“For a place called the Richmond Metro Zoo, it’s not very close to Richmond.” said Mauricio from the back seat as Isabel drove Dwayne, Mauricio and I down route 360 to our destination.

“MapQuest says it’s only another seven miles,” replied Dwayne, looking at the folded up piece of paper in his lap.

There were only three other cars in the parking lot when we arrived. “This is almost a little creepy. Is the place even open?”

A sign on the front ticket window announced that “Yes!” They were indeed open. We paid our $9.75 admission to the blonde girl behind the window and bought a couple cups of animal chow to boot.

“Wow,” I said, completely under-whelmed by the site before us. “This place is dinky. It’s a total ghost town.”

“It IS 2:00 on a 102 degree Monday afternoon,” said Dwayne and began walking to the aviary.

“We’re here. Let’s look at some animals.” Mauricio shrugged and followed along.

After a quick peek at the flamingos and spoonbills, we said hello to the prairie dogs and the boa constrictor in the adjacent building, who was eyeing the tasty morsels scampering about in the arid tunnels.

A few feet further down, we came to a cage containing two white-handed gibbons and an energetic chimp named Kinzey. Kinzey ran around in circles when we came over and drew circles in the dirt floor with a stick. Mauricio and Isabel tried their best to communicate with Kinzey by waving their arms and doing their best monkey impression. Whenever Mauricio tried to get a picture, Kinzey would run to the other side of the cage, and look back, waiting for Mauricio to follow. When he did, Kinzey would run to the other side of the cage. “Look, she plays soccer, too!” said Mauricio, pointing at the well-abused ball in the cage. As if on cue, Kinzey spun around three times and kicked the ball into the wall. The gibbons looked down with disdain and continued to chew on their toes.

We sped past the kangaroos, because they were sacked out in the shade having a rest and went into the bat house instead. It was very dark inside and it took a long time for our eyes to adjust. All we could hear were the rustling of leathery wings and some high pitched squealing.  Slowly the red-tinged windows came into focus and we saw two bats having bat-sex against the window. “This is creepy!” exclaimed Isabel. “I’m getting out of here!”

We followed her down to the penguin pond where a zoo-keeper was doling out fish one by one. A bright blue and green peacock sauntered by with his drab brown peahen and six fuzzy yellow peachicks in tow. Beyond them, two regular old chickens sat nervously pecking the ground underneath the concession stand sign advertising “chicken fingers.”

Suddenly, Dwayne was yelling for us to follow him and we found him standing on a bridge with half a dozen eager giraffes craning their necks to get at his cup of zoo-kibble. Despite the gallon jugs of hand-sanitizer stationed every three feet, my germophobic tendencies forced me to refrain from being slobbered on by foot-long tongues, but Mauricio and Isabel were soon elbow deep in giraffe drool.
The oppressive afternoon heat was starting to get to us and we retreated to a shady path that led to the bison, rams, elk and alligators. A squirrel bravely traversed the railing along the ‘gator tank, but the toothy reptiles took no notice and continued to bask lazily in the sun.

We threw the rest of our kibbles down to a herd of small bright-eyed Asian deer with long spiraling horns. They crowded together beneath us anticipating the next handful when a lumbering behemoth called a takin broke through the ranks and demanded kibble for himself.

When the food ran out, we passed back over the giraffe bridge and headed to the lions and tigers and bears. We boggled at the 700 pound tortoises and the 5,000 pound rhinos. “This place isn’t dinky at all… there really is a lot to see here!” I said as we stopped to watch some stinky porcupines and an orangutan sitting in the tall grass on an island.

Amid all these fantastic creatures Isabel pointed down a path and shouted “Look! A bunny!” Sure enough, a little grey bunny hopped across the path into the bushes. If only we still had some kibbles left.

Metro Richmond Zoo | 8300 Beaver Bridge Road | (804) 739.5666 | Mon-Sat 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

We had the grand kids for 2 weeks and was lookimg for something to do.Stumbled across something called the RICHMOND METRO ZOO.Now, I must admit to being a life long Richmond resident,but never heard of it.We decided to give it a try.To my surprise and delight, the place was awesome.I highly reccommend The RICHMOND METRO ZOO.I had never seen a 700 lbs tortoise,but there they were.Anyway,it was a great trip and the kids injoyed it too.The price was right and, bye the way, on the trip back home we stopped at the BERRY FARM,that was near bye, AND GOT SOME FRESH VEGGIES AND FRUIT.

Should be called the Chesterfield Zoo.  Calling it the Metro Richmond Zoo is more than a big stretch because it’s nowhere near Richmond.  I just google mapped it at 25.7 miles from downtown.  That’s a 50 mile roundtrip journey.  From the West End that would be like 35 each way. Dang.  I was actually considering it until I saw the distance involved.

Maybe they could be relocated to the Diamond area when the Braves leave?  Sounds like a good project for Doug Wilder before he departs.  A good way for him to spend those pesky unused campaign funds he needs to disperse!

I totally had the experience today that should have happened on our trip to the RIC zoo. Went to visit my friend and we, plus her boyfriend’s 6 year old, went to Natural Bridge. On the way back he really wanted to stop by this little zoo that was on the way. Having just been to a zoo, I wasn’t really feeling it but we gave in.

Wasn’t so bad. The animal selection was smaller but different than the RIC zoo. Got to hand feed Fruit Loops to a monkey (awesome!!!). Then, as we were looking at the three massive tigers (1 regular, 2 white), I’m not paying attention and my friend shouts a warning. I look just in time to realize I’m in for an unexpected shower. I manage to turn in time to avoid the majority of it but still took a hit.

Guess today was a good day to be peed on by a large, white tiger…

the zoo is neat, but yes I agree I have always been surprised it got named “Richmond Zoo” for a place that seems freakishly far from Richmond.