Point Defiance Zoo, Northwest Trek to reopen soon with COVID precautions in place

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park will reopen to the public June 18 under Gov. Jay Inslee’s Phase 2 guidelines and new, safe guest experiences.

“We are delighted to reopen our doors and welcome our community back to Point Defiance Zoo and Northwest Trek,” said Tim Reid, president of the Metro Parks Tacoma Board of Commissioners.

Reid said Zoo and Northwest Trek leaders have spent weeks planning and revamping guest experiences to safeguard people and animals.

Under Phase 2 of the governor’s plan, guests must follow one-directional pathways throughout both zoos and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

“We know our guests have been missing our animals, and we’ve been missing our guests,” said Alan Varsik, director of Metro Parks’ Zoological & Environmental Education Division.

According to Varsik, the two venues have lost more than $3.4 million in revenue since they temporarily closed in March, resulting in significant financial challenges.

New safety guidelines include timed online tickets, limited capacity, enhanced safety protocols and new guest experiences designed to help guests connect with wildlife safely.

Timed online tickets limit the number of guests inside the zoos. Tickets will not be available at the zoos’ front gates.

In addition, during this phase of reopening, all indoor buildings, except restrooms, will be closed. That includes both aquariums and the Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater at Point Defiance Zoo and the Cheney Discovery Center and Discovery Tram tour at Northwest Trek. Food and gifts will be sold from outdoor kiosks.

“Ensuring the safety of our guests, staff and the animals in our care has been and will continue to be our No. 1 priority,” said Reid.

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium will open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with the last timed ticket entry at 4:30 p.m. On Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m., entry will be reserved for seniors and those at high risk from COVID-19.

Timed online tickets are $18 for adults (13+), $14 for children (3-12) and free for members and children under 3.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park will open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, with the last timed ticket entry at 5:30 p.m.

There will be two ways to experience Northwest Trek. Guests can choose either or both.

Northwest Trek will continue to offer its Wild Drive tours, which allow guests to drive their personal vehicles through the park’s 435-acre Free-Roaming Area and see bison, mountain goats and other animals.

These tours are $70 for members and $80 for non-members. The tours must be reserved online.

The new Wild Walk is a one-way walking route around the main forested area of the park. The Wild Walk includes bears, wolves, cats, birds and other forest and wetland animals.

Wild Walk timed online tickets are $12 for adults (13+), $10 for children (3-12), and free for members and children under the age of 3.

At both zoos, staff wear masks and all guests over 2 years old are strongly encouraged to wear masks, too. Hand sanitizer stations will be readily available and only credit/debit cards will be accepted for in-zoo purchases.

Guests are encouraged to bring water bottles as drinking fountains are closed. No outside food is allowed except for dietary restrictions.

Guests and staff are encouraged to avoid touching surfaces, follow respiratory etiquette and stay home if they feel sick.

“Connecting people with wildlife and nature is more important than ever in these difficult times, and we are committed to nurturing those connections, while keeping everyone safe and healthy,” said Varsik.

Timed online tickets will be available to the public beginning Wednesday, June 10 at noon at pdza.org and nwtrek.org.

This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 1:41 PM.