It was a great place but alas like many other things here in our once great city, the Belle Isle Zoo is closed due to the citys lack of funds. Belle Isle itself is a wonderful place or once was. It was a jewel in the downtown area. It should have been made a metro park and then we could have saved it but the city fathers said no. The Detroit Zoo is in Royal Oak, a half hour drive outside the city. It is well worth the drive.