The city of Lafayette, Indiana has one of the oldest—and best—small zoos in the country. Recent renovations, thoughtful and modern designs, and focusing on providing for their local guests as top priority are a few reasons they are successful.
Hattiesburg Zoo: The Littlest Big Zoo
Hattiesburg Zoo in Hattiesburg, Mississippi—home to Ole Miss—is a small zoo (12 acres) in a small town (50,000). Yet, despite the ‘small’ challenges, Hattiesburg Zoo delivers on a level of guest immersion that would be expected from much larger facilities. Highlights include the steampunk education center, splash play area at the core of the zoo, themed Africa and overnight camp, Australia, and children’s play area. However, despite the well-thought out place-making and storytelling, the zoo is missing one core element—the heart and soul.
The Wild Animal Park: The Cabela’s of Zoos
Relatively new and growing, The Wild Animal Park, in rural central New York still has its brand new shine. Efficiently well-planned, aesthetically pleasing, and a wide variety of animals and interaction possibilities makes this a great short stop for road-trippers. However, a few details detract from its potential, including lack of naturalistic vegetation & topography and the compact nature of the site.
Seneca Park Zoo: An East Coast Charmer
County-owned, AZA accredited Seneca Park Zoo is a twenty-acre gem set into Olmsted-designed Seneca Park in Rochester, New York. Unlike many publicly owned small zoos, this one is unique for many reasons. The biggest, and most challenging, lies within the site itself—a long linear sliver of land following the edge of the park and not nearly wide enough for a loop path. This challenge manages to become an attribute in surprising ways.
