Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, Monroe

It's a nice way to spend a few hours. Admission is cheap ( $3 Kids and Adults, $4 Adults) and employees are nice and friendly. The boat ride was the best part. You get to see animals you wouldn't have seen otherwise!

Hippo, pitiful. He was sweltering outside..monkey house, painted, roaches..roaches in nocturnal house animals foods. One roach was bigger than the animal in the display. Zoo needs to be rebuilt and all monkeys need to be outside on an island. The Kiddie area inside with the monkey house, ..it just can't be healthy. I don't know what someone was thinking when they built the play area in with the overwhelming smell. Will not ever go back here again. The Zoo has went to crap, literally.

I don't think there's anything good I can say about this zoo. The location of the zoo is not pleasing or safe. The only animal in the zoo who has any chance at being happy is the goat. So many overgrown shrubs and blackberry vines which are full of stickers. Oh can't forget about the poison ivy just about everywhere. The cats pens are depressing. The zoo is dirty and depressing. I will not go back It makes me so sad to see animals living in those conditions. I am an animal lover and a zoo lover, but these animals deserve better. SAD SAD SAD!

We visited in July 2009 and had a great time! I took my 3year old son and his cousins ages 6 and 7. The grounds were well maintained and the staff was very friendly. They really enjoyed the boat ride, and the boat guide was great he even answered a million questions from the kids on the ride without getting aggravated which is a plus in my book. Most people would have ignored them. Overall it was a good experience for the kids.They had fun seeing all of the animals. It's really not as bad as some of the reviews say. Take a look and see for yourself. It was a great way to spend some family time together.

The boat ride was the best! There were a lot of empty areas where there used to be animals but it was not a bad.

We visited 2 weekends ago. The grounds were well kept and every where you looked there was an employee tending to the animals - from feeding them, to washing out their cages, to just petting and bonding with them. I witnessed one employee walk up to the spider monkey's glass and start scratching on the glass and "cooing" at them and all three of the monkeys ran up to her and were stroking her hand and face through the glass. Truly a beautiful site! The prairie dog exhibit was my kids favorite because they could get up close and personal (via underground tunnels) with all the adorable babies! The giraffes came in a close second - all 3 were SO sweet and nuzzled my kid's hands. The boat driver had a great sense of humor and knowledge of the animals and the water was very clear. They have these beatiful enormous horses you can ride - either in a saddle or pulled in a wagon. And they are in the process of getting the train back up and running. Oh yeah, and the gift shop is great! I'd definitely recommend a visit.

i spent last saturday at one on the most depressing places i have been to in a while and the worst thing is i subjected my grandchildren to this horror. The monroe zoo is a disgrace. It should be closed down. The animals are tired and worn down, coats very dirty. Living areas were so filthy and the smell was terrible. So many empty and rundown buildings. The train was broke, which is the least of their problems. Such a sad place, im embarressed that i went. I feel so ashamed, because the animals should be protected and cared for and i feel like this is not happening here. Our going there only endorsed this place. I have been to many zoo's where the animals appeared content and well kept, what has happened here?

The Monroe Zoo isn't bad at all especially being in a small town, but if you've been spoiled by "world class" zoos, then you may be a bit dissapointed. Don't get me wrong; it's a fine facility and is obviously well-kept, but the Memphis Zoo is a short drive north on I-55 where the animals may be seen in more natural environments. Allinall, this is still a fun place to bring the kids and the admission fe was quite a bargain.

We visited the zoo last Wednesday, August 15, 2007. The bird displays had captured sparrows and very dark. The large cats were in exhibits with overgrown weeds, dirty water, and just generally in need of repair (cracked ground) and upkeep. Zoo personnel were running around the park with raw meat on trays for feedings. A zoo employee quit his job that day which caused a stir among the other workers who apparently were not happy with the loss. We did not take any chances with any of the exhibits where we had to enter a dark building (night creeper display). I believe that what we were able to see in the sunlight was enough. The exhibits need clearing of overgrown brush and re-posting of signs of what is supposed to be in the cage so you will know what you are trying to find. The animals did look healthy, their living conditions could use a makeover. The park needs to rid the grounds of exhibits which are not going to be used and utilize that space for something that will be an asset to the visit. We did not see any elephants nor horses (as advertised). The train looks as though it has been out of commission for upward thirty years. The boat did not look inviting nor was it working when we were there. We did not go into the gift shop because by the time we made it around to that area, we were looking forward to seeing the parking lot.

Loved the white lions and the LA Purchase exhibit. This zoo has a lot of potential and is perfect for an afternoon trip. Make sure to say hi to Honey the bear.