Why it's time to get a zoo membership

Megan Raposa -

This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium.

Simplified: Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium members can get special discounts on retail, food, education programs and event admission. Here's why now is the time to get your annual membership.

Why it matters

  • It's been a little over two years since the Great Plains Zoo merged with the Butterfly House and Aquarium to form the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, and the Monarch Membership was created as a way to give guests year-round access to both campuses.
  • All membership tiers include discounts on food, beverages, retail and additional tickets to the zoo or butterfly house. Members can also get discounts at other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums throughout the country.
  • Memberships are also a great way to save money – especially for families who like to spend the summer hanging out at the new splash pad or have a warm place to go get a taste of a tropical climate at the butterfly house in the winter.
"If you're someone who's going to be going to the zoo or the butterfly house more than a couple of times in a calendar year, a membership is going to be a better deal for you," PR and Marketing Director Denise DePaolo said.

Tell me more about membership

Monarch and Gold memberships also include admission to popular events like ZooBoo, Summer Celebration and, coming up next month, Eggstravaganza. Plus, these membership options include free admission for one guest each visit.

  • The main difference between the two is that Gold memberships include admission only to the zoo campus while the Monarch membership includes both the zoo and the Butterfly House and Aquarium.
  • There's also a standard membership that includes year-round zoo access with certain blackout dates.
  • There is no longer a standalone annual membership to the Butterfly House and Aquarium.

Members can also get discounts on zoo education programs – including summer camps, which are filling up fast, DePaolo said.

Are memberships just for families?

Not at all.

There are memberships for individuals, couples, families and seniors.

  • You can also purchase a membership as a gift – for example for a grandparent who might want to tag along to zoo visits when they come to town to visit.

There are also a number of people who get individual or senior memberships just to have another place to walk around and enjoy nature.

"We have seniors who come every day and walk around the zoo," DePaolo said.

How can I get a membership?

You can find more details on the different membership tiers and get signed up here.