The Memphis Zoo in Overton Park was created in 1906, but it was written into the city’s master plan dating back to 1888. This historic, award-winning zoo sits on 76 acres and houses over 500 different species of animals. The Animals of the Night exhibit was a nice place to have a little reprieve from the sun, and enjoy some animals that aren’t usually on display. There are plenty of other covered areas, including cooling huts filled with glorious air conditioning, an aquarium, and a herpetarium. And then there were the times that we were gluttons for punishment, like when we entered the new butterfly exhibit, where employees walk around with portable fans around their necks. We couldn’t see it all in one day, not when it was 100 degrees outside and it really felt as if we were in the middle of Egypt, but we got a lot out of our half day adventure here. This zoo is part of the AZA Reciprocal Admissions Program (as is the Living Desert), so our half day adventure was also half price.
