20/week with a $30 deposit which is refundable.
Program Kit includes lesson plans, activities, supplies, artifacts, videos and more.

The Washington Park Zoo is dedicated to providing fun recreational family experiences; and promoting the appreciation of wildlife through public display and educational programs, while meeting the biological and psychological needs of the animals in our care.

Washington Park Zoo began in 1925 when a retired animal trainer moved his brown bear named "Jake" to the Washington Park lake front. Jake did not have much public exposure after his trainer retired, so the man thought interested people might more often visit his pet in the park and provide company for him. The public response was immediate and a few other animals and birds were brought in from the fire department to add to their menagerie. Back then, the fire department often sheltered discarded exotic animals.