DeYoung Family Zoo
DeYoung Family Zoo
4.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
195 reviews
Excellent
150
Very good
22
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
12
Jessica W
Gwinn, MI3 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Yesterday, we enjoyed an abundance of fun in the sun and learned a lot, too, at the Deyoung Family Zoo! 🦁🐯🐻 It’s hard to believe that this place is just a short drive away from home. 🚗 Conservation, education, rescue, rehabilitation and family fun, nestled in the beautiful wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is what we found here at the zoo. ❤️ This was our first visit, but it definitely won’t be our last! Fun fact: This is no ordinary zoo, that caterers to humans and their need for entertainment, above the animals and their need for freedom; nope! The Deyoung family works extremely hard to care for these animals and give them the next best thing to a free life in the wild as they possibly can. 🙏🏻🙌🏻 Most of the animals here have been rescued from former irresponsible pet owners, big city zoos that just don’t want less than perfect animals, farms that have gone out of business, and sometimes they are called with emergency rescue situations and are even able to release the animals they acquire back into the wild after rehabilitation, as well, if it’s at all possible. 🌲🌳🌱They have over 80 acres of land altogether, and I am just blown away by this extraordinary family and their incredible dedication to these gorgeous non-humans who we have the pleasure of sharing this planet with. 🌎🐾 If you’ve never been, I very much recommend making the drive UP there; you will not regret it. Thank you to the deyoung family for opening up this beautiful zoo to the public so we can see and learn from you and all of the animals. Keep up the great work!!
Written August 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScubaDave16
Highland, IN1,013 contributions
Sep 2020
We saw a billboard for this zoo while driving through town and had a few hours free so we stopped in.
It is way off the beaten path with few signs so just trust your GPS.
This is a small family run zoo
They were friendly and welcoming. I got the feeling that the zoo has had some financial hard times due to Covid
The place is not super well organized – the enclosures were down some paths but not much was marked. They DID have notices saying that the money they were going to spend on signage was spent feeding the animals which of course is very appropriate.
The animals ranged from bears to tigers to lions to alpacas, deer, and many others.
The animals appeared healthy and fed and the enclosures were large if somewhat muddy.
The staff we interacted with seemed to be very caring about the animals.
They had several areas where guests could feed various animals. Goats, alpacas, oxen, etc. you could purchase carrots and grain and such. They did have signs saying what to give the animals. Dangerous animals like the bears and tigers were separated by 2 layers of fences, but the alpacas and such were able to eat out of your hand. I am sure kids would get a big kick out of being allowed to feed animals ((maybe some adults too)
They had some presentations of animals. They did a deer presentation while we were there, but I was really busy watching the tigers and bears.
While not a large zoo, it wasn't very expensive and I think it is worth stopping by. The big cats and bears are cool and if for no other reason they appear to need the business to continue to care for the animals.
It is way off the beaten path with few signs so just trust your GPS.
This is a small family run zoo
They were friendly and welcoming. I got the feeling that the zoo has had some financial hard times due to Covid
The place is not super well organized – the enclosures were down some paths but not much was marked. They DID have notices saying that the money they were going to spend on signage was spent feeding the animals which of course is very appropriate.
The animals ranged from bears to tigers to lions to alpacas, deer, and many others.
The animals appeared healthy and fed and the enclosures were large if somewhat muddy.
The staff we interacted with seemed to be very caring about the animals.
They had several areas where guests could feed various animals. Goats, alpacas, oxen, etc. you could purchase carrots and grain and such. They did have signs saying what to give the animals. Dangerous animals like the bears and tigers were separated by 2 layers of fences, but the alpacas and such were able to eat out of your hand. I am sure kids would get a big kick out of being allowed to feed animals ((maybe some adults too)
They had some presentations of animals. They did a deer presentation while we were there, but I was really busy watching the tigers and bears.
While not a large zoo, it wasn't very expensive and I think it is worth stopping by. The big cats and bears are cool and if for no other reason they appear to need the business to continue to care for the animals.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl Z
1 contribution
Jul 2021
The place starte many years ago. It is a more natural habitat for the animals, with larger spaces for them. It's far from big cities and large populations so doesn't get the $$ of a place like a cement fancy Milwaukee Zoo. It's lots of money to care for the animals and build on, and work to keep up a place (72 acres?) like this, cost and time wise. I like it better. The owner works extremely hard and long (not many workers in the area). They are very knowledgeable about the animals. I like walking around on the wooded trails to see the animals closer than you would at another zoo.
Written June 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SheenaVillageViewInn
Sister Bay, WI5 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
This is the most amazing zoo we have ever been too. A friend had told us about it and now it has become our family tradition to go a few times a season. We would be there a lot more if we weren’t three hours away. The owners are so nice and such hard workers and it is so fun getting to watch the wolf show, bear feeding, big cat feeding, hippo feeding, deer feeding, and so much more. So like some of the other reviews said the parking lot isn’t paved and there are no paved paths but they don’t spend the money on the cosmetics they spend the money on the animals. And others had mentioned that some of the animals were skinny and didn’t look like they were well taken care of… well if they would actually listen the the owners they had said that they do rehabilitation to get animals back to health to either stay with them or find their forever homes. You can clearly tell they love the animals just like their family members. We first walked up to the wolf enclosure and the wolf ran up and was wagging his tail so happy to see us. We have never had that at any other zoo we have been to. These people are a god send for these beautiful creatures. We love you Bud and Carrie. Thank you for giving us such an amazing place to come visit. Can’t wait until we can come back to visit again
Written June 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teresa D
1 contribution
Jun 2020
Wen were there 2 years ago. We were very impressed with the whole place. I did start raining while we were there and were just going to ride out the rain. They came up to us and ask if we were waiting the the next showing and in fact we were. That all being said eveyone had left so the 3 of us our granddaughter was with us. We just waiting. Well so glad we hung out and waited. My husband is handicapped and can't walk far for very long. So they offered to give us our private tour of the park. They pointed different things out for us. Gave us history on the different animals. Our Granddaughter got to help bottle feed the fawns. Loved the one on one that we got. It was clean and a happy place we will be going back this summer. Can't wait.
Written May 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacey R
2 contributions
May 2024 • Family
Deplorable and horrible. I can not believe this place can even be open. It’s filthy, numerous animals had no water at 12:15 during 83 degree sun. This is not a legit zoo by any means. 2 bears had 1 watermelon between them to “play” with. The landscape consists of overgrown weeds, animal poop, mud, bug infested trails & stagnant green ponds. Save your money or go to Shalom Wildlife instead. This place should be shut down by PETA & the state.
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anns0508
Grand Haven, MI20 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
I am always curious to see how zoos are run. I've found in my travels very few to be worthy. This is NOT one of the good ones. Cages are way too small for every animal type. If you are going to run a business and want people to donate, like you, want to get good word of mouth and no harassing you must show where and how you spend your money and how you care for you animals. Don't spend the money on an animal to "display" and they are in a jail cell, a tiny box, not enough room for that species to roam, run, stretch, swing, swim, etc. I want the owners and workers to spend a week in one of the cages. I bet they will start to pace and growl! No, people don't live like that - very true... but, neither do those animals in their "real" lives. We saw a worker feeding some animals and it was dirty and disgusting how they did it in front of the public. Not like the good zoos, behind the scenes. The wheelbarrow of "mush" that stunk to high heaven was wheeled past everyone and dropped right in front of the cage and the man shoveled it through the bars. This place is what I would call a slum. If you want to have a "feeding display" do it right! Not like pig slop on a farm. When you visit watch the animals, do they pace, how is their fur, check the edges of their ears, look at their eyes...there are plenty of signs that the animal is not in the right habitat. The workers in the little shop were un-friendly and rude. If you want to make a buck act like you like the visitors, be friendly and helpful. They need to stop getting animals and make the zoo bigger for the animals to roam not sway back and forth. They need room to do more than pace. In the wild they run, climb, hide in trees, logs, behind rocks..they need to LIVE not rot away.
Written November 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pwhite
Warrenville, IL5 contributions
Aug 2017
I'm not sure why this place has such great reviews. The animals are confined to very small cages and they all seem stressed. The pictures on their website of the water that the bear and hippo are in must have been taken someplace else. The water was completely covered in algae. What a depressing experience.
Written August 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
patrickandmysons
Santa Ana, CA2 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
An AMAZING ZOO is an understatement...Best ZOO in the entire world...Find me another that is better, and I'll give you 10,000 Cash no less! I come from California every summer to visit this INCREDIBLE place. I have been to 60 plus Zoo's in my life...Big time ZOO person, and the De YOUNG ZOO is surely DE BEST ZOO in the WORLD! Where can you have up close and personal time with baby monkeys, apes of all kinds, black panthers, Siberian tigers and much, much more...Hugs and kisses from all these amazing animals, holding, walking, feeding them in your arms, and more...Truly a life experience one can ONLY experience here at the De YOUNG ZOO.
Written May 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jojobanjo2
Newport Beach, CA2 contributions
Jun 2018
First off, anyone that says anything negative about this place is surely JUST a HATER and a REAL Nasty human being, This place is a JOY and AMAZING IN ALL RESPECTS. Interactions with baby animals, live demo's up close, and EVERYTHING POSITIVE about this GREAT ZOO experience. This is a can't miss experience, and shameful for anyone that writes bad things about this INCREDIBLE ZOO, EXPERIENCE AND PLACE.
Written June 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky A
Marinette, Wisconsin
Does going on a Saturday lessen the experience at this zoo? We have been trying to go during the week and it’s just not working out.
I am wondering about the increase in attendance at the zoo, directly causing the experience to go down, on Saturday?
Thanks for your help!
Written July 28, 2021
The handlers had the baby tiger out, but the customers did not hold them the day we were there in August.
Written September 26, 2019
Yes, the walkways aren't paved but I've seen people there in wheelchairs going through just fine.
Written August 7, 2019
On some of the negative reviews, individuals say that the enclosures are way too small, the animals are in bad shape, and the zoo smells really bad. I'm just wondering how there are so many great reviews and these negative ones. Were the enclosures adequate and did the animals seem to be in good spirits?
Thanks
Thea
Written April 30, 2018
The animals are well taken care of and their enclosures are no different than I have seen at the bigger zoos, in fact some are even bigger. The animals all seemed to be in good spirits and while there was a slight smell it was nothing overwhelming (I mean you're at a zoo, animals poop)
Written September 2, 2018
Bud the owner offers animal interaction times. Bud will bring out different animals to a pavilion and guest sit on pic-nic-tables and he lets them hold the animals. I have held a monkey, baby kangaroo, snakes, badger, and more.
Written August 14, 2018
gefmoondog54
Freistatt, Missouri
Is thier any hotels or motels in wallace or can you camp at the zoo
Written January 8, 2018
No hotels or much of anything right there but Menominee, Mi and Marinette, wi are within 20 miles of zoo with plenty of accommodations.
Written August 14, 2018
It sounds like some animal welfare organizations and some tripadvisor reviewers are concerned about the living quarters of the animals here. Getting close is fun for visitors, but for the animals, it means a small, confined enclosure and no opportunity to roam (away from human eyes). What plans are there to improve the living spaces? And, are there plans to re-home Louie the chimp to a place where he can have some company? At present he is completely alone. That is a very sad life for an intelligent, emotional, social animal.
Written February 1, 2016
The animals at the Wallace zoo are treated like family. Louie is loved by all who come in contact with him and is cared for like a child. I feel the Wallace zoo treats their animals better than they are treated in much larger zoos in the big cities.
Written August 14, 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 12
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing