scovill zoo

I was pleasantly surprised by this zoo. For a smaller community zoo, this place has a great variety of animals. the youngsters we took loved the peacocks and other birds wandering through the grounds. One can ride the train, pet the goats, pop up through the penguin habitat, pet a tortoise, and get a very close-up look at lots of reptiles. There was also a tropical bird section that you can walk through, several primates, alligators, a wolf, zebras, and much more. Outside the gates there is a large playground, there are nice restrooms, and the gift shops has souvenirs for all ages. I highly recommend taking a couple hours to explore this perfect little zoo.

The zoo was small enough not to wear everyone out. I could let the little one walk ahead of me and visit with anumals. The petting zoo was a great addition. I'd have to say the play ground outside of the zoo was our favorite part though. I could rest while he enjoyed himself in a very clean play area. It was much larger than anticipated. It was gated with only one way in and out. So there was no worry about where your child was at every moment. I highly recommend this zoo. Thursdays are free!

We visited the zoo with our 2 year old and we're presently surprised by how nice it was. Yes, it's small, but there are still a good number of animals and the zoo itself is well maintained. My daughters favorite part were the Penguins and baby goats. In addition to the zoo itself, there is also really nice large playground right outside the zoo for kids to play on.

When I was a kid, this was Scovill Farms...it's grown up! It's a small zoo, but is awesome for kids because it is very manageable. The exhibits are well designed, and there is a good variety of animals. We particularly love the carousel and the petting zoo. It is next door to the Children's Museum, so you can make a day of the immediate area.

We actually happened on to this zoo by total accident a number of years ago. My son was a toddler and it was a chilly damp, dreary day and I thought we would take a trip to the local children's museum. Turned out to be the annual cleaning days at the museum and they were closed. I had a very sad toddler on my hands and the volunteer at the museum said that the zoo was just up the road a ways and it would probably be a great day to go since it was not hot, the animals would be out and there probably would not be crowded. I had jackets and hats with us, so I thought why not. It turned out to be a wonderful day, no waiting in line to see animals and all the animals were out and about enjoying the cool weather.We have been to the Scovill Zoo many times and have enjoyed their programs too. We have gone as a family, with school, and with a homeschool group. I have personally set up many field trips through this zoo and we have always been satisfied. The zoo programs are WONDERFUL! The last field trip I planned was around $7.00 per person, we were given a back stage tour, got to see a few animals up close, feed them and pet them. A volunteer walked us around and explained in detail about each animal and it's habitat, we got a token for the Endangered Species Carousel ride and a train ticket. We visit this zoo often and really enjoy it. Train tickets are a must!! We thought that the food prices were VERY reasonable. They also have a free day each season (such as Thursdays are always free or Mondays are always free) check the website for details. They also have camps and a mobile zoo that will come to you at your location. My teenage son enjoys going with his friends and walking around. I like to go and look at the garden areas and see the animals.

The exhibits are well marked. The zookeepers are friendly and knowledgeable. The animals are well kept, safe, habitats are clean. Very good value great playground area and free parking! Easy to see everything in half a day.

I love our local zoo - so many different animals to see. The carousel and train are great fun for all ages - both have wheelchair access! There are a lot of picnic areas in and around the zoo, as well as the BEST playground within 65 miles! The Children's Museum is right next door so you could spend several hours here enjoying the zoo, museum, picnic overlooking Lake Decatur, and time on the playground. In the summer months, Thursday is "free day" for the zoo. Great place for families, grandparents with kids, teenagers wanting to spend time together and NOT at a mall....perfect place for everyone! They also have great group discounts if you wanted to bring a church kids group, field trip, etc....

This is one of Decaturs finest attractions young and old can enjoy. My niece 24, daughter 34 and me 60 had an absolute blast. We even rode the carrausel and the train. We are blessed to have such pleasant place that offeres lots of options.

Heard the zoo was nicer than what is located in my town so I took my daughter over for a day trip and stopped at the zoo, the zoo might have more animals but I didnt see half of them out. They have a nice penguin area with a pop up viewing room to watch them up close and they have rare anomals like 2 bald eagles and a white wolf but we made it through the entire zoo very quickly due to most exibits being empty.

The zoo had a lot of variety, a petting area, and a train! It was a really hot day so the reptile house was a nice break. The zoo is large enough for the children to enjoy but small enough not to take up your whole day.

We have been here several times and although it is a small zoo, it has a great variety of animals including cheetahs, camel, and flamingos. The train is a favorite of my kids and the playground just outside is outstanding. They also have a nice carousel as well. Good value and great for small children, as it is very stroller friendly in most parts. The penguins were a nice new attraction as well.

Very small zoo. The best thing is the petting area. Otherwise, just not a lot to offer. We did enjoy the Halloween trick or treat they had. We are use to a larger zoo with lots and lots of animals. Not a lot of animals here.

We went to the Scovill Zoo and spent 2 hours walking the zoo and playing in the playground outside of the zoo. It was very reasonably priced, was clean and had well shaded areas on a very hot day. There was a larger selection of animals to see than I anticipated, and they have peacocks that walk freely around the zoo. The new penguin exhibit was fun for the kids with the bubble to climb inside and see into their habitat. There was also a very sizable playground outside the zoo that my kids loved! Will definitely visit again next time we are in Decatur.

Scovill Zoo is a very nice little zoo. It is not huge but has an impressive line up of animals and thing to do. The newest exhibit is the penguin exhibit where kids can duck under a bubble and see the penguins all around. Very nicely done. Male Peacocks roam free and show off their beautiful feathers when courting the females. The zoo has camels, cheetahs, zebras, flamingos, swans, monkeys, parrots as well as many other animals (400 in all) that represent 6 continents. Only $6 for adults and $3.50 for kids - or get season tickets for quick afternoons for summer fun. Plus a great playground and animal merry-go-round. A full day of fun for the whole family.

We were in town to visit family. Husband grew up in Decatur, but we rarely explore due to time constraints. Another family member suggested the zoo for an afternoon outing, and it was fabulous!To start, my comparison is the free & gigantic St. Louis zoo and the smaller, costly Milwaukee zoo. Skovill certainly holds it's own and is worth a visit!The playground at the entrance is AWESOME. We could visit again just for that! The entrance fees were extremely reasonable, and it definitely wasn't crowded for a Sunday afternoon in May. We took our time, but were still on a time limit so chose not to experience the train or carousel. My 8-year old daughter loved every single animal exhibit. She was impressed with the bald eagle that was so close to see, and had a ton of fun with the penguins. What an awesome job they did with the penguins, banding them and posting information about which color band is which penguin. My daughter and I loved reading different things about each penguin, then finding it in the exhibit and observing. The penguins interacted with the human gawkers which was just a hoot! And there is a tunnel (about 2 feet long) that allows you to pop up into a bubble in the middle of the exhibit - so AWESOME! Even this oversized momma had to crawl through to experience!Feeding the goats was a little overwhelming for smaller kids, but still cute. I could have spent an hour playing with the goats! Nice hand-washing station outside the goat area, but I personally believe the "rules" of the area need to be moved off the wall (under greenery) and to the entrance doors so more parents actually see them. Maybe a nice kids' version would be helpful too?Lots of benches and clear walkways for a stroller. Shade and sun galore. The prairie dogs, lemurs, capybaras, and guinea pigs were our favorites. Oh, and the tortoises and flamingos! We will be back on our next Decatur visit, for sure. I think it's a clean, humane, well-run zoo and I really enjoyed our 2 hours there. Oh, and we bought lunch on our way out - wow ~ no price gouging!! A bottle of water cost a buck, and there were water-bottle filtered fountains around for refills!! THANK YOU for that Decatur Park District! We enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit, and snow cones for about $10. Wonderful!