By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun
Great news! Though the pandemic-related lockdown drags on in Northern Virginia and we still have not returned to normal, a few more activities are popping up that let you get out of the house, show the kids a bit of fun, and still maintain social distance protocols. New to the list is Leesburg Animal Park, a local favorite spot that has transformed its facility into a drive-through zoo! The zoo launched this new option in early May 2020.
For 20 years, Leesburg Animal Park has been a go-to place for families, school field trips, and anyone who loves to learn about animals. With both farm and exotic animals, the park features familiar and not-so-common creatures. During its normal operations, you can visit outdoor and indoor exhibits, enjoy an indoor playground, watch free shows, and more, and its fall festival is very popular.
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak and “safer-at-home” restrictions in Virginia, the park can’t operate in its normal way at the moment. But thanks to some creative reconfiguring of its outdoor exhibits, it now provides fun through its drive-through zoo, where guests can see (and learn about) two dozen or so types of animals. These include birds, primates, reptiles, and more, among them bunnies, tortoises, emus, zebras, servals, and goats.
How it works
- Visitors purchase tickets in advance only, as there are no sales at the door; tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for children and seniors and are non-refundable
- Admission includes a complimentary pass with each ticket purchase for a return visit when the park fully reopens
- The drive-through zoo runs only on weekends, Friday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, with the last entry at 4 pm
- Guests must stay in their cars at all times and observe safety-related and operational rules
- Visitors can view (or download and print) an educational guide book to the animals — the book lists the animals in order of appearance, along with their names, ages, and plenty of fun facts about the breed
- The route is short, about a half-mile long, and depending on how many cars are in front of you, it would take about 20 or 25 minutes to complete (you can get back in line and drive through as many times as you wish on the day of your visit)
- Animal feedings are not offered at this time
Photos courtesy of Leesburg Animal Park
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