Zoo Miami is reopening after the coronavirus shutdown. Here are the new rules to follow
Phew. The fam can finally see animals again, and not on a Zoom conference call or virtual tour.
Zoo Miami will reopen to visitors on June 1, following so called new normal guidelines in line with the county, the CDC and State Health Department.
Luckily, the (mostly) outdoor attraction in South Miami-Dade is large and spread out, so social distancing shouldn’t be too difficult if we keep others in mind. But there will be limited capacity, regardless.
Members have already gotten the OK to enter, starting Wednesday.
So how will the family destination be different in the coronavirus age?
Walk-up visits no longer exist. Guests must pre-purchase tickets beforehand. A maximum of 10 tickets will be allowed per transaction. Visitors 2 and older will have to wear masks or face coverings. Pro tip: Make the essential health accessory fun for the kiddos by buying an animal-themed mask at giftshop.zoomiami.org or on site at the gift shop.
Additional ways the folks at Zoo Miami are helping to keep people safe and protected: one-way only directional floor decals in various exhibits such as Wings of Asia, Critter Connection and Florida: Mission Everglades.
To limit touch points, rentals of safari cycles, strollers, wheelchairs, and motorized scooters will be limited and sanitized after every use.
Indoor buildings will be open at half normal capacity.
Some high contact experiences will remain closed. Forget personal feedings; the camels, giraffes and rhinos will have to be seen eating, fed by staff, from afar.
And no more playground fun or rides, water play areas or zookeeper talks and presentations.
You can definitely eat, though. Food concessions will be open; seats have been placed at a minimum of six feet apart to allow for social distancing.
“We know how important Zoo Miami is to our community and we look forward to once again being able to provide a wonderful experience for the whole family, while keeping each other safe,” said Zoo Miami Director Carol Kruse.
She added that employees will have their temperature checked daily before their shifts.
Details: Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., Miami-Dade; 305-251-0400. General admission: $22.95, adults; $18.95, children 3-12. Tickets are available for pre-purchase only at shop.zoomiami.org.
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 11:05 AM.
