One of my kids favorite places to hang out during summer break is the Knoxville Zoo. Due to an incredibly busy summer schedule today was actually our very first summer visit to the zoo. We always want to see fantastic new animals like the wallaby home or reptiles house, so when we get a chance to see the animals in our local zoo we shouldn’t pass on the chance During our visit today the marketing director was nice enough to give us a sneak peak of the newly remodeled Wee Play Adventure! Wee Play has always been a favorite place for my kids to play so when we were told about the remodel we couldn’t wait to see it. You all are going to love the remodel!
It’s still the same open floor plan so both exits are easily visible so you won’t have to worry about your little one running outside without you knowing it. The new theme is a remote Indonesian island theme designed to take kids on an exotic adventure. There is a giant Woka tree, a large indoor playground in the center perfect for pre-school to elementary age children. On the outside of the playground area is an archaeological dig where kids can dig around in the sand to find all kinds of fossils.
There are two imagination areas. One is an outpost style area where kids can stock their knapsacks and work the cash register. Another, which was a favorite of my kids, is the research laboratory and animal clinic. This is where the kids can use the microscope and take care of the Komodo dragons.
One of the biggest features of the new Wee Play Adventure is the brand new indoor/outdoor habitat for the zoo’s two Komodo dragons, Khaleesi and Drogo. This habitat is 1,000 square feet and wide open for close up encounters of the two dragons. The habitat also includes a tunnel with a pop-up bubble that takes kids “into” the habitat.
To go along with the exotic Indonesian theme there will be several lizard exhibits throughout Wee Play Adventure. These exhibits all have monitors above them which will display information about each species. The lizard exhibits will include the following species:
- Madagascar Giant Chameleon
- Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko
- Caiman Lizard
- San Esteban Island Chuckwalla
- Desert Spiny Lizard
- Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard
- Chinese Crocodile Lizard
- Taylor’s Agama
- Green Tree Monitor
- Red-headed Agama
- Mozambique Girdled Lizard
- East African Spiny-tailed Lizard
Wee Play Adventure will still include favorites with modifications like the baby play area, gift shop, snack bar and private breastfeeding room. As my fellow breastfeeding moms can attest the Knoxville Zoo is a very breastfeeding friendly place. The gift shop has moved to an area that’s a little more closed off, not at the exit. I love this as my kids would always have a meltdown when they didn’t get the toy they wanted as we left. The snack bar will now include a small coffee shop, which is genius!
This new adventure experience was made possible by Pilot Flying J. Located in the Pilot Flying J building and formerly home to Wee Play Zoo, Pilot Flying J saw the opportunity to transform one of the most popular areas in the zoo to encourage creative play and physical activity year-round. Wee Play Adventure will be open to the public Saturday, July 19th. Knoxville Zoo members be on the look out for your members only invitation to get to see Wee Play Adventure a little early!
If you haven’t been to the zoo in a while this summer is the perfect time to visit. There are so many new things to do from their nature play area, train ride and giraffe feeding. My 3 year old loved feeding the giraffe and couldn’t believe how long his tongue is.
To celebrate the opening of Wee Play Adventure the Knoxville Zoo has been kind enough to giveaway a 4 pack of tickets to two of my lucky readers. To enter just use the form below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I am a Panamanian holistic mom of a wonderful 3 1/2 year old boy, Brandon Wells II. I would love to win this because it would something different to do with my son since I can barely make ends meet. At the end of the month I usually run out of food. Having a phone & a car is such a luxury. I know what it’s like to not have those. We’ve also gone through being homeless. To win something would be such a breath of fresh air.
Thank you for the opportunity.
We are really excited to check out the new wee play area! Thanks for the sneak peek!!
The Knoxville Zoo keeps getting better and better!