Lowry Park Zoo: Rides

Tampa, Florida: Although known primarily for their animal exhibits, Lowry Park Zoo has added some family fun rides to provide thrills for all members of the family. This diversity has led to the zoo being named the number one family zoo in the nation by both Child magazine and Parents magazine. In addition to the standard theme park style rides, the zoo also features a few animal rides as well.

The Jungle Carousel is a classic merry-go-round in which guests can ride on various wild animals. The carousel consists of Cheetahs, Manatees, Elephants and many more different animals.

On the Safari Ride, guest climb aboard on open tram car and head off on a trip through the African safari. The fifteen minute ride takes you through the habitats of giraffes, elephants, zebras and many more animals. It also takes you through the back lot area of the zoo with a look at the nighttime quarters for many of the animals.

The Skyfari takes riders soaring above the zoo on a chair lift style Skyride. Once above the park riders can look down into the animal habitats or catch a glimpse of the downtown Tampa skyline in the distance.

Boomer’s Flying Bananas is a children’s ride where you can control a flying banana as it flies around the circle. The rider can control how high or low their banana flies with a joystick style lever.

Lowry Park Zoo also features two animal rides, the Camel Ride and Pony Trek. As the names imply, riders have the opportunity to ride on a real life camel and pony.

Two of the newest rides are among the zoo’s most popular, Gator Falls and Tasmanian Tiger Family Coaster. The Tasmanian Tiger Family Coaster was opened in 2008 and is a family style coaster that takes its riders on a wild ride as only a tiger can.

The Gator Falls Flume ride also opened in 2008 as part of Lowry Park Zoo’s twentieth anniversary. The flume ride takes riders on a journey through the albino alligator exhibit. The ride ends with a thirty foot drop over the exhibit with a wet and wild splash down at the end.

If the thrills of these rides are too much or you are looking more for an quiet and relaxing ride, try the River Odyssey Eco-Cruise. Several times a day the pontoon boat “Sirenia” takes guests on a boat ride on the Hillsborough River. On the ride guests get to see the animals that call the river home in their natural habitat.

All of the rides are a separate per ride fee. You can purchase a ride wristband for unlimited rides or ride tokens if you only want to ride a few. The River Odyssey is a separated ticketed attraction and can be purchased in conjunction with you zoo admission.

For photos from Lowry Park Zoo, please visit my Lowry Park Zoo photo page.