What Blank Park Zoo does

Blank Park Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological organization headquartered at 7401 SW 9th Street in Des Moines, Iowa, founded in 1966 as the Des Moines Children's Zoo and rebranded in 1986. It operates a single physical attraction housing 2,500+ animals across 200+ species, and is the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoo in Iowa. The zoo functions simultaneously as a conservation institution (participating in AZA Species Survival Plans for giraffes, addax, rhinos, cotton-top tamarins, and others, with multi-year partnerships with Iowa DNR and Iowa State University on Blanding's turtle headstarting), an education provider (field trips, Zoo To You outreach, Safari Camps, educator workshops), and a family entertainment destination (general admission, giraffe feeding, behind-the-scenes tours, on-site dining and retail).

The business model is event- and membership-driven with diversified revenue streams: tiered daytime admission tickets (infants free, children $15+, adults $20+, seniors $19+), annual family memberships starting at $139, adults-only season passes (Zoo Brew, $99 for two adults across nine events), ticketed seasonal events (Night Eyes $10, Wild Lights $17-$25, Dino Park Zoo), private facility rentals, on-site concessions and gift shop sales, and charitable contributions (donations, adopt-an-animal, planned giving, corporate sponsorships from Veridian Credit Union, MidAmerican Energy, T-Fiber, and Prairie Meadows). Pricing is publicly disclosed across the visitor channel with group, military, and member discounts layered on. Distribution is anchored by the physical site in Des Moines, supplemented by online ticket sales via tickets.blankparkzoo.com, Zoo To You off-site outreach, and private event bookings.

The zoo is currently executing an $18 million Expand the Impact capital campaign, which has delivered the May 2025 groundbreaking of the Marjorie A. Foster Lion Conservation Center (scheduled to open summer 2026) and the November 2025 groundbreaking of Ruan Foundation Wild Iowa native-wildlife habitats. Leadership is Anne Shimerdla as President and CEO, with Jay Tetzloff as Chief Animal Officer. The organization is celebrating its 60th anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) in 2026 with the Roar & Explore statewide sculpture trail as a flagship initiative. The technology layer is conventional zoo operations and animal-care management with no proprietary AI or software platform.

Name

Blank Park Zoo

Legal name

The Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://blankparkzoo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Blank Park Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park in Des Moines, Iowa — the state's only AZA-accredited zoo — operating a single facility of 2,500+ animals across 200+ species with admission, membership, seasonal events, conservation breeding, and education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park Operations

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

Keywords

• Zoological park operations
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Animal exhibit experiences
• Conservation education services
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Daytime admission tickets for general zoo visitors with tiered pricing by age group (infant free, children $15+, adults $20+, seniors $19+).
2. Memberships: Annual family memberships starting at $139 per year providing unlimited daytime visits and exclusive benefits.
3. Zoo Brew Season Passes: Season passes for the adults-only Zoo Brew event series at $99 for two adults covering all nine Wednesday night events.
4. Special Events: Ticketed special events including Zoo Brew ($15 per ticket), Night Eyes ($10), Wild Lights ($17-$25), and Dino Park Zoo experiences.
5. Donations: Charitable donations from supporters including planned giving, sponsorships, and adopt-an-animal programs.
6. Gift Shop and Concessions: Retail merchandise and food/beverage sales through on-site dine and shop facilities.
7. Experiences and Programs: Paid experiences including behind-the-scenes tours, giraffe feeding, train rides, and educational classes.
8. Private Event Rentals: Venue rentals for private events including weddings, birthday parties, and corporate events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blank Park Zoo operates a single-site zoological park in Des Moines, Iowa that provides animal exhibits, educational programs, conservation initiatives, special events, and venue rentals to the public. Its core offerings center on daily zoo admission, annual memberships, signature seasonal events (Zoo Brew, Wild Lights, Night Eyes, Dino Park Zoo), animal experiences (giraffe feeding, behind-the-scenes tours), education outreach (Zoo To You, Safari Camps, field trips), and conservation fundraising programs.

Product overview

Blank Park Zoo operates as a single-site zoological facility offering a unified visitor experience combining general admission, educational programs, special events, and animal exhibits. The zoo's product portfolio centers on admission-based access supplemented by premium experiences (giraffe feeding, behind-the-scenes tours), annual memberships, and seasonal events (Zoo Brew, Wild Lights, Night Eyes). Educational offerings include Zoo To You outreach, Safari Camps, and field trips. Conservation programs feature adopt-an-animal and Blanding's turtle headstarting. Event rentals encompass birthday parties and facility rentals. The Discovery Center houses indoor tropical rainforest and aquarium exhibits. Major capital projects under the $18 million Expand the Impact campaign include Ruan Foundation Wild Iowa native habitat and Marjorie A. Foster Lion Conservation Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dino Park Zoo: A temporary summer rebranding of Blank Park Zoo featuring dinosaur-themed experiences and animatronic dinosaurs from July through October.

Products and services

• Zoo Admission Tickets Tiered daytime admission tickets (infants free, children $15+, adults $20+, seniors $19+) granting visitors one year of access to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Zoo Memberships Annual membership passes for families and individuals providing unlimited daytime admission, member discounts on experiences, and exclusive event access; sold online and on-site.
• Zoo Brew Adults-only summer evening ticketed event at the zoo featuring local craft beverages, food vendors, live music, and after-hours animal exhibits.
• Wild Lights Evening ticketed lantern festival featuring handcrafted illuminated animal displays, food and beverage concessions, and after-hours zoo access.
• Night Eyes Annual family Halloween event featuring illuminated displays, trick-or-treat stations, train and carousel rides, and inflatables, with dinosaur-themed activities in 2025.
• Dino Park Zoo Seasonal dinosaur-themed branded experience at Blank Park Zoo featuring 15 animatronic dinosaurs from Dino Don, Inc., running from July through October 2025.
• Giraffe Feeding Experience Pay-per-treat interactive experience allowing visitors to hand-feed reticulated giraffes along the Africa boardwalk; pricing at $3 per treat or $5 for three treats.
• Behind the Scenes Tours Guided exclusive-access tours providing visitors behind-the-scenes views of animal care areas and educational programming not open to the general public.
• Zoo To You Off-site educational outreach program bringing live animal experiences and hands-on conservation education to schools, organizations, and events in Iowa.
• Safari Camps Summer day camps for children providing immersive zoo experiences combining educational activities, animal encounters, and conservation lessons.
• Facility Rentals (Rent The Zoo) Private venue rental service for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and group gatherings, offering after-hours access to animal habitats and event spaces.
• Birthday Parties Bookable birthday party packages held on zoo grounds with animal-themed activities and dedicated party spaces.
• Train and Carousel Classic amusement rides at the zoo including a train and carousel, available to visitors for a small per-ride fee.
• Discovery Center Indoor tropical rainforest and aquarium exhibit with diverse species including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish in immersive habitats.
• Hub Harbor Marine mammal exhibit housing California sea lions and harbor seals with daily training demonstrations and educational presentations.
• Jamaa Kwa Africa African savanna habitat featuring giraffes, addax, and other African species with public viewing areas.
• Prairie Meadows Rhino Savanna Black rhinoceros habitat with educational programming focused on critically endangered species conservation.
• Kids Kingdom Interactive children's area with hands-on animal feeding experiences, including goat feeding and other animal encounters.
• Tortoise Experience Paid daily experience at $10 per person allowing visitors to meet and feed the resident Aldabra tortoise.
• Animal Feed Cups On-site feed cups and feed buckets available for purchase so guests can feed designated zoo animals.
• Adopt An Animal Symbolic adoption program where supporters contribute to the care and conservation of specific zoo animals and receive personalized information about their adopted animal.
• Online Gift Shop Online retail storefront offering Blank Park Zoo merchandise, souvenirs, and conservation-themed products for direct purchase by the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third consecutive year of cotton-top tamarin births, contributing to species conservation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FedExminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2026FedEx transported harbor seal Walnut from Los Angeles Zoo to Blank Park Zoo via FedEx Cares Delivering for Good initiative. FedEx provided in-kind shipping for the animal and caregivers as part of the company's charitable giving program.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Multi-year Blanding's turtle conservation partnership. Iowa DNR works with landowners to create turtle habitats and brings pregnant females to the zoo for headstarting program.
• Iowa State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Research partner in Blanding's turtle conservation. Uses radio-telemetry to monitor turtle populations and assists with pregnant female transport to zoo.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZA accreditation and Species Survival Plan (SSP) participation for managing healthy, genetically diverse animal populations across accredited zoos. Blank Park Zoo participates in SSP programs for giraffes, addax, rhinos, and other endangered species.
• Los Angeles ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource zoo for harbor seal Walnut. Animals transferred through AZA breeding recommendations.
• SeaWorld San DiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided specialized transport crate for harbor seal Walnut's journey from Los Angeles to Des Moines.
• Red Panda NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlank Park Zoo supports Red Panda Network's community-based conservation programs in Nepal, which benefit local livelihoods while protecting red panda habitat.
• Snow Leopard TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlank Park Zoo partners with Snow Leopard Trust to support wild snow leopard conservation efforts. Portion of zoo revenue supports this initiative.
• International Rhino FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support black rhino conservation. Foundation helps protect wild rhino populations and supports research for long-term survival.
• Giraffe Conservation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlank Park Zoo provides financial support through Coins for Conservation to GCF's Giraffe Conservation Status Report project gathering data on giraffe numbers and threats across Africa.
• Proyecto TitíminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization dedicated to protecting cotton-top tamarins in Colombia. Blank Park Zoo supports through revenue portion.
• Tianyu Arts & CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal provider of authentic Asian lantern festivals. Partner for Wild Lights event featuring handcrafted illuminated lantern displays.
• Dino Don, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's leading provider of life-like animatronic dinosaurs. Partnered for Dino Park Zoo summer 2025 transformation featuring 15 animatronic dinosaurs.
• Veridian Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Zoo Brew 2026. Adult-only summer event series featuring local beverages and live music.
• MidAmerican Energy CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Wild Lights 2025 event featuring illuminated lantern displays.
• T-FiberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Night Eyes 2025 dinosaur-themed Halloween event.
• Prairie MeadowsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming sponsor for Prairie Meadows Rhino Savanna exhibit and Prairie Meadows Bobcat Meadows.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory: Nonprofit zoo and conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota. Comparable Midwest nonprofit zoo with mixed admission/membership revenue, special events, and education programming, drawing families from a similar demographic profile.
• Indianapolis Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana. Comparable Midwestern regional zoo combining traditional exhibits with special events and conservation programs, competing for cross-state family visitation.
• Milwaukee County Zoo: AZA-accredited regional zoo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mid-sized zoological park with comparable nonprofit operating structure, special events, and seasonal programming, competing for upper-Midwest family entertainment dollars.
• Saint Louis Zoo: AZA-accredited, nonprofit zoological park in St. Louis, Missouri. Operates a comparable membership, event, and conservation-driven model and pulls day-trip and weekend-trip Iowa visitors, making it a direct competition on discretionary family spend.
• Kansas City Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Kansas City, Missouri. Comparable mid-sized regional zoo with similar emphasis on conservation programs, special events, and family memberships, targeting a similar demographic radius around the metro.
• Minnesota Zoo: AZA-accredited nonprofit zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Comparable Midwest regional zoo with similar conservation, education, and special-event programming, drawing visitors from a regional catchment that overlaps with upper Iowa.
• Sedgwick County Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Wichita, Kansas. Closely comparable in size and operating model — nonprofit, mid-sized regional zoo with active SSP participation, special events, and education programs targeting regional family and school audiences.
• Brookfield Zoo (CZS): Chicago-area AZA-accredited zoo operated by the Chicago Zoological Society. Larger and more established than Blank Park Zoo but operates on a similar nonprofit, membership-driven, conservation-focused model in the broader Midwest market.
• Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: AZA-accredited zoological park in Omaha, Nebraska, roughly 2 hours from Des Moines. The closest geographic and category peer, competing directly for Iowa family visitation, memberships, and school field trips, but at substantially larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian's National Zoo: Major nationally recognized zoological institution in Washington, D.C. Larger and more prominent AZA zoo and cultural institution that sets national conservation and education standards relevant to Blank Park Zoo's mission and accreditation framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blankparkzoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/blankparkzoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/blankparkzoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blankparkzoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/blankparkzoo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blank Park Zoo