Montgomery Zoo

Montgomery Zoo

The Montgomery Zoo features over 700 animals spanning over 150 species from 5 different continents, all housed in natural, 'barrier free' habitats. The zoo features an entry plaza that is always decorated with floral arrangements.

The Montgomery Zoo began as a small menagerie in 1920 in Oak Park in downtown Montgomery. Initially started as a small children's zoo as a part of a local community park, the zoo housed alligators, monkeys, bears and assorted other animals. There was a small train and carousel for the children.

The zoo closed down between 1960 and 1971 due to racial tensions, and an unwillingness to integrate.

In 1972, the Montgomery Zoo reopened at its current location.

The zoo began with six acres, a small petting zoo for the children, assorted monkeys, a flight cage designed after the 1906 St. Louis World's Fair, and a chimpanzee named Benji.

The new American alligator habitat opened with four bachelor males in summer 2014.

Location

2301 Coliseum Parkway
Montgomery, Montgomery County
Alabama, USA

Getting There

To get to Montgomery Zoo, you can follow these directions:

By Car: Montgomery Zoo is located about 6 miles north of downtown Montgomery. From the city center, you can take North Boulevard to Coliseum Boulevard, then turn right onto Upper Wetumpka Road. Follow Upper Wetumpka Road for about 2 miles and the entrance to the zoo will be on your left.

By Public Transportation: The Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS) offers bus service to the zoo. You can take Route 12 or Route 14 to get to the zoo. Check the MATS website for schedules and fares.

The nearest airport to Montgomery Zoo is Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), which is located about 15 miles southwest of the zoo. From the airport, you can rent a car or take a taxi or ride-sharing service to get to the zoo.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Alabama that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.