Powell, OH — There’s more to do than ever at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! From soaking in the awe-inspiring beauty of the Zoo’s Heart of Africa savanna to enjoying rides and other engaging attractions, guests can take part in a wide variety of experiences. And, thanks to collaborations with dedicated organizations and individuals within our Central Ohio community, the Zoo continues to expand its inclusion efforts to help provide guests of all ages and abilities the opportunity to enjoy what the Zoo has to offer.
Quiet Hours and Events. On May 25, 2023, the Columbus Zoo will offer “Quiet After Hours” from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. for guests to enjoy the Zoo’s attractions during a less stimulating time without the added park sounds, music, and exhibit technology that can be challenging for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Tickets are $10 per general guest and complimentary for members. Tickets must be pre-purchased before the event, as the number of available tickets are limited. Both members and general guests must pre-register.
The following options and amenities are available during this after-hours event:
- Visiting select areas of the Zoo, including North America, Polar Frontier, Asia Quest, Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounters Village, and the Shores & Aquarium region
- Meet and greets with the Zoo’s Character Ambassadors
- Limited food and beverage options at Village Coffee Shop, Lakeside Market (snack cart located by Wild Burger), and Prairie Outpost. The Columbus Zoo Marketplace and Jr. Zookeeper gift shops will also be open.
- Enjoying the North America Train and 1914 Mangels-Illions Grand Carousel. (Please note these experiences require an additional fee. Safety announcements will be in place, and rides are subject to weather and mechanical conditions.)
For more information and to register for this event, please visit the Zoo’s website.
Additional Quiet Hours events will be held at the Zoo throughout the year, including a Sensory-Friendly Halloween Character Experience on October 1 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. During Wildlights, efficiently powered by AEP Ohio, a Sensory-Friendly Light Stroll will be held on November 14 from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., and Sensory-Friendly Santa Experiences will be available on November 14 and December 10. The Zoo is also not the only destination where guests can enjoy Quiet Hours! On August 25 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Zoombezi Bay guests can enjoy the waterpark during a Quiet After Hours event. Tickets for all of these events must be pre-purchased.
More information about these upcoming events is available on the Zoo’s Events page and Zoombezi Bay’s website.
Additional Resources and Experiences
Planning Your Visit: Social Stories and Sensory Maps. A trip to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium begins before guests even arrive. There are many sensory-friendly ways that guests can plan their day, and to assist in explaining the Columbus Zoo experience prior to a visit or field trip, social stories are available on the Zoo’s website. These short narratives, along with accompanying pictures, help illustrate different situations so guests better understand what to expect during their visit and why. This can include explaining that guests must wait in line and be patient because the Zoo is busy; that something may move or make a sound while one waits in line; how one might be able to see more animals by observing quietly; and that there are some areas of the Zoo that are a bit louder than others and so a guest may wish to cover their ears or wear headphones.
Additionally, sensory maps are available on the Zoo’s website to identify sensory-friendly locations. These locations help families plan their visit by marking busy areas, quieter areas, places that include louder noises, strong smells, low lighting and free play. Signage at the Zoo also designates locations that are quiet areas and headphone zones to assist guests during their visit.
Created by the Zoo’s Conservation Education and Engagement team and Cassie Beam, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, these social stories and sensory maps were designed in a way to assist children, adolescents or adults with autism spectrum disorder and other needs, as well as individuals with anxiety, learn about these experiences in a way that helps them feel physically, socially and emotionally safe.
Upon Arrival: Sensory Bags. As a Sensory Inclusive™ certified facility through KultureCity, an organization dedicated to providing sensory accessibility and acceptance for individuals with differing abilities, the Zoo offers sensory bags to offer another layer of comfort during a guest’s visit. These sensory bags consist of headphones and sunglasses to minimize loud sounds and bright lights, fidget items, a KultureCity VIP lanyard and a communication card to help a guest let others know how they are feeling during a situation. The bags are designed to help meet sensory needs in children and adults. These items lessen sensory overload while also engaging guests, and are easily cleaned and sanitized between uses. Sensory bags are currently available to be checked out through the Zoo’s Guest Relations office located at the front of the park. Please note that numbers are limited and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Experience the Ride! The Columbus Zoo follows the ADA Guide to Rides and Attractions to assure a safe and inclusive experience. While team members do not have the proper training to physically assist, guests are encouraged to enjoy the rides and attractions with someone who is aware of the individual’s needs and can physically assist the guest when needed. Rides and attractions that are currently ADA-accessible at the Zoo include (but are not limited to): the 4-D Theater, Columbus Zoo Train Ride, Grand Carousel, Polar Playground, Shores Play Park, and several Rides at Adventure Cove.
Adult Changing Station. As part of the Zoo’s commitment to prioritizing inclusion initiatives, the Adventure Cove region includes a family restroom built with the vision of staying proactive in meeting and exceeding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. This family restroom, which opened in 2020, is larger than others previously built on the property so that guests with various needs can be better accommodated. A goal for this restroom included an adult changing station, and when Westerville teen, Olivia Brohard, approached the Zoo with an idea to raise funds and help with the installation of this amenity, the goals of the project aligned perfectly for it to move forward. Inspired by her brother, Abram, who lived with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and loved the Columbus Zoo, Olivia worked on this initiative as part of her “Stay All Day” project. This project earned her the American Heritage Girls Starts and Stripes Award, and—while honoring her brother’s memory—helps to ensure that guests with differing abilities enjoy the Zoo. The family restroom at Adventure Cove also features a mural painted by Olivia and handprint tiles created by children and young adults living with disabilities to encourage inclusion and community.
“We are proud to continue growing our inclusion initiatives to ensure that everyone can experience a connection with wildlife at the Columbus Zoo and create special memories as a family,” said President and CEO Tom Schmid. “These efforts are at the heart of our mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife., and we are grateful to collaborate with many dedicated individuals, organizations, and governmental agencies that share in this vision to inspire action and opportunity within our community.”
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, events, and more, be sure to follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok,
and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org. Additional information about the Zoo’s inclusion initiatives can be found by visiting the Zoo’s Accessibility page.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide to continue the mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
