Reviews of Belle Isle Nature Center (Zoo)

Dan Ramsey

Cool place. You never know what isin your own backyard.

Lyndsey Oaks

Loved it. Thought the deer experience could be a little better. There was no shade for then in the open area and could only see one. The aquarium was closed due to a feild trip so maybe online could have this marked so we go at different times

Rekt Lord Onegaminus

Full of amazing animals found right here at home in Michigan. If you are there around 1 or 3 pm you can take part in an event where you meet some deer and give them a treat. EXCELLENT for kids.This is also free admission! If you have a recreation passport for the Belle Isle everything there costs nothing to experience. It more than makes up for the cost.

Dominique Carter

I am a native Detroiter and just love nature and the tranquility that comes along with it. Check it out.

Ron Lawrence

One of the best things you will ever do for free (it's all donation based), is visit the Belle Island attractions. The Nature Center is very informative, interactive for kids and adults, and is also located right next to a beautiful little park for the kids.

Arafel Fischer

Small but very informative. Has a nice outdoor section with a path you can walk around.

Cara Rapai

Excellent place to bring little kids! My 1 1/2 year old daughter love looking at the turtles and fish. My 5 year old liked feeding the dear and some of the science based activities. Also it's free, even the parking!

Robert W. Lawson II

If you visited the nature center a number of years ago and are expecting the same experience... don't. It's dramatically scaled down from what was effectively a "zoo for small things" to a few large fish tanks, some old tired deer, a bee hive, and a bird viewing window. When my oldest child was very young, I seem to remember an outdoor circuit where you could see everything from butterflies-on-up... indoors (I believe) HAD large exhibits with detailed education plaques. The Detroit Zoological Society should be ashamed of how they've starved this facility while the rest of the park has flourished. 3 stars for good memories.

Princess Queshané

I'm giving it 5 stars because my 2 and 5 year old siblings had a great time their and cried when we had to leave. It's not a large facility and you can get through it in about 30 mins but we managed to stretch it out to an hour because …

Kevin Perry

Pops took me there upon return from Free China. Most remembered was their eels. Chicago has free Aquarium visits also. This idle also had a zoo butterflies and a famous fountain. It also is now a national park I believe after isle royal. They host the Grand Prix race which is world famous.

Tabitha Myer

Checked online last night to verify days and times for the different things on the island. So, we drove 4 hours to have a nice enjoyable time as a family. Got here and the ONLY place open is the nature center. The little kids (2-9) enjoyed it, but otherwise, it definitely was NOT worth the gas. Apparently nothing is open until the Grand Prix is over with. Which that is not posted ANYWHERE! Updating the website could be quite helpful. Needless to say, I will not be returning.

Tania Armandez

Very nice to see all that they have to offer the public!

Hope Clay

Was a lot of fun to walk around and learn about the local wildlife.

Scoti Clayton

I have a better Nature Center in White Lake called Indian Springs! But it's something to do very briefly while on Belle Isle. Small children like it!

Bill S

This is a nature center set apart from others in that it is deeply inset with the surrounding flora and has a more open feel from its location on the island of belle isle. A must visit. Often.

Emily Hiebert

Nature Center is nice, rather small. Has a nice kids play area and features local species. Close to a good size play structure. My biggest problem is with Belle isle itself, so much construction hard to get around to the nature center.

marvine mbcride

Our Summer Meals Field Trip was so much fun

Cecile W.

Great place to go for a day trip. Aquarium is small but very lovely. Nice picnic area with plenty of restrooms, NOT porta pots. Nice walking area around the Island.l Easy access in and out of the Detroit area.

Khalid Scott

We planted a tree and got to take it home!The science exhibits were cool.

Oguz Sarkut

An Island between US & Canada. Nice place for families. They have a free museum too.

Antonio Broadnax

I love this place always reminds me of being a kid

Carolee Giersdorf

Very nice and clean. It is a smaller Nature Center but is done nicely and is informative. We enjoyed it.

Kecia McNeal

It was nice but I would have liked to see more wildlife

Sue Main

Great place to discover and enjoy the beauty and wonder of God's amazing Creation, for both adults and children!

Robyn Volker

Great place to take kids. Learn new things and interact with exhibits.

Kimberly Ireland

Well done! It's small enough to keep the kids interested and the deer experience is something special. Definitely going back.

Aaron Klumpp

Belle Isle Nature Center is a really educational experience. It tends to focus on native to Michigan species through informative posters and displays. A good place to walk through with the entire family

Rose Deliu

Love visiting Belle Isle. There are areas I'd like to see cleaned up.

Rickey Dixon

Has so much to offer, Should check it out soon

Asher Bank

Super beautiful area! Come her if you've got the time. Good for kids.

Vanessa Wilson

I love the bird feeding station you can watch from inside. There's one of those book sharing boxes outside, so you could take a book and sit to read it at the bird window. Would be great with a coffee or tea.

Rob J

Loved our visit here yesterday, been visiting this place since i was a little boy and brought out a carload of kids from.2 hours away that have heard me talk about Belle Isle for a long while. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. the center was clean and educational, seen the fattest squirrels i have ever seen along with a couple of plump opossums and a few fallow deer. Also seen an albino turtle. Another Great FREE ADMISSION thing to do with your family in the cuty of Detroit. Be sure to give a donation to help with operating costs.

daniel j. kunnath

Great Place. Very friendly staff of rangers and park security. The improvement of this park to the organized control by the State of Michigan park authority, is truly amazing. We have always been Belle Isle park visitors, so I have seen it during it's fallen times...and believe me I feel 100% safe there now. No one could ever dispute this fact. Good job State of Michigan for returning dignity once again to this Gem of a park.

Sukumar shah

Great place, excellent nature exhibits on display. You can touch & feel different animal parts such as skulls, skin(furr) horns etc. nice decor & children play room. Bird house outside center is very nice & many birds & sparrows are taking shelter. Small but beautiful place & without visiting this place your visit to island is not complete

wanda kohlmeyer

Great place to visit.

J Mills

I brought my 5 year old great nephew here and we had an excellent time. There are about 7 turtle exhibits housing various turtle species, a salamander, frog and snake exhibit. There is a very cool bee farm and an outdoor area to observe and feed deer. It's a wonderful place to visit; especially, with a young child.

Amie Lynn

Was very here for Nature Tots , it was a great program! My 2 year old had SO much fun! We can't wait until next month. I live all the things they offer at the nature center though, our older kids love their summer camp.

Ben Williams

Always trying to figure out how they grow those beautiful plants have flowers a wonderful place to take a date and a beautiful background and take pictures

Adam Miller

Kids loved it go at 1pm and watch them feed the deers !!

Sarah Jackson

Free, fun, you get to see and learn about local wildlife. Staff are super kind.

Reid Nelson

Gorgeous island in Detroit, great for all of your recreational desires. There re great events and plenty of spots for a bbq.

Jessica Szpanelewski

It was nice to bring my young boys

Mary O'Terry

Great little place to beat the heat when at belle isle. Lots of charm built in to the little circular building. From the natural blocks and story time tree house nook to little tidbits of information of the animals that live in the area we thoroughly enjoyed our tour in the air conditioned building.

Anna Spoto

Not a huge variety of animals but I really enjoyed looking at all of the turtles and frogs. They have an area with many bird feeders and it was cool to see all the different species of birds that were enjoying the food (along with the …

Jasleen kaur

Wonderful place to visit!

Oacia Fair

This is very nice, especially for kids. It is definitely worth to stop by and learn some new things. I really enjoyed seeing a group of black squirrels and birds just co-existing. It was beautiful. I also liked the egg comparisons.

Ang G

Small with a, few displays. Sporadic hours. Thee best thing here was the observatory bee hive. Marked queen and errthang.

Chris R

Could be so much more. Huge island. Many great parks and views of Canada. Many run down areas and abandoned parts.

Yul Green

Really a great place to take children to learn about nature really nice very educational.

Stitched Pumpkin

For being the size of my thumb, this place had a bit more than anticipated, although a lot less than I'd hoped - before I saw how very small it was. Bees, aquatics like turtles and frogs, not-your-backyard-deer, a trunk tree house (ground) …

Ryan Konrath

This was a very very small "zoo", if it can even be called that. The exhibits are almost entirely inside, and consisting of mostly reptiles. There was a window overlooking some feeders for bird-watching, and a trail through the wooded …

Connie Brought

Born and raised in Michigan and this was my first time to visit. Enjoyed it. Clean, easy to walk through and didn't feel rushed to hurry through. Displays were all interesting and educational.

Jenni Hereford

Very beautiful, the day was quite relaxing and enjoyable. Conservatory is a can't miss!

Keren Gelfand

Nice exhibits and deer encounter is fun. But small place. People there are very nice and friendly!

Robert Lee

Great place to walk and explore. Not a fan of the aquarium but the greenhouse is amazing. The nature center is wonderful for the kids.

David Booth

Just meeting a friend for a vessel exam. Fishing boat passed issued a vessel exam sticker, we had coffee (Tim Hortons)& talked. He was going to go fishing. I went to Sector Detroit. Great parking lot No Pot Holes.

Carol Roszka

Wish there were more interactive things but cute cave with wood cushions and wooden kitchen set. Great for toddlers

Roberta Pelton

A cozy little space for nature education. Well worth the drive across the state, for the full Belle Isle experience.

Z Alnajar

Glad the state took over, this place is allot nicer than what it was back in the 2000's I love it

Omar Hawari

I love this place but the deer and sheep are never out out they put a sign up with the time they release those animals but those times are never very accurate if they could stick to schedule that would be very appreciated besides that all the animals there are very cool like the snakes and frogs if you do go I suggest you take a look at their artificial bee hive is marvelous

Jami Kelly

The Bat exhibit/performance/presentation was Absolutely spectacular!!

Expert opinion

awesome place kids had lots of lots to do

Gabrielle Ekstrum

Very fun, small, free nature center with a lot of amphibians in enclosures which allow you to get close and observe their movement. Regular free events are put on to teach about different animals and habitats.

Pamela Servatius

Great place for kids and adults to learn about local native wildlife. Nice staff/volunteers, special programming weekly for little ones, and a few times a day, can feed the fallow deer while learning a bit of history of the island. There's also a newer, medium sized playground across the street.

Jae B

Cool, but I wish they had more stuff. Very child-centered. Not good for adults. The deer encounter was solidly disappointing.

William Robinette

Really cool for little kids ! But why lock down the deer exhibit ! ?

Greg Dulaney

Cool place. Lots of interesting things to check out.

Linda Ringstad

Went to Nature Center with my son and grandson. It was great to see the whole island was well maintained.

Karen Huffman

Love love love the island!

Ralph Treece

We went on a super cold day but they allowed us to feed the deer. The kids loved every minute of it. They laughed because the deer were just their size. Also check out the newer play area near the center.. it's amazing!

Robert Williams

I took my 2 year old and he enjoyed looking at the turtles and he ran all over the place and they enjoyed his energy. Cool spot to take the kids. It's definitely worth checking out.

Donna Jean

Interesting..fun place

Sandra A QUEEN

If your a flower and plant lover this is the place. I loved the butterflies back in the day. They were so colorful and the atmosphere was so serene. Perfect place for a wedding.

Josh F

In the heart of Detroit, the island offers a glimpse of the way things used to be. The nature center is not going to take more than an hour to fully enjoy, which is good though because there are plenty of other things youll also want to do while youre there. The aquarium is on the comeback, fishing is great all around the interior streams and ponds, and a couple great parks the kids can play on. You need a State park pass to get in. Dont be surprised.

Giovanni Marano

I don't know Spanish but that place was great. The food was delicious and the people were very professional.

Rhonda Thoman

We went for a clean up event and never did find anybody. So we went to a nature thing. Looked at albino deer.

Alona Jones

Loved looking at the cool insects and reptiles.

Kyle Mayville

Nice over all but they need to work on the place some. A new coat of paint here some deep cleaning of the building as a whole. Its ran by the Detroit Zoo but they definitely dont maintaine it like they do the Zoo

Yousef Abu hawa

The best of the best park i ever seen...great plce to visit u ur famly ur live even for wedding. Birthday party...u need relax come on and visit..

Amanda wylie

This place is a hidden gem, there is so much to do & it was all free! The outdoor center is so simple yet my kids were entertained for two hours & got to feed deer. There is a cool park right across from the building, the aquarium is not far, & again free! We just discovered this place last year & will spending may weekend days in the future here the island is so beautiful.

Tiffani

My kids love this place. We come often to both the play place and center. We learn something new each time.

David Kautz

Really lovely nature center

Diana Mooney

Went with class field trip, the staff was patient, knowledgeable, and kind. Awesome!

Gena Green

Wonderful Place! Love the summer camp

Lisha Kilgus

This place is great. A lot of great interactive things for the kids. The deer encounter was fun. The treehouse was a favorite. Such a fun and interactive place to go with the family!

Cass Clark

I was surprised of the opening. It's a great place for kids

The Jewel

Very friendly place for kids, special needs and more. At 1PM you can go along and feed the deer. Lots of cool things to see. The beekeeper is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. All around family-friendly, cool place.

Chris Gallucci

What an awesome, free (if you don't want to donate) place to go. You can see (almost) all the local wildlife in one building. If two 25-30 year olds can have a good time there, anyone can.