INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Zoo at White River State Park, just west of downtown Indianapolis, opened with great fanfare on June 11, 1988.
A parachutist delivered the scissors used for the ribbon-cutting, which marked the zoo's official opening. A crowd of 7,000 watched as fireworks exploded and 20,000 balloons were released. Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut praised the educational value the zoo brought to Indianapolis.
While the zoo's location along the banks of the White River was new, the zoo itself wasn't.
The Indianapolis Zoo previously operated for more than two decades at George Washington Park near Keystone Avenue and 30th Street.
The 20-acre Indianapolis Zoo at George Washington Park opened in 1964 and featured more than 500 animals.
When it came time for the zoo to move to a new location, an auction was held to make space and raise funds for the new world-class zoo.
More than six million people visited the original Indianapolis Zoo location before it closed on November 1, 1987.
Anticipation for the new Indianapolis Zoo grew in 1988.
Just before the zoo's opening, a large inflatable gorilla was placed on the side of the AUL Tower, now OneAmerica Tower. It held a banner that said, "AUL GOES APE OVER THE NEW ZOO!"
The new Indianapolis Zoo featured several biomes, or collections of habitats, including the Waters Complex, Forests, Encounter and Plains.
As for pricing in 1988, things were a little bit cheaper.
Adult $7.00 Child (ages 3-12) $4.00 Parking $1.50 Soft Drink $ 1.15 Hot dog $1.15 Train Ride $1.25
