Amarillo Zoo Celebrates 65th Anniversary Throughout July

Amarillo Zoo Celebrates 65th Anniversary Throughout July

AMARILLO –The Amarillo Zoo will celebrate its 65th birthday with a month long celebration in July. Festivities include fun for visitors, animals and Amarillo Zoo staff members. Dates are July 1 to July 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

●A special enrichment schedule will be on the Amarillo Zoo’s Facebook event page.

●A different animal will enjoy special birthday enrichment each day of the month.

●Throughout the zoo grounds, there will be special exhibit signs taking visitors on an historical look at the Amarillo Zoo.

●The community will be able to sign a special birthday card for the Amarillo Zoo.

●The event will also coincide with National Zoo Keeper Week, dedicated to sharing the passion and devotion of zookeepers.

“This is a big milestone for the Amarillo Zoo, the animals and staff as well as for our city,” said Visitor Services Specialist for the Amarillo Zoo Kayla Sell. “Many people in our community have grown up with the Amarillo Zoo and its animals. We look forward to celebrating the past 65 years, but we are also excited about sharing new ways the community can help impact the future for the Amarillo Zoo.”

A brief history of the Amarillo Zoo: The idea for a zoo in Amarillo started in 1955, when a duck pond was built in Thompson Park. In 1957, barnyard exhibits were added utilizing a storybook theme. The name and theme was “Children’s Story Land Zoo.” In 1989 the land area was expanded to 14 acres. The theme and name changed to Amarillo Zoo. The Amarillo Zoo attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually.

For more information, contact City of Amarillo Communications Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.