- Attraction: Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
- Location: 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
- Industry: Zoo
- Website: https://www.nashvillezoo.org
Picture this: wandering through an Australian outback where red kangaroos lounge mere feet away, close enough to photograph their curious faces without any barriers between you.
Middle Tennessee’s top paid attraction draws over a million visitors annually to its sprawling 188 acres, and there’s good reason why USA Today nominated it among America’s 10 Best Zoos.
This accredited zoo houses more than 3,700 animals representing over 350 species, from critically endangered Amur leopards to playful meerkats.
Beyond the animals, you’ll find a historic 1810 home listed on the National Register, a massive 66,000-square-foot playground, and seasonal lantern festivals that transform the grounds into glowing wonderlands.
What makes this place truly distinctive is its role as a global leader in clouded leopard conservation.
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Keep Exploring →Since 1991, the zoo has successfully bred 44 clouded leopard cubs through pioneering artificial insemination techniques and hand-rearing programs that have become models for zoos worldwide. You’ll find immersive habitats that feel less like enclosures and more like genuine slices of wildlife ecosystems.
Animal Encounters & Exhibits
Kangaroo Kickabout: This Australian-themed walkthrough habitat lets you stroll through 4,500 square feet of naturalistic landscape alongside 18 red kangaroos. Unlike traditional zoo exhibits where you peer through glass, here you’re actually inside the enclosure with these magnificent marsupials.
You’ll spot cockatoos fluttering overhead and can capture incredible photographs of kangaroos relaxing in the grass or bounding across the terrain. The kangaroos seem unbothered by human presence, creating those magical moments where wildlife and visitors peacefully coexist.
Leopard Forest: The zoo’s newest major exhibit opened in 2024 and features the critically endangered Amur leopard, with fewer than 150 remaining in the wild.
The habitat includes an overhead bridge where leopards travel above visitors on their way to outdoor areas, offering jaw-dropping views of these rare big cats.
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Discover MoreThe exhibit also houses black-and-white colobus monkeys and De Brazza’s monkeys in a lush environment complete with towering trees weighing over 100,000 pounds that were relocated to create an authentic forest atmosphere.
The leopard-viewing building itself is designed to resemble an African hamerkop waterbird’s nest.
Clouded Leopard Conservation Center: As one of the founding members of the Clouded Leopard Consortium, this zoo is internationally recognized for its work saving these elusive cats from extinction.
You can often view clouded leopards in the veterinary center’s neonatal care room, where cubs are hand-reared. These vulnerable cats face serious threats from deforestation and poaching, with only around 10,000 estimated in the wild.
The zoo’s groundbreaking artificial insemination programs have produced remarkable success, including the historic 2017 birth of Niran using previously frozen semen.
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Keep Exploring →Lorikeet Landing: This 2,400-square-foot aviary bursts with color as more than 50 Australian parrots flit around in a tropical setting.
These friendly lorikeets will land on your arm or shoulder if you purchase nectar cups, creating delightful interactions that kids and adults equally adore. The vibrant blues, greens, and oranges of their plumage make for stunning photos.
Meerkat Manor: Watch a family of over 10 meerkats exhibit their famously social behavior in a hillside habitat.
These charming creatures take turns standing sentry, digging burrows, and playing together in ways that showcase their tight-knit family dynamics. Their antics keep visitors entertained for much longer than expected.
Critter Encounters: Get hands-on time with goats, camels, alpacas, and the surprisingly personable Galapagos tortoises.
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Discover MoreThese gentle giants often approach visitors, and you can pet their ancient-looking shells while learning about their incredible longevity. The brush goats are particularly enthusiastic about attention.
African Exhibits: The zoo showcases impressive African wildlife including white rhinoceroses, Masai giraffes, and zebras in spacious habitats designed to mimic the savanna. The elephant exhibit receives particular praise for its size and naturalistic design.
Some female elephants at the zoo are notably tuskless, an interesting characteristic that even keepers discuss during talks.
Other Notable Animals: Throughout the grounds, you’ll encounter Sumatran tigers prowling their territory, Andean bears lounging in their beautiful habitat, Caribbean flamingos standing in elegant flocks, red pandas climbing through bamboo, spider monkeys swinging through their treetop passage, white-cheeked gibbons calling from their island homes, and giant anteaters with their distinctive elongated snouts.
Attractions & Activities
Jungle Gym: This isn’t your average playground. At 66,000 square feet, it’s the largest community-built playground in the United States.
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Keep Exploring →The centerpiece is a 35-foot-tall treehouse structure complete with super slides, a giant snake tunnel that kids crawl through, swings, climbing nets, ZipKrooz, and a two-level spinning globe.
The recently renovated space now includes Promise Park, a specially designed section where children of all abilities can play side-by-side, featuring modified equipment for kids in wheelchairs, with leg braces, sensory disorders, and other disabilities.
Multiple shade structures keep parents comfortable while kids burn off energy for hours.
Soaring Eagle Zip Line: For thrill-seekers, this seated zip line lifts riders 110 feet high before releasing them for an exhilarating 28-mph ride that travels several hundred yards.
You’ll soar over giraffes, rhinos, and other animals, getting a bird’s-eye perspective of the zoo. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall, and the combined weight limit is 450 pounds for two riders.
Wild Animal Carousel: This isn’t a typical carousel with horses. Instead, you’ll find 39 brightly colored wooden carvings of zoo animals including a giant anteater and clouded leopard.
The pavilion features intricate artwork by master carver Zsolt Hormay, who also helped create Disney’s Animal Kingdom Tree of Life. On Wednesdays, rides are completely free all day long.
Wilderness Express Train: Take a relaxing ride around the zoo grounds aboard the vintage-style train, perfect for resting tired feet while still experiencing the property.
4D Theater: Catch immersive films like Ice Age: No Time For Nuts and Animal Kingdom 4D, complete with special effects that make you feel part of the action. These short films provide welcome air-conditioned breaks during hot summer visits.
Grassmere Historic Home: Built in 1810, this is the second-oldest home open to the public in Davidson County. The property once belonged to the Croft sisters, whose great-great grandfather originally owned the 300-acre farm.
Seasonal guided tours explore the home’s history, the Morton Family Exhibit, the family cemetery, and the heirloom garden. The historic farm area includes a livestock barn, chicken coop, and vintage farm equipment that transport you back to early Tennessee agricultural life.
Keeper Talks & Animal Feedings: Throughout the day, knowledgeable keepers present educational talks about various animals including red river hogs, cougars, and residents of the Africa field.
River tank feedings are particularly popular, and these scheduled events help you catch animals at their most active. The keeper staff shows genuine passion for the animals in their care and eagerly shares fascinating insights about behavior, conservation efforts, and individual animal personalities.
Seasonal Events & Special Experiences
Zoolumination: From November through early February, the zoo transforms into the nation’s largest Chinese lantern festival. Over 1,000 custom-made silk lanterns illuminated by eco-friendly LED lights create breathtaking scenes of mythical creatures, wildlife, and whimsical displays throughout the grounds.
Chinese artists from Zigong design completely new lanterns each year, so every visit offers fresh visual experiences. The event includes live entertainment with Chinese acrobats performing multiple times nightly, a North Pole Village with holiday themes and Santa visits through Christmas Eve, and the Smashville Ice Rink where you can skate surrounded by glowing lanterns.
Hot cocoa (spiked versions available), specialty cocktails, and festive treats are sold throughout. A few nocturnal animals like Andean bears, Sumatran tigers, and flamingos stay visible until evening, though most animals are sleeping.
The displays range from elegant underwater scenes with dolphins and orcas to playful beach parties with dancing pineapples to majestic dragon boats pushing through glowing waves.
Backstage Pass Tours: Starting at $40, these limited-capacity tours offer behind-the-scenes access to areas not visible during regular visits. You’ll learn about animal care, veterinary work, and conservation programs directly from experts.
Easter Eggstravaganzoo: This annual spring event features age-separated egg hunts, face painting, special animal encounters, and keeper chats. Families appreciate how well-organized the activities remain even during busy attendance.
Atmosphere & Grounds
Botanical Beauty: Many visitors compare the zoo to a botanical garden because of its lush landscaping. Mature trees provide welcome shade along winding paths, bamboo groves create tranquil canopies, and thoughtfully placed plantings soften the transitions between exhibits.
The grounds feel more like exploring a curated corner of the natural world than a traditional zoo with concrete and chain-link fences.
Immersive Habitats: The exhibits emphasize spacious, naturalistic environments where animals appear comfortable and engaged rather than pacing nervously.
Rocky outcroppings, flowing water features, and native vegetation create settings that mirror each species’ wild home. Africa and Asia theming is particularly well-executed throughout respective sections.
Cleanliness & Maintenance: The property is consistently described as exceptionally well-maintained and spotless. Tables get wiped down promptly, pathways stay clear of debris, and bathrooms remain clean even during peak attendance. Habitats look fresh and show no signs of deterioration.
Walkability: With nearly 90 of the zoo’s 188 acres currently developed, expect significant walking. Most paths are paved and accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and mobility scooters (available to rent first-come, first-served).
Shaded areas help during hot months, though some sections have limited cover, making cooler morning visits ideal. Despite the size, families report occasionally missing exhibits after four hours of exploring.
Signage: Directional signs throughout the parking lot and entrance are clear and helpful. Inside the zoo, some signs occasionally get obscured by plant overgrowth, though most remain readable. The Nashville Zoo mobile app provides an interactive map and real-time updates to help navigate efficiently.
Practical Information
Admission & Pricing: Daily ticket prices vary by date and day of week, typically ranging from $16-$26 for adults and teens, with children ages 2-12 saving $4 off the adult price. Kids under 2 enter free. Advance timed-entry reservations are required for all guests, including members.
Annual memberships offer excellent value for frequent visitors, providing free parking, discounts on special events and guest passes, plus unlimited visits that work perfectly for families with young children who prefer shorter, multiple trips.
The Unlimited Rides Pass membership add-on includes free carousel, zip line, and train rides for everyone on the membership.
Special Offers: In September, the zoo runs “Halfternoons” with 50% off admission after 1:00 pm. Kroger Plus Card holders get BOGO admission on Fridays. Wednesdays feature free carousel rides all day. Members receive additional discounts on single-event tickets like Zoolumination.
Best Times to Visit: Arrive in the morning when animals are most active and temperatures remain comfortable. Weekdays typically have lighter crowds than weekends.
Plan for at least 3-4 hours, though you could easily spend an entire day exploring everything. During summer months, morning visits before midday heat are especially recommended.
Food & Amenities: Outside food and drinks are permitted, which many families appreciate given that concession prices run high (bottled water approaches $4).
On-site dining includes Quills Cafe serving burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pizza, plus seasonally operating spots with BBQ, appetizers, and quick snacks.
Vegetarian options are now available. Adult beverages including local beers and margaritas are sold at select locations. While food quality is adequate, bringing your own snacks helps manage costs for large groups.
Parking: Parking costs $10, though zoo members park free. Ample spaces are available close to the entrance, with accessible spots near the main gate. The zoo is easily reached from I-65 or I-24 via the Harding Place exit.
Accessibility: The zoo prioritizes inclusivity with wheelchair-accessible pathways, bathrooms with manual-opening doors, and available manual wheelchair and electric scooter rentals at the entrance. Everything except certain playground sections is accessible.
The Promise Park section of the Jungle Gym specifically accommodates children with disabilities. Electric scooters rent out quickly on busy days, so arrive early if needed.
Family-Friendly Features: With its massive playground, hands-on animal encounters, and educational programming, this zoo caters exceptionally well to families with children of all ages. Five restroom facilities are strategically placed throughout, including family bathrooms.
Stroller rentals are available. The zoo regularly hosts kids’ birthday parties, overnight sleepovers, camps, and school group trips.
Hours: Open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (early March through mid-October) and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (mid-October through early March). The zoo closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Some special events require early closures, so check the calendar before visiting.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
📍 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
