Wild adventures begin with membership!

Join or renew today, visit today — Just Zoo It! It’s the best family entertainment value around.

Receive free admission to the Zoo and Garden every day for an entire year, guest passes, discounts and a whole lot more. Plus, your membership contribution will help support our education and conservation programs, helping to make your Zoo and Garden the premier family choice for education and recreation in the Southeast.

No matter how or where you join or renew, your membership card will be available at the ticket booth on your next visit to the Zoo. All of your membership information, benefits and guest passes will be stored on a new, barcoded membership card, which will be yours, permanently. Simply join—or renew—online, at the gate or in the mail, and your permanent membership card will be activated—or reactivated—on your next trip to the Zoo. Then, just show your card at the turnstile each time you visit for a speedy entry experience!

Primary Benefits for all membership levels.

  • Free admission everyday.
  • Free “green” guest passes (each guest pass is a $15.95 value).
  • Free visit to Lights Before Christmas.
  • Free subscription to Riverbanks magazine.
  • Free admission to Members’ Night Out.
  • Discounted admission to more than 100 participating zoos and aquariums across the country. Learn more about reciprocal admission privileges.
  • Members-only discounts off Boo at the Zoo and other after-hours events.
  • 10% discount in Zoo and Garden gift shops.
  • Timely and informative email updates.
  • Discounts off Adventure Tours, Parents’ Night Out, and Zoo Camps.
  • Add cash value to your membership card and use it in the park for concessions, retail, attractions or other in-park purchases. (Membership card and picture ID will be required to redeem. Any value added is non-refundable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Lost or stolen membership cards will not be replaced, unless presented with original purchase receipt.)
  • 10% discount off the 40th anniversary book Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: Forty Wild Years and all other USC Press books ordered through The Press.
  • 20% OFF Entire Regularly-Priced Mast Store Branded Purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers or to purchase gift cards. Not valid on Mast Store employee purchases. In-stock items only. Not valid online. Limit one offer per visit. Valid Zoo ID (or Zoo Member ID) required to receive offer. Valid thru 12/31/2016.

Choose a Membership Level that fits you best!

Individual—$59

Individual Plus—$79

Individual Explorer—$119

**PLUS**

  • Unlimited free rides and attractions all year long. (Guest passes do not apply. Unlimited rides and attractions apply to daytime visits only. Sky-High Safari and Zip Line are not included in unlimited rides and attractions packages.)

Family OR Grandparent—$89

Family Plus—$104

  • Two named adults.
  • Children ages 18 and under living in household OR Grandchildren ages 18 and under.
  • Twelve free guest passes.
  • Primary benefits.

**PLUS**

BEST VALUE—Family Explorer—$169

  • Two named adults.
  • Children ages 18 and under living in household OR Grandchildren ages 18 and under.
  • Twelve free guest passes.
  • Primary benefits.

**PLUS**

  • Unlimited free visits to Lights Before Christmas.
  • Unlimited free rides and attractions all year long. (Guest passes do not apply. Unlimited rides and attractions apply to daytime visits only. Sky-High Safari and Zip Line are not included in unlimited rides and attractions packages.)

Patron—$199

  • Two named adults.
  • One guest anytime.
  • Children ages 18 and under living in household OR Grandchildren ages 18 and under.
  • Twelve free guest passes.
  • Primary benefits.

**PLUS**

  • Unlimited free visits to Lights Before Christmas.
  • Unlimited free rides and attractions all year long. (Guest passes do not apply. Unlimited rides and attractions apply to daytime visits only. Sky-High Safari and Zip Line are not included in unlimited rides and attractions packages.)
  • Behind-the-scenes Adventure Tour for two.
  • Two membership cards.

Curator—$275 (GOLD MEMBERSHIP)

  • Two named adults.
  • One guest anytime.
  • Children ages 18 and under living in household OR Grandchildren ages 18 and under.
  • Sixteen free guest passes.
  • Primary benefits.

**PLUS**

  • Unlimited free visits to Lights Before Christmas.
  • Unlimited free rides and attractions all year long. (Guest passes do not apply. Unlimited rides and attractions apply to daytime visits only. Sky-High Safari and Zip Line are not included in unlimited rides and attractions packages.)
  • Behind-the-scenes Adventure Tour for two.
  • Two membership cards.
  • Private Gold Circle Event.

Director—$500 (GOLD MEMBERSHIP)

  • Two named adults.
  • One guest anytime.
  • Children ages 18 and under living in household OR Grandchildren ages 18 and under.
  • Sixteen free guest passes.
  • Discounted general admission tickets.
  • Primary benefits.

**PLUS**

  • Unlimited free visits to Lights Before Christmas.
  • Unlimited free rides and attractions all year long. (Guest passes do not apply. Unlimited rides and attractions apply to daytime visits only. Sky-High Safari and Zip Line are not included in unlimited rides and attractions packages.)
  • Behind-the-scenes Adventure Tour for two.
  • Two membership cards.
  • Private Gold Circle Event.
  • 25% discount on facility rentals.

Benefactor—$1,000 (GOLD MEMBERSHIP)

  • Two named adults.
  • One guest anytime.
  • Children ages 18 and under living in household OR Grandchildren ages 18 and under.
  • Twenty free guest passes.
  • Discounted general admission tickets.
  • Primary benefits.

**PLUS**

Consider the Savings with the best family entertainment value around! Compare and see for yourself.

General Admission Rates—per visit per person

  • Regular Adult (ages 13 and up) — $15.95
  • Regular Child (ages 2–12) — $13.50
  • Lights Before Christmas Adult — $11.00
  • Lights Before Christmas Child (ages 3–12) — $9.00
  • Unlimited Daily Rides and Attractions Wristband** — $20.00
    **Admission, Sky-High Safari and zip line are not included with purchase.**
  • River Zip — $55.00; Zipline Canopy Tour (Zoo Zip and River Zip) — $80.00
  • Sky-High Safari — $7.00

Individual Membership—a greater than $106.70 value for only $59.00!

  • If 1 adult visits the Zoo twice at the cost of regular admission, it costs $31.90.
  • If 1 adult visits the Lights Before Christmas once, it costs $11.00.
  • The 4 free guest passes included in this membership have a value of $63.80.
  • Plus, as a member, you save $2 off tickets to the Sky-High Safari vertical ropes challenge and up to $20 off each Zipline Canopy Tour ticket!

Family Membership—a greater than $253.50 value for only $89.00!

  • If 2 adults and 2 children visit twice at the cost of regular admission, it costs $117.80.
  • If 2 adults and 2 children visit the Lights Before Christmas once, it costs $40.00.
  • The 6 free guest passes included in this membership have a value of $95.70.
  • Plus, as a member, you save $2 off tickets to the Sky-High Safari vertical ropes challenge and up to $20 off each Zipline Canopy Tour ticket!

BEST VALUE! Family Explorer Membership—a greater than $549.20 value for only $169.00!

  • If 2 adults and 2 children visit twice at the cost of regular admission, it costs $117.80.
  • If 2 adults and 2 children purchase daily rides and attractions wristbands in two visits, it costs $160.
  • If 2 adults and 2 children visit the Lights Before Christmas twice, it costs $80.00.
  • The 12 free guest passes included in this membership have a value of $191.40.
  • Plus, as a member, you save $4 off tickets to the Sky-High Safari vertical ropes challenge and up to $20 off each Zipline Canopy Tour ticket!

Visit more and do more—you’ll save even more!

Members’ Night Out is free, after-hours and for members only (no guest passes, please.)

Riverbanks members can stroll through the Zoo on two Friday evenings for three extraordinary hours—when the park is normally closed to the public.

Come one evening or both. Gates open at 6:00pm. Parking at the main Zoo entrance only. Valid membership card and ID required. Guest admission: $5 per person.

July 15

Stroll through the Zoo

Explore the Exhibits

Watch Wildlife in Action:

  • Alligator Demonstration — 6:30pm
  • Sea Lion Training Demonstration — 7:00pm
  • Gorilla Food Toss — 7:30pm

Explore More:

  • Climb the Rock Wall
  • Ride the Carousel
  • Ride the Train
  • Feed the Lorikeets (‘til 8:00pm)
  • Walkabout with the Kangaroos (‘til 8:30pm)

Shop:

  • 20% off at Riverbanks Gift Shop (with member ID)
  • FREE Stroller Rentals

Eat:

  • $1 Hot Dogs, $1 ICEEs and $1 Fountain Soda (Regular menu items also will be available at most locations.)

Reciprocal Admission Privileges for more than 100 participating zoos and aquariums nationwide.

Riverbanks members are entitled to discounted admission into more than 100 participating zoos and aquariums nationwide. Reciprocity applies only for admission to the main facility on normal operating days/hours and may exclude exhibits or events requiring an additional fee. Members must be prepared to show a current Riverbanks membership card, new travel passport* and a picture ID. It is highly recommended that you contact the institution you plan to visit ahead of time to verify reciprocity and to review the specific admission/membership policies, parking fees, guest privileges and discounts to that facility.

View the latest Reciprocal Admissions List. (PDF)

*To request our new travel passport: Call the Membership Office at 803.779.8717 (and press “1”) between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. View Passport Sample. (PDF)

Give a Gift of Membership

Memberships make great gifts and may be purchased at any Riverbanks ticket booth, over the phone or by mail. You can either pick up your gift of membership at any Riverbanks ticket booth and hand-deliver it to your gift recipient, or we can send your gift recipient notification of the gift and let her know she can activate her membership on her first visit to the Zoo!

To purchase or renew a Gift of Membership: Download a printable mail-in form (PDF) or call the Membership Office at 803.779.8717 (and press “1”) between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

About Riverbanks Society

Established in 1976 by a group of concerned citizens, Riverbanks Society started out with a base of 200 members and has grown far beyond expectations with 38,000 member households representing 190,000 individuals, making it one of the largest nonprofit zoo societies per capita in the United States. Members and donors provide important resources for the research, education and conservation efforts of the Zoo and Garden, strengthening Riverbanks’ position as a world-class zoo and leader in wildlife conservation.

 
It is the mission of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden to foster appreciation and concern for all living things. Riverbanks Society is the registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting the needs of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
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