Onyx Bugett | TalkLife News
November 13, 2026 | Jacksonville community news
Archival illustration: Jacksonville Zoo ticket booths, April 13, 2019; not the new dock or its opening. Photo: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized; image adaptations remain under the same license.
JACKSONVILLE — Boaters are scheduled to regain an entrance to Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens on Friday, November 13, with the planned opening of a six-slip dock along the Trout River.
Action News Jax reported November 11 that the project restores river access unavailable since Hurricane Irma damaged the previous dock in 2017. This morning’s report describes the announced opening schedule; it does not independently confirm that the dock has begun admitting boats.
The project includes the 760-foot Largura Family Walkway, connecting arriving boaters with the Land of the Tiger area near the hornbill habitat. The station reported that support came from the Largura family and Superior Construction.
Docking is free for zoo visitors, but admission is separate: arriving by water does not provide free entry. Boaters are instructed to call the number posted at the dock so staff can assist with access and scan tickets. The announced access follows zoo hours, with no nighttime docking.
For families considering a visit, the zoo’s official planning page lists regular hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m. Visitors should check date-specific notices, because the same page flags an early closure on Sunday, November 15.
The zoo also advertises Kids Free November: up to five children ages 3–12 receive daytime general admission with a paying adult when tickets are reserved online. The offer excludes Total Experience tickets and nighttime special events. Families should review those conditions before selecting admission.
There is a practical information gap to resolve before setting out. The city’s dock directory still carries a closure notice. Boaters should confirm current access directly with the zoo rather than assuming every public listing has been updated for the announced reopening.
For Jacksonville, the project brings a river approach back into the visitor experience after a lengthy interruption. The immediate benefit is an additional way to arrive; its usefulness depends on checking dock availability, entry arrangements and operating hours before leaving.