Warbird Information Exchange

PORTAGE, Mich. - The Air Zoo plans to continue offering free admission in 2010.

The flight and aviation museum waived admission fees for 2009 and hasn't set an end to the promotion. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that since the Air Zoo dropped admission fees in June attendance has skyrocketed.

Preliminary numbers show more than 205,000 people toured the southwestern Michigan museum. That's more than double 2008's attendance of 102,114.

The admission fee was dropped in hopes of recouping money through tickets for rides as well as restaurant and gift shop sales.

The museum took in $1.2 million from admission fees in 2008.

Air Zoo spokeswoman Jennifer Cunningham says discounted packages for rides and interactive experiences will be offered starting Monday.

PORTAGE — Free admission to the Air Zoo will continue in 2010.

The flight and aviation museum has waived admission fees for the entire year and did not set an end to the promotion, said Jennifer Cunningham, the communications and public relations manager at the Air Zoo.

Since the Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Rod, dropped its admission fees in June, attendance has skyrocketed.

Since announcing free admission for the summer, attendance has soared. In June alone, the museum recored almost 30,000 vistors.
More than 205,000 people toured the museum in 2009, preliminary numbers show. That is more than double 2008’s attendance of 102,114.

“The positive response from our visitors and the community has been overwhelming,” said Debra Mixis, the museum’s deputy director.

In addition to free admission, the Air Zoo will also offer discounted packages for the museum’s rides and interactive experiences starting Jan. 4, Cunningham said.

For $12.95, visitors who are 48 inches and taller can buy a one-day unlimited pass for every ride. New will be a $10.95 package for visitors 42 inches and taller, and a $6.95 package for visitors 36 inches and taller.

Some rides have height restrictions, limiting the amount available in each pass. The museum had offered an unlimited-ride day pass for $12.95 regardless of height in the past.

Individual tickets for the rides will still be available. Cunningham said at between $2 and $4 a ride — a price that remains unchanged — it would cost $20 for individual tickets to every ride.

The Air Zoo dropped the admission fee of $19.50 for adults and $15.50 for children ages 5-15 in hopes of recouping the money through tickets for rides and restaurant and gift shop sales. The museum took in $1.2 million from admission fees in 2008.

In February and March of 2010, the Air Zoo will offer open cockpit weekends. During weekends in February, visitors can climb into the cockpits of a Wildcat, Hellcat and Corsair. In March, the cockpits of a P-47 Thunderbolt, a B-25 Mitchell and a P-39 Aircobra will be open.