America's 50 Must See Zoos

StoppableSan said:
I guess The Rainforest would be pretty notable, along with *I guess* African Elephant Crossing and Rosebourough Tiger Passage?
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I would rate their African Savannah highly. I love the integration of storks and cranes with the giraffe. It’s a departure from the obligatory ostrich you often see in these exhibits (though other zoos do have this mix) and the exhibit is spacious for what it holds.
 
I really like the Toledo Zoo and am glad to see it on the list. Their bird house is one of my favorite exhibits in any US zoo.

I have to say that the janky zoogeography they engage in of late is a small annoyance, but that's more of a me problem.
 
Oklahoma - Oklahoma City Zoo

Founded: 1902
Size: 119 Acres (48 Hectares)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): 226
Mammals 53
Birds 75
Reptiles & Amphibians 87
Fish 9
Invertebrates 2

Oklahoma is a state associated with vast fields and scenic farmland, and it just so happens that aesthetic translates directly into its greatest zoo. Exhibit design is very consistent, with most essentially being manicured lawns which is something not up everyone's alley, but it manages to be effective here. It works out the best for the native species, which is why the Oklahoma Trails complex is so impressive. With over 70 species on display, it's arguably the best part of the park. Highlights here include large meadows for bison and bears, a well furnished cougar habitat, and an interesting nocturnal house. There is a flashy Asian area with tanuki being a species of note, plus roughly 10 acres of flex habitats for elephants and rhinos adding up to one of if not the largest pachyderm complex in America. The centerpiece of the area is the spectacular Lotus Pavilion building which is essentially a huge event center and restaurant where the zoo serves its own Chinese food. The amount of space each species has is fantastic, although it feels the zoo has a tendency to overdo it at times. Recent developments have seen the ungulate and carnivore collections downsized considerably over the last decade. New cheetah and painted dog enclosures were unveiled recently, and while they are very spacious, many other small to medium-sized carnivores were phased out as a result. Luckily, the overall collection still does have highlights with the only breeding group of the Volcán Alcedo type of Galapagos tortoise in the country being particularly notable. Not everything is perfect, the sea lion pool is dated and the reptile house is very second-rate despite having a rather good species lineup. Both of these areas are tentatively slated to be replaced in the future, but first the zoo will have to finish the upcoming $30 million African complex opening next year.

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Lotus Pavilion, @Coelacanth18
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Cougar Exhibit, @snowleopard
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Amphibian Wetlands Exhibit, @Coelacanth18
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African Painted Dog Exhibit, @Coelacanth18
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Rotational Asian Elephant and Indian Rhino Exhibit, @Ggrarl

Zoochat Gallery:
Oklahoma City Zoo - ZooChat

Zoo Website:
Oklahoma City Zoo: Find the Explorer in You

Zoo Map:
https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2294/map-11722.pdf
 
Yay! I was holding my breath to see if my home zoo made the list. I completely agree with your assessment of the exhibits—consistent. I’m also glad the ungulate collection will be headed back in a positive direction when the African project opens.
 
Oregon - Oregon Coast Aquarium

Founded: 1992
Size: 23 Acres (9.3 Hectares)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): 261
Mammals 3
Birds 8
Reptiles & Amphibians 0
Fish 100
Invertebrates 150

Major aquariums in America are big, bold and flashy, but the Oregon Coast Aquarium proves that you don't need to be particularly lavish to be successful. The facility sits along the coast of Yaquina Bay on a beautiful property in a small fishing town. A large portion of the aquarium is outdoors where a maze of highly detailed rock work comprises a variety of coves and caverns for some of the more popular marine species. Even at some of the world's best aquariums, sea otters are often given the shaft, but that is not the case here. The remarkable otter exhibit is one of the best in America and the nearby seal and sea lion habitat also is quite nice. There's also an outdoor octopus tank tucked away between the rockwork that might be the only one in existence. The seabird aviary is outstanding, being the largest of its kind in the country with a fascinating lineup of species. Among them is the only breeding pair of black oystercatchers in captivity, who have sired just about every captive specimen worldwide. The main attraction of the aquarium is a trio of lengthy tunnels known as Passages of the Deep. A tank once home to Keiko the orca of 'Free Willy' fame has been redone into three separate tanks viewed through a long series of underwater tunnels. With the exception of a rather unique salmon display, the traditional galleries aren't anything particularly notable and will soon be greatly enhanced thanks to a multi-million dollar capital campaign. The same plan will also see a revamped entrance and the addition of a wildlife rehabilitation center, so the future looks bright for this underrated institution.

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Sea Otter Exhibit, @snowleopard
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Open Sea Tunnel, @snowleopard
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California Sea Lion and Harbor Seal Exhibit, @snowleopard
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Rocky Shores Tank, @snowleopard
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Seabird Aviary, @snowleopard

Zoochat Gallery:
Oregon Coast Aquarium - ZooChat

Zoo Website:
You are being redirected...

Zoo Map:
https://aquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aquarium-Map_Oct-scaled.jpg
 
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pachyderm pro said:
Oregon - Oregon Coast Aquarium

Founded: 1992
Size: 23 Acres (9.3 Hectares)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): 261
Mammals 3
Birds 8
Reptiles & Amphibians 0
Fish 100
Invertebrates 150

Major aquariums in America are big, bold and flashy, but the Oregon Coast Aquarium proves that you don't need to be particularly lavish to be successful. The facility sits along the coast of Yaquina Bay on a beautiful property in a small fishing town. A large portion of the aquarium is outdoors where a maze of highly detailed rock work comprises a variety of coves and caverns for some of the more popular marine species. Even at some of the world's best aquariums, sea otters are often given the shaft, but that is not the case here. The remarkable otter exhibit is one of the best in America and the nearby seal and sea lion habitat also is quite nice. There's also an outdoor octopus tank tucked away between the rockwork that might be the only one in existence. The seabird aviary is outstanding, being the largest of its kind in the country with a fascinating lineup of species. Among them is the only breeding pair of black oystercatchers in captivity, who have sired just about every captive specimen worldwide. The main attraction of the aquarium is a trio of lengthy tunnels known as Passages of the Deep. A tank once home to Keiko the orca of 'Free Willy' fame has been redone into three separate tanks viewed through a long series of underwater tunnels. With the exception of a rather unique salmon display, the traditional galleries aren't anything particularly notable and will soon be greatly enhanced thanks to a multi-million dollar capital campaign. The same plan will also see a revamped entrance and the addition of a wildlife rehabilitation center, so the future looks bright for this underrated institution.

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Sea Otter Exhibit, @snowleopard
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Open Sea Tunnel, @snowleopard
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California Sea Lion and Harbor Seal Exhibit, @snowleopard
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Rocky Shores Tank, @snowleopard
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Seabird Aviary, @snowleopard

Zoochat Gallery:
Oregon Coast Aquarium - ZooChat

Zoo Website:
You are being redirected...

Zoo Map:
https://aquarium.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aquarium-Map_Oct-scaled.jpg
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I guess this facility, which I know very little about, fills the "outdoor aquarium" niche I expected Mystic Aquarium to fill.
 
CGSwans said:
I thought Oregon Coast must be a chance when Mystic missed out.
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I actually thought the opposite; I had both in my prediction list and when Mystic didn't make the cut I calibrated my expectations into thinking that Oregon Coast may not be considered must-see either. Glad to have been proven wrong! (Or right, I guess.)

It's been several years since I've been to Oregon Coast (prior to my time on the forum actually) and I don't remember it super well, but the photos and descriptions jogged my memory a bit. It's definitely a great facility; a prime example of what a locally-focused, partially outdoor marine complex should look like. I've always wanted to go back, but it's a bit out of the way...
 
I was wondering if Tulsa could sneak on to the list. It was, after all, voted "America's Favorite Zoo" by a Zoo Tycoon 2 contest. ;)
 
Antimony96 said:
I was wondering if Tulsa could sneak on to the list. It was, after all, voted "America's Favorite Zoo" by a Zoo Tycoon 2 contest. ;)
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I agree, Tulsa is a large zoo and potentially a noteworthy omission. It probably came down to the fact that there wasn't enough to distinguish itself from other zoos in order to make it truly 'must-see'.
 
I am very glad to finally see an institution I basically didn't know (not that I have anything against your other picks), probably telling me I spent too much time on this site (but not enough apparently :p). This one goes straight to the wishlist!

Also good to finally see a spacious sea otter enclosure, on this side of the pond none of the 5 I saw were really convincing, though the otters did not seem to mind...
 
Pennsylvania - Philadelphia Zoo

Founded: 1874
Size: 42 Acres (17 Hectares)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): 150
Mammals 52
Birds 60
Reptiles & Amphibians 59
Fish 4
Invertebrates 5

This is what’s widely accepted as America's first zoo, but as has already been discussed earlier, whether or not it should be considered the country's oldest zoo is up to interpretation. Regardless, it was the first American facility to be officially considered a zoo and as one would expect the park is incredibly proud of that title. The Mcneil Avian Center is an over century old bird house that holds up reasonably well after being revamped through the years, and the former pachyderm house has been uniquely converted into a children’s zoo. The hallways of the small mammal house resemble that of an underfunded public high school, but the vampire bat exhibit is a highlight and the building is filled with interesting species. Similarly, the Rare Animal Conservation Center is another relic that features just as the name suggests, some great rarities, in very functional enclosures. Aye-aye, black and rufous sengi and red-capped mangabey are just a few of the highlights that can be found across the collection. Just because the park is old doesn't mean it can’t come up with modern ideas. In fact, innovative exhibitry are what earned the zoo great acclaim in recent years. The Zoo360° project created an elaborate series of trails that allow species as small as a meerkat and as large as a gorilla to traverse across the zoo as they please. It popularized the use of overhead walkways for big cats which are now commonplace in modern enclosures. The trails allow for expansion of habitats and more stimulation for the animals, all without taking up any significant space on a landlocked property with several ancient buildings. It’s a brilliant idea that indirectly improves the historic animal houses, proving that this old dog can still learn a few new tricks in the 21st century.

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Listed Ticket Booth, @snowleopard
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McNeil Avian Center, @Baldur
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Rotational Big Cat Exhibit, @snowleopard
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Rare Animal Conservation Center, @jayjds2
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Francois Langur using Zoo360° Trails, @SaritaWolf

Zoochat Gallery:
Philadelphia Zoo - ZooChat

Zoo Website:
Discover America's First Zoo

Zoo Map:
https://philadelphiazoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Philly-Zoo-Map-scaled.jpg
 
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