Top 38 American Zoos: Attendance

snowleopard

snowleopard

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Top 38 American Zoos - Attendance

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 9.7 million
Busch Gardens Tampa – 4.3 million
Saint Louis Zoo – 3.5 million (free zoo)
San Diego Zoo – 3.3 million
Lincoln Park Zoo – 3.3 million (free zoo)
Columbus Zoo – 2.4 million
National Zoo – 2.3 million (free zoo)
Brookfield Zoo – 2.3 million
Como Park Zoo – 2.2 million (free zoo)
Bronx Zoo – 2.1 million
Denver Zoo – 2 million
Houston Zoo – 2 million
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo – 1.7 million
Oregon Zoo – 1.7 million
Los Angeles Zoo – 1.6 million
Phoenix Zoo – 1.4 million
Cincinnati Zoo – 1.4 million
San Diego Zoo Safari Park – 1.3 million
Minnesota Zoo – 1.3 million
Milwaukee Zoo – 1.3 million
Philadelphia Zoo – 1.3 million
Cleveland Zoo – 1.3 million
Detroit Zoo – 1.3 million
Rio Grande Zoo – 1.2 million
Woodland Park Zoo – 1.2 million
Utah’s Hogle Zoo – 1.2 million
Indianapolis Zoo – 1.1 million
Central Park Zoo – 1.1 million (on only 6 acres!)
Lowry Park Zoo – 1.1 million
Memphis Zoo – 1.1 million
Fort Worth Zoo – 1 million
Pittsburgh Zoo – 1 million
San Antonio Zoo – 1 million
Riverbanks Zoo – 1 million
Toledo Zoo – 1 million
Louisville Zoo – 1 million
Oklahoma City Zoo – 1 million
Dallas Zoo – 915, 000 (and rising fast every year)
 
snowleopard, thank you for doing all this research again! It still shocks me that Dallas Zoo does not get more visitors than it does...although I was a great beneficiary of that lower attendance when I visited last year on an April weekday when it was blissfully uncrowded, which I enjoy.
 
What would be really interesting would be if someone could list how many of these have an annual attendance that is greater than the population of the metropolitan area in which they are located.

(I am not interested enough to look it up myself, but it would be nice if someone did.)
 
I think there's more to that trend than you anticipate. I'm pretty sure all of them do but Dallas and the NYC zoos.
 
snowleopard said:
Top 38 American Zoos - Attendance

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 9.7 million
Busch Gardens Tampa – 4.3 million
Saint Louis Zoo – 3.5 million (free zoo)
San Diego Zoo – 3.3 million
Lincoln Park Zoo – 3.3 million (free zoo)
Columbus Zoo – 2.4 million
National Zoo – 2.3 million (free zoo)
Brookfield Zoo – 2.3 million
Como Park Zoo – 2.2 million (free zoo)
Bronx Zoo – 2.1 million
Denver Zoo – 2 million
Houston Zoo – 2 million
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo – 1.7 million
Oregon Zoo – 1.7 million
Los Angeles Zoo – 1.6 million
Phoenix Zoo – 1.4 million
Cincinnati Zoo – 1.4 million
San Diego Zoo Safari Park – 1.3 million
Minnesota Zoo – 1.3 million
Milwaukee Zoo – 1.3 million
Philadelphia Zoo – 1.3 million
Cleveland Zoo – 1.3 million
Detroit Zoo – 1.3 million
Rio Grande Zoo – 1.2 million
Woodland Park Zoo – 1.2 million
Utah’s Hogle Zoo – 1.2 million
Indianapolis Zoo – 1.1 million
Central Park Zoo – 1.1 million (on only 6 acres!)
Lowry Park Zoo – 1.1 million
Memphis Zoo – 1.1 million
Fort Worth Zoo – 1 million
Pittsburgh Zoo – 1 million
San Antonio Zoo – 1 million
Riverbanks Zoo – 1 million
Toledo Zoo – 1 million
Louisville Zoo – 1 million
Oklahoma City Zoo – 1 million
Dallas Zoo – 915, 000 (and rising fast every year)
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Would you happen to have updated figures on American zoo attendance numbers? What about aquarium attendance numbers? It would be very interesting to see the risers and fallers and how overall numbers look in a post-pandemic world. I'm glad I found this thread, its quite fascinating, thank you for posting this list.

Quite surprising seeing Bronx and Los Angeles relatively low on the list. Lousiville and Rio Grande are a bit of a surprise, although I do wonder if the latter is including aquarium and Bugarium attendees all together. I'd imagine if aquariums would be added, SeaWorld Orlando and San Diego, Epcot, Shedd, National, Pacific, and Georgia all qualify. I also wonder how non-AZA's would do? A place like Gatorland in the heart of Orlando might break into the top 50 possibly?
 
Thanks @SusScrofa for your kind comments and it's an interesting set of statistics, isn't it? It's been exactly a decade since I researched and typed up my initial post, so it would be fascinating to see what zoos have gone up or down in the last 10 years. I don't have an inclination to tackle this project right now, as I already have another thread that takes up a huge amount of my time ;), but I'd love for someone else to provide a comprehensive update that includes the SeaWorld parks and famous aquariums. For instance, I know that the 'Big 3' of Georgia, Shedd and Monterey Bay have always hovered between 1.8 and 2.1 million annual visitors.

As for zoos, the Covid pandemic disrupted attendance numbers with all the various closures and re-openings, but now would be a great time for someone to reassess where all these zoos stand post-pandemic. I suspect that a new list wouldn't see a major realignment as a lot of facilities have reached a plateau and remained there over the years. However, Omaha would certainly see a boost as that zoo has been welcoming 2 million annual visitors in recent times. Detroit Zoo would also have shot up, with 1.5 million annual visitors. North Carolina Zoo would be a new addition to the 'million club'. Someone needs to update the list! :)
 
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Arizona Docent said:
What would be really interesting would be if someone could list how many of these have an annual attendance that is greater than the population of the metropolitan area in which they are located.

(I am not interested enough to look it up myself, but it would be nice if someone did.)
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What we really need a ratio of attendance to metro population. For example, I can see Minnesota Zoo and Milwaukee County Zoo are roughly tied but the twin cities metro area has a much larger population than Milwaukee's metro area.

Does that mean Milwaukee has a relatively better zoo for a city of its size? (I'd argue yes but I'm biased.) Or does the fact that Como Park Zoo also exists in that metro area subtract visitors from Minnesota Zoo? Lots to unpack here.
 
While these attendance figures are very interesting, they definitely have to be taken in context with other information, especially related to the availability of tourist attractions in the respective areas. I can only personally speak of the Oregon Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo as I have lived in both places. The Oregon Zoo is the only zoo proper in the whole state (not including wildlife safari parks), while Los Angeles is within range of many other top tier animal destinations like the San Diego Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, etc. Also, Portland and Oregon in general are limited in family-friendly attractions considering that there are no major theme parks while Los Angeles is close to many (Disneyland, Universal Studios, etc.). Therefore, although the Oregon Zoo ranks higher than Los Angeles, I don't think that is related to the quality of the zoo, but more so to the lack of other tourist attractions for people to choose from.
 
turkeyfox said:
Does that mean Milwaukee has a relatively better zoo for a city of its size? (I'd argue yes but I'm biased.) Or does the fact that Como Park Zoo also exists in that metro area subtract visitors from Minnesota Zoo? Lots to unpack here.
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There are certainly a lot of factors at play. The fact the Twin Cities have both Minnesota and Como Park Zoos certainly is one factor in this specific case, as Minnesota Zoo needs to convince people that it is worth going to their zoo, instead of the free zoo which has more of the classic, "ABC" animals that people love to see (e.g., gorillas and polar bears). Looking broadly, there are going to be lots of factors that are at play in what zoos do or do not get high attendance numbers. The perceived quality and reputation of a zoo (or as you put it "a relatively better zoo") is certainly one factor- although it is more about the perception of its quality than any real quality difference. Other factors include those @Lori Patton mentioned, such as how many other tourist attractions (animal and non-animal related are in an area). Likewise, I'd imagine areas with lots of great places to see wildlife wouldn't have as much appeal to a zoo than places without as many opportunities to be out in nature, such as cities.

Other factors would also include the city's socioeconomic status, where in the city a zoo is located, how safe the surrounding neighborhood is, what the cultural or societal perceptions of animals are, how accessible the zoo is to parking and/or public transportation, how strong the zoo's education and community outreach programs and goals are, and a whole host of other complicated factors, likely too many factors to list here.
 
snowleopard said:
Top 38 American Zoos - Attendance

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 9.7 million
Busch Gardens Tampa – 4.3 million
Saint Louis Zoo – 3.5 million (free zoo)
San Diego Zoo – 3.3 million
Lincoln Park Zoo – 3.3 million (free zoo)
Columbus Zoo – 2.4 million
National Zoo – 2.3 million (free zoo)
Brookfield Zoo – 2.3 million
Como Park Zoo – 2.2 million (free zoo)
Bronx Zoo – 2.1 million
Denver Zoo – 2 million
Houston Zoo – 2 million
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo – 1.7 million
Oregon Zoo – 1.7 million
Los Angeles Zoo – 1.6 million
Phoenix Zoo – 1.4 million
Cincinnati Zoo – 1.4 million
San Diego Zoo Safari Park – 1.3 million
Minnesota Zoo – 1.3 million
Milwaukee Zoo – 1.3 million
Philadelphia Zoo – 1.3 million
Cleveland Zoo – 1.3 million
Detroit Zoo – 1.3 million
Rio Grande Zoo – 1.2 million
Woodland Park Zoo – 1.2 million
Utah’s Hogle Zoo – 1.2 million
Indianapolis Zoo – 1.1 million
Central Park Zoo – 1.1 million (on only 6 acres!)
Lowry Park Zoo – 1.1 million
Memphis Zoo – 1.1 million
Fort Worth Zoo – 1 million
Pittsburgh Zoo – 1 million
San Antonio Zoo – 1 million
Riverbanks Zoo – 1 million
Toledo Zoo – 1 million
Louisville Zoo – 1 million
Oklahoma City Zoo – 1 million
Dallas Zoo – 915, 000 (and rising fast every year)
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Zoo Miami also hit 1 million attendees for the first time in 2021. It's unknown if that is it's average or peak. I imagine it's from all the pandemic refugees fleeing from strict states like New York coming in and checking it out.

I definitely feel like proximity to urban cores is a huge factor in attendance.

Zoo Miami is pretty far away from anything in Miami, and public transit serving the Zoo is abysmal due to the entrance being a cul-de-sac effectively with only one entrance.

Despite Tampa Zoo being smaller and having a much smaller parking lot it has slightly more attendance due to it being just slightly closer to to tampa's urban core.

And smaller parks take less time to walkthrough so more people with busy schedules are able to make a quick trip and go back on schedule.

I definitely wish there was an AZA facility much close to Miami's city center but it is what it is.

Also Buschs Peak attendance was 4,410k in 2008
 
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Arizona Docent said:
What would be really interesting would be if someone could list how many of these have an annual attendance that is greater than the population of the metropolitan area in which they are located.
Click to expand...

realize that is a really old post but only the top 3 would fit the bill. Orlando, Tampa Bay and St. Louis metro areas.
 
Daktari JG said:
realize that is a really old post but only the top 3 would fit the bill. Orlando, Tampa Bay and St. Louis metro areas.
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There are a few more cities with smaller metro populations than zoo attendance:
Colombia SC (Riverbanks)
Toledo OH.
Louisville KY
Omaha NE

I think that about covers it along with the places you mentioned. Also worth note is that ZooTampa has 1M+ visitors but less than the metro population, so the statement only applies to Busch Gardens.
 
Daktari JG said:
realize that is a really old post but only the top 3 would fit the bill. Orlando, Tampa Bay and St. Louis metro areas.
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I feel like Busch Gardens Tampa, and Disney Animal Kingdom should have huge asterisks though. I don't think it's fair to compare normal zoos to them because they also double as major theme parks. One of them has the biggest entertainment brand name in the world, and the other is advertised heavily throughout the state.
DAK's 13,888k 2019 attendance is a true anomaly in the zoo world and that is thanks to Disney.
I think the only other Zoological park that comes close to DAK was Seaworld Orlando's 2008 5,926k attendance.

Busch Gardens is a little more down to earth, assuming it's because it doesn't have the same international fame as Disney, and it seems to be like a regional attraction for the most part attracting people from all over Florida and some parts of the south.

The fact that San Diego Zoo was able to get 4 million visitors (pretty close to Busch Garden's record attendance!) in 2018 despite being a regular zoo, and admission not being free says a lot imo.

You also have the Columbus zoo which also doubles as a theme park (and a golf couse), although to a much lesser extent than a facility like Busch Gardens, and only peaking at over 2 million visitors and arguably having the much bigger campus size than most zoos on this list.
 
I think it's worth mentioning that a well-attended zoo should be considered a "major facility" as even if it's not of much interest to a zoochatter, those facilities may have more reach among the casual visitor. Lincoln Park is the more famous and iconic of Chicago's two facilities but also the one more likely to draw a casual visitor due to its central location in the heart of the city, low (no) cost and a pretty solid collection for a facility of that size. So cool to see both Chicago facilities were in the top ten back here though.
 
JVM said:
I think it's worth mentioning that a well-attended zoo should be considered a "major facility" as even if it's not of much interest to a zoochatter, those facilities may have more reach among the casual visitor. Lincoln Park is the more famous and iconic of Chicago's two facilities but also the one more likely to draw a casual visitor due to its central location in the heart of the city, low (no) cost and a pretty solid collection for a facility of that size. So cool to see both Chicago facilities were in the top ten back here though.
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To draw an analogy from Chicago to New York, the Central Park Zoo also makes the list for similar reasons, but is nowhere near as "major" as any of the other zoos on the list.
 
turkeyfox said:
To draw an analogy from Chicago to New York, the Central Park Zoo also makes the list for similar reasons, but is nowhere near as "major" as any of the other zoos on the list.
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Why not make a matrix of what factors each zoo has that makes it a major draw
 
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