Zoo fun: Get geared up to bounce around the Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove
Caleb Eyre pulls on the teeth of a dragon slide to close the mouth on a rider at Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove. The activity center is full of inflatable rides and slides for children to play on. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
Grace Eyre comes off a slide with a head full of static at Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove. The activity center is full of inflatable rides and slides for children to play on. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
Caleb Eyre pulls the mouth of a dragon slide closed on his sister Grace at Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove. The activity center is full of inflatable rides and slides for children to play on. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
Caleb Eyre, left, plays on an inflatable ride at Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove. The activity center is full of inflatable rides and slides for children to play on. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
Caleb Eyre screams out in joy as he rides down a slide at Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove. The activity center is full of inflatable rides and slides for children to play on. Jessica Eyre/Utah Adventurer
This week’s adventure conjured up curiosity when I mentioned our plan to visit Kangaroo Zoo.
Independently of each other, my 5-year-old and 3-year-old both thought we were going to a zoo with a bunch of kangaroos.
While the name isn’t a literal interpretation of what goes on inside its doors, Kangaroo Zoo definitely fits the place; the informal definition of zoo says it’s “a place, activity, or group marked by chaos or unrestrained behavior.”
That is Kangaroo Zoo to a tee; and honestly, that’s a compliment.
Located in Pleasant Grove among fields and warehouses a few blocks west of State Street, Kangaroo Zoo is an activity center full of bounce houses and inflatable slides. Once the waiver is signed, and shoes are stowed away in the provided cubbies, kids are let loose to run, bounce and slide to their heart’s content.
And that chaos or unrestrained behavior mentioned earlier?
It isn’t the kind of mayhem that results in crying, injuries or hurt feelings. OK, so maybe there is the occasional tumble or crash — they are KIDS after all (although by sheer miracle, on our visit there weren’t any bonked heads, bitten tongues or other mishaps).
But Kangaroo Zoo is like putting your kids in a padded room; even the floor is soft.
My kids’ favorite was the dragon slide; it’s like you’re sliding out on the dragon’s tongue, with the dragon’s upper jaw and long sharp teeth hanging overhead. It’s safe to say it’s a general favorite. Kids liked to pull down on the teeth to close the dragon’s mouth on sliders inside.
Kangaroo Zoo is definitely geared toward children playing, and parents looking on. The inflatables have a 150-pound weight limit, per Manufacturer’s Safety Requirements. But there are lots of areas for parents to relax, including couches and chairs. For a lot of the time, I loved standing at the bottom of the slide and watching the kids’ faces as they came screaming down the slides, hair standing straight up with static, eyes wide open.
For those with kids 2 and younger, there is a special area gated off so they can play freely and not get trampled.
During our visit, another popular spot was the drinking fountain. All the kids sure worked up a sweat. Embrace the chaos and unrestrained behavior at Kangaroo Zoo. Your kids will thank you for it.
Kangaroo Zoo
Where: 513 W. 700 South, Pleasant Grove
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Admission: Monday-Thursday, $7.99; Friday-Saturday, $8.99; Children 2 and younger are $5. No charge for watching.
Etc.: Kangaroo Zoo also has adorable party rooms available with cute decorations and party furnishings. Also, make sure everyone wears socks. They are required to play.
Info: (801) 785-9999. www.kangaroozoo.net