VENUES
Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory provides a beautiful setting and wonderful options for your next meeting or event. Whether it is business or social, the natural setting and spectacular views provides elegant and efficient space for meetings, conferences, retreats, weddings, holiday parties, receptions and special events.
Here are the fees and brief descriptions for our gardens in 2012:
The Sunken Garden is a year round formal indoor flower garden that can accommodate 90 people, standing. The fee for a 90 minute rental on a Monday through Thursday is $650, Friday and Sunday is $950 and Saturday is $1000. Rental times April through September are 8:15am-9:45am, 6:30pm-8pm and 8:30pm-10pm. October through March are 8:15am-9:45am, 4:30pm-6:00pm, 6:30pm-8:00pm and 8:30pm-10pm.
The North Garden is a year round indoor tropical garden featuring fruit, nut and spice trees. It can accommodate 30-35 people, standing. The fee for a 90 minute rental Monday through Thursday is $350, Friday and Sunday is $700 and Saturday is $750. Rental times April through September are 8:15am-9:45am, 6:30pm-8pm and 8:30pm-10pm. October through March are 8:15am-9:45am, 4:30pm-6:00pm, 6:30pm-8:00pm and 8:30pm-10pm.
The Japanese Garden is under construction in 2012. The Japanese Garden is a serene outdoor garden available May 1st through September 30th, 2013. It can accommodate 30-35, people standing. The fee for a 60 minute rental Wednesday and Thursday is $500, Friday and Sunday is $550 and Saturday is $600. Rentals times May through September are 8:30am to 9:30am and 6:30pm-7:30pm.
The Excedra is an outdoor garden across the street from the Conservatory available May 1st through September 30th. It can accommodate around 50 guests. This garden is available any day of the week 7am to 7pm. Weekdays are $300 per hour, Fridays and Sundays are $400 and Saturdays are $450.
The Enchanted Garden is a large grassy area, across the street from the Conservatory and adjacent to Como’s Enchanted Butterfly Garden. It can accommodate up to 250 for a ceremony and is rented for a four hour time slot. Rental rates are $550 for a 4 hour block of time on a Saturday, $500 on a Friday or Sunday and $400 during the week. $150 for each additional hour or $900 for an all day rental. This fee does not include chair rental. You may choose to rent a tent for the ceremony; in this case a full day rental is required. Chair and tent rental can be arranged by Como. The Enchanted Garden is available to rent between 7:00 am – 7:00 pm.
The Polar Bear Lodge provides a great get-away for business meetings, education classes and private receptions. The lodge has a cozy fireplace, 42-inch LCD screen, Smart Board, and floor to ceiling windows looking out into Polar Bear Odyssey. It accommodates 40 people in theater-style seating, 50 for a cocktail reception, and 30 for a sit down dinner.
Spaces on the Zoo Grounds
The South Patio, adjacent to the Visitor Center can accommodate up to 250 people. It is available during the summer months between 6:30 –8:00 pm for $400, not including chair rental or decorating costs.
The Donor Plaza is located between the historic zoo building and the water bird exhibit. It can accommodate up to 200 people, not including chair rental. This space may be rented between 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
In our new Visitor Center, we have two banquet spaces available for receptions.
The Bullard Rainforest Auditorium has a fabulous view of the bird yard and can seat up to 200 guests for a sit down dinner and 300 for a reception. Included with the auditorium space is a foyer with floor to ceiling windows and a lovely outdoor terrace overlooking the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
The Covered Porch is a long, modern-looking space that is bordered on one side by stone and romantic sconce lighting. The other side is all glass and provides a magnificent view of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The Porch is bordered by a long reflection pond and a large lawn. The Covered Porch can seat up to 250 guests for a sit down dinner and 400 for a reception.
Room Rental and Food and Beverage Minimums
Bullard Rainforest Auditorium
Saturday night: $1800 room rental plus a $4200 food and beverage minimum.
Friday night: $1600 room rental plus a $3750 food and beverage minimum.
Sunday night: $1200 room rental plus a $3500 food and beverage minimum.
The Covered Porch*
Saturday night: $2000 room rental plus a $5500 food and beverage minimum.
Friday night: $1800 room rental plus a $5000 food and beverage minimum.
Sunday night: $1500 room rental plus a $3500 food and beverage minimum
* Add on the Fern Room and Bonsai Lobby for $300 for the entire evening.
The entire Marjorie McNeely Conservatory can be rented for a ceremony followed by a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres style reception. The fee for this is $3000 for a four hour block on Friday – Sunday or $2000 for Monday – Thursday. Included in the rental fee are some tables and chairs for guests to use during the reception portion.
Lancer Catering is Como’s exclusive caterer. You can contact Denise with Lancer for availability and more detailed information. They can be reached at 651-487-8282 or comozoosales@lancercatering.com. You can also check out Lancer’s menus at www.lancercatering.com.
CONSERVATORY
The spectacular beauty and elegance of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, combined with the dramatic setting of the Visitor Center, allows you to host a corporate event, a wedding ceremony or a reception at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.
GARDENS
The Sunken Garden presents a different seasonal floral backdrop throughout the year while the North Garden features a lush tropical garden for a small intimate group or event. Check out our “Attractions” page for detailed information on each garden.
VISITOR CENTER
Como Zoo’s Visitor Center provides a stunning venue and natural ambiance for an elegant social event or an efficient setting for a business conference, executive retreat or corporate meeting. Ambiance abounds in the Visitor Center, which features 65,000 square feet of space including private rooms for meetings or social events. It’s perfect for sit down dinners, buffets or cocktail receptions for 20 to 500 guests.
Amenities include:
- Five flexible meeting & event spaces
- A fully-equipped auditorium with state-of-the-art technology
- An enclosed walkway to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
- High-speed Internet access and comprehensive audio/visual technology
Covered Porch
Overlooking the well-manicured lawns of Como Park, the Porch features beautiful vistas no matter what the season. Gracious and beautiful appointments make this room a favorite for larger gatherings while still preserving an intimate atmosphere. Just outside the floor to ceiling windows, a pristine water lily pond enhances the front of the facility.
Bullard Rainforest Auditorium
From the second floor of the Visitor Center, the Bullard Rainforest Auditorium has spectacular views of the Bird exhibit and surrounding zoo. This space is excellent for larger business meetings, receptions or corporate events.
Como Room and Travelers Room
Nestled on the second floor of the Visitor Center, these intimate spaces offer the opportunity to overlook the upper canopy of the Tropical Encounters exhibit. Drawing inspiration from the tropics, you will experience the sights and sounds of an ecosystem from above.
Berglund Room and Dex Media Room
Perfect for a medium sized group that seeks space for a business meeting or traditional classroom, these rooms offer a setting for lectures, meetings and corporate events.
Terrace
Step outside onto our beautiful terrace where vistas of Como Park and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory open up before your eyes. Spring and summer offer a view of sweeping flower gardens and majestic trees. Fall brings its own wonders of bright colors.
South Patio
Located just outside the Visitor Center, this space offers an expansive view and is perfect for larger outdoor events.
To reserve the Visitor Center and for complete food, beverage and event planning services, contact our expert catering partner, Lancer Catering, at 651-487-8282 or email comozoosales@lancercatering.com
RENTAL RATES
2012 Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Rental Rates |
||||||
Standard Rates |
Saturday Evening |
Friday Evening |
Sunday Evening |
Weekend Morning |
Weeknight/
|
|
Sunken Garden |
$1,000 | $950 | $950 | $800 | $650 | |
North Garden |
$750 | $700 | $700 | $600 | $350 | |
Japanese Garden |
$600 | $550 | $550 | $500 | $500 | |
Excedra |
$450 | $400 | $400 | $300 | $300 | |
Enchanted Garden |
$550 | $500 | $500 | $400 | $400 | |
Fern RoomAdd on toPorch |
$300 | |||||
Tropical Encounters2 hours -Add on only |
$850 | |||||
MMC Complex -Reception4 hours |
$3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | ||
Sunken Garden- Reception |
$2,200 | $2,200 | $2,200 | NA | $1,500 | |
4 hours |
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South Patio |
$400 | |||||
Donor Plaza |
$400 | |||||
