History of the Blank Park Zoo

In 1963, Mr. A.H. Blank donated $150,000 to the City of Des Moines to build a children’s zoo on decommissioned Fort Des Moines property.  The Des Moines Children’s Zoo opened in 1966, but the city made few capital improvements and was going to close the zoo. In 1981 a group of civic and business leaders formed the Blank Park Zoo Foundation to save the Zoo.  The Foundation’s goal was to provide financial support for capital improvements, animal acquisitions and promotional/marketing activities. The zoo was closed for renovation at the end of the 1982 season.

The completely renovated 23.8-acre Blank Park Zoo opened in 1986 as an American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) accredited zoo.  The renovated Zoo had a new mission of conservation, education and recreation, and featured geographic themed exhibits with spacious, naturally landscaped environments. 

In 1995 the Blank Park Zoo Foundation purchased 25.3 additional acres of historic Fort Des Moines property and 9 historic buildings for future growth and expansion of the Zoo. It also began a capital campaign to build a new great cats exhibit and a 30,000 square foot indoor Discovery Center exhibit.  On May 1, 1999 the Tom and Jo Ghrist Great Cats exhibit opened and on September 1, 2001, the Blank Park Zoo opened the Myron & Jackie Blank Discovery Center and became a year round attraction. On July 1, 2003 the Blank Park Zoo Foundation accepted the responsibility of the management and operations of the zoo from the City of Des Moines.

Mission of the Zoo

The mission of Blank Park Zoo is to foster a greater appreciation of the natural world by providing a zoological park featuring exhibition and conservation of a diverse living animal collection, family-oriented recreational activities, and zoological science education programs.

Fast Facts - Zoo Style

• The Blank Park Zoo is the second largest cultural attraction in the State of Iowa, behind the Iowa State Fair.
• Each year the Zoo hosts 300,000 visitors, including visitors from every county in the state. 
• The Blank Park Zoo is the only American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) accredited zoological park in the state of Iowa. 
• During 2004, 40,000 people from throughout the state participated in the Zoo’s educational programs.