Stingray Beach

Yes, Stingray Beach is open to all guests. This reimagined experience reflects a habitat strengthened from the inside out.

Stingray Beach is an interactive aquatic habitat where guests can observe and connect with marine life, including stingrays and bamboo sharks, in a setting designed around their natural behaviors. The experience is supported by dedicated animal care and guest experience teams, along with habitat systems designed to prioritize long-term animal wellbeing.

The habitat has been thoughtfully strengthened from the inside out. Enhancements were made to life support systems, filtration processes, and water quality monitoring protocols to support long-term stability. 

Daily care routines and oversight practices were also refined to support the wellbeing of each animal. The experience itself has also been thoughtfully shaped to create meaningful and memorable guest interactions while maintaining a strong focus on animal wellbeing.

The experience looks a little different, and that is intentional. Adjustments to layout, interaction flow, and supervision practices were made with both animal wellbeing and meaningful guest engagement in mind. The sense of wonder remains, supported by a strengthened foundation beneath the surface.

Stingray Beach features stingrays alongside brown-banded bamboo sharks, offering a broader view of marine life and how different species share coastal environments.

Stingray Beach is designed to be flexible. Guests can spend a few minutes or longer observing, engaging, and learning at their own pace.

Access to the Stingray Beach habitat requires a separate ticket. To enter the experience, guests must purchase a Stingray Beach ticket. Viewing from outside the habitat may be available without a ticket.

Stingray Beach tickets are available for purchase onsite: 

• Non-members – $5
• Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium members* – $4

Feeding cups are available for $1.50, while supplies last each day.

*Membership card and valid photo ID required.

Tickets for Stingray Beach can be purchased onsite at the experience entrance or at any rides kiosk throughout the Zoo. Food cups for feeding opportunities are available for purchase inside the Stingray Beach experience.

Yes. Stingray Beach admission is included with both available package options: 

• Zoo Adventure Package – $52.95 
• Attractions Package – Non-Member: $24.95 | Member: $26.95  

Packages can be purchased at Guest Services. Package details and availability may vary throughout the season. 

Yes. Admission to Stingray Beach is included with Patron Membership benefits at no additional charge. Patron members may access the experience during regular operating hours by presenting their membership upon entry.

Animal wellbeing begins with water quality and daily oversight. Salinity, temperature, oxygen levels, and filtration are carefully monitored and documented. Animal care teams also conduct daily health checks, structured feeding routines, behavioral observations, and enrichment planning to support each animal individually. 

Guests entering the habitat also play an important role in supporting animal wellbeing. Upon entry, guests are required to wash their hands and are guided through appropriate interaction techniques as part of the experience. In addition, food and beverages are not permitted inside Stingray Beach.

Yes. The habitat operates with strengthened life support systems, structured monitoring intervals, and trained supervision. Every interaction is intentionally designed to prioritize both animal wellbeing and guest safety.

Experiencing marine life up close fosters curiosity, understanding, and care for ocean ecosystems. By connecting people directly with animals like stingrays and bamboo sharks, Stingray Beach helps build awareness and support for conservation efforts that protect marine species and their habitats.

An experienced animal care team, including aquarists and veterinary staff, provides daily monitoring, enrichment, and health assessments. Each animal is cared for individually, with structured routines and ongoing care designed to provide each stingray with the opportunity to thrive and support long-term wellbeing.

Yes. Supervised feeding opportunities are part of the experience and are guided by team members within the habitat. To support the safety and wellbeing of the animals, guests will be shown how to properly feed the stingrays before participating. Feeding cup availability is intentionally limited each day to support established animal care routines.

Stingray Beach is home to brown-banded bamboo sharks, a small, bottom-dwelling species known for their gentle temperament and calm behavior. These sharks spend much of their time resting along the habitat floor and are comfortable sharing space with our stingrays.  Like the stingrays, the bamboo sharks are part of a thoughtfully managed habitat experience focused on education, connection, and respect for marine life.

We ask that guests refrain from feeding the bamboo sharks. Guests are welcome to gently touch the bamboo sharks under the supervision and guidance of trained staff.

Yes. Existing donor plaques within the Stingray Beach habitat are still in place and remain unchanged.

Please note that Stingray Beach plaques are not currently available for purchase. If you have questions regarding an existing Stingray Beach plaque or would like information about other donor recognition and plaque opportunities throughout Zoo grounds, please contact the Omaha Zoo Foundation office at (402) 738-2065.

Guided, well-managed interactions create meaningful moments of connection. When people encounter animals up close, they gain a deeper appreciation for their behaviors, habitats, and conservation needs, strengthening their connection to the natural world.