Houston Zoo admission prices to increase on July 1

Friday, June 22, 2007

(6/22/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Next time you head to the Houston Zoo, you're going to have to pay a little more. The price to see the animals is going up.

Millions of people have visited the zoo over the years -- it has been open at Hermann Park since the early 1920s -- and now has 4,500 permanent residents. And now, it's going to cost you more to see them.

An adult ticket is going up $1.50 to $10. A child's ticket will go up $1 to $5.

Katie Harris and her son Alton love to go to the Houston Zoo.

"It's a fun thing to do during the week," she said.

But starting July 1, the cost of the family attraction is going up.

"We are going up $1.50 for adults and $1 for children. So that brings it to $10 for adults and $5 for children," said Rick Barongi, the director of the Houston Zoo.

"We make money in other ways, too. But this is a relatively small increase. It's the first one in two years. Just look at the cost of a movie and a Coke today, you know, and this is an all-day experience," Barongi said.

The increase will cost a family of four -- two adults and two children -- $30. Compare that to the $37 it will cost the same family at the Fort Worth Zoo or the $76.50 for a day at the San Diego Zoo.

"I think it's affordable. I think the zoo is still really nice and very maintained," Harris added.

But for some families, the dollars are already adding up. "I can remember the good ol' days when it was $2 for an adult price. So, it's getting pretty steep and as long as we can get in on the discounted prices ... then we'll do it. But if they keep raising them, you know, we're going to have to cut back," Beth Dimmick said.

The zoo still plans to offer five free days a year and you can buy discounted tickets at Fiesta food stores.

Zoo officals say they have spent millions upgrading the zoo over the last five years. And they say the increase will allow them to bring in new exhibits and help keep the animals happy.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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