Oregon Zoo - Zoo Facts

Zoo Facts

Our Mission: "Inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife."

General Zoo Info

In 1887, Richard Knight, a local pharmacist who collected animals as a hobby, officially presented his menagerie to the city and the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi was created. The Oregon Zoo is home to animals from all corners of the world, including Asian elephants, Peruvian penguins and Arctic polar bears. From the mist-filled Africa Rain Forest to the majestic Great Northwest exhibits, the zoo encourages visitors to understand and experience the natural world. Committed to conservation of endangered species and their habitats—both locally and around the globe—the zoo is a center for wildlife preservation and field research. The Oregon Zoo’s award-winning education programs serve more than a half-million people both at the zoo and at schools, senior and community centers around the region. A summer concert series, seasonal events and the zoo railway help this popular Oregon attraction draw more than one million visitors each year. The Oregon Zoo is all of this, but it is also a safe place for families to share moments of discovery and fun.

Hours
April 15 - Sept. 15
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Grounds open till 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 - April 14
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Grounds open till 5 p.m.
The zoo is open every day except December 25.

Rates
Adults (12-64) $9.75
Seniors (65 and over) $8.25
Children (3-11) $6.75
Infants (2 and under) Free
Group rates
Train tickets
For special event rates, please call 503-226-1561.

Phone
503-226-1561

Address
4001 SW Canyon Road
Portland, Oregon 97221

Directions
The zoo is located five minutes west of downtown Portland on Highway 26. Watch for the signs. The zoo is the first exit from this highway. more info

Parking & Transportation
$1 per vehicle. 960 spaces, 17 disabled person spaces. A shuttle runs from the next freeway exit on busy days. Or take the TriMet Light Rail Service (MAX) which stops at the Washington Park station approximately every ten minutes.

Director
Tony Vecchio

Size
64 acres

Annual Attendance
2006 was a record breaking year with 1,447,116 visitors, largely due to ZooLights attendance.

Budget
$23.4 million

Future
The zoo is committed to providing the best possible facility for its animals as well as the community. A comprehensive plan, "A Great Zoo: Framework for the Future," examines the entire zoo, and incorporates the vision, "Caring Now for the Future of Life," into each department's goals for the next 25 years and beyond. The building master plan balances animals, natural habitats, native culture, technology, plantings, and innovative architecture. As always, the zoo will continue to be a source of discovery and fun that allows visitors to understand and experience the natural world and our place in it.

Funding
Income is derived from a tax base through Metro, zoo admissions, concessions, contributions, special promotions, the Oregon Zoo Foundation and grants.

Zoo Grounds

Animal Collection
About 1,029 specimens representing 200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Of these, 21 species are endangered and 33 are threatened. The zoo is currently active in 21 Species Survival Plans.

Plant Collection
The Oregon Zoo highlights animals and their habitats. The zoo's botanical garden has more than 1,000 species of exotic plants, including firebird heliconia, pelican flower, and ground orchid. Some of the exotic plants are harvested and given to the animals as browse.

Exhibits
Our zoo has many exhibits, representing various geographic areas of the world.

Washington Park and Zoo Railway
An authentic steam engine leads one of three trains that take visitors through the zoo and the wooded hills of Washington Park. The 5/6 size replica follows a four-mile course to a depot near Portland's International Rose Test and Japanese Gardens. It is the last operating railway with an authorized postal cancellation and receives requests from around the world for its series of unique postal cancellations.

Gift Shop Cascade Outfitters
The Oregon Zoo's main gift shop, Cascade Outfitters, is a treat for the discriminating shopper looking for animal-related gifts. Cascade Outfitters offers many unique and eco-friendly gifts, with each purchase helping the zoo fund its many conservation programs and environmental education efforts. No zoo admission is necessary to shop.

Zoo Events

Special Events
More than a million visitors come to the Oregon Zoo every year not only to view rare and exotic animals, but also to learn more about the zoo's residents through fun events and exciting educational experiences. Each year the zoo brings outstanding programs and summer exhibits. From Spring Break festivities or Packy the elephant's birthday bash, to the summer concert series or winter ZooLights festival, there's something for everyone at the Oregon Zoo. For a complete listing of all zoo programs check out our Calendar of Events.

Concerts
In 1979, the Oregon Zoo became the first zoo in the nation to host a summer concert series. Highlighting nationally renowned artists from June through August, the Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series is Portland's longest running outdoor music series. Funds raised from the series assist the zoo in fulfilling its mission of conservation and education.

Food Services

We offer a variety of dining options, from indoor dining at the Cascade Grill to catering special events to food carts located throughout the zoo.

Catering
The zoo's catering department provides several terrific spots to hold events ranging from wedding receptions and company picnics, to holiday parties and corporate retreats. The options are endless! Our professional event planners can meet everyone's needs—from custom menus to music, from flowers to thematic décor.

Cascade Grill
Where can you look out over alpine rocks and hear the sounds of exotic animals while you eat a nice meal? The Oregon Zoo's Cascade Grill! The spacious dining room—it seats 190—has a high, open-beam ceiling arching over cozy wooden booths. Carpet and metalwork chandeliers are commissioned art pieces, reflecting the Great Northwest. When the sun is out, the large outdoor deck is the place to be, or, for a more intimate party, reserve the private dining room with a view of the train and lower exhibits. The Cascade Grill is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Cascade Plaza food facility (Grill or Kiosk) will be open until 5 p.m.

AfriCafe
Where can you look out over exotic birds and lush tropical vegetation? The Oregon Zoo’s AfriCafe. This year-round cafeteria-style restaurant overlooks the Vollum Aviary for a unique ambiance. Look closely to see the banana tree in bloom or with fruit hanging. AfriCafe is open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Bear Walk Cafe
In the summer the Bear Walk Café opens daily, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. serving pizza and waffle cones. A variety of concession stands can also be found throughout the zoo.

Jobs and Volunteers

Staff
170 full and part-time employees

Volunteers
More than 1,500 volunteers contribute over 125,000 hours per year in conservation research, events, promotions, on- and off-grounds education programs, and our Zoo Teen program. Volunteers add the equivalent of up to 60 full-time staff members to our workforce.

Education Programs
The zoo offers programs for zoo visitors, schools and other institutions, special programs for senior citizens and handicapped persons, and classes for adults, children and families. Volunteers and keepers deliver animal talks, tours and presentations, and a professional staff presents living history, birds of prey and other animal shows. All outreach programs seek to educate people about wildlife and habitat issues.

Internships
The zoo offers unpaid internships in many areas of the zoo, including graphic and web design, conservation and research, animal care, horticulture, marketing and much more.

Membership

The Oregon Zoo Foundation is a nonprofit membership organization that offers special benefits, including free admission to the zoo and 125 reciprocal zoos across the country. The Foundation supports the zoo through membership drives, fundraising activities, promotions, the ZooParent sponsor program, and the annual ZooLaLa gala. Zoo members hail from towns, cities and villages throughout Oregon, from Klamath Falls to Astoria and from Pendleton to North Bend. Become a member