Audubon Nature Institute

What Audubon Nature Institute does

Audubon Nature Institute is a New Orleans-based nonprofit organization founded in 1924 that operates a portfolio of wildlife, conservation, and recreational attractions across the Greater New Orleans area. Its core attractions include Audubon Zoo (Uptown), Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium (downtown on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter), and Audubon Louisiana Nature Center (New Orleans East). The organization also operates Audubon Park, Audubon Wilderness Park, the newly opened Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Audubon Park Golf Course, and Audubon Park Tennis Courts. The Institute is AZA-accredited, houses 3,600+ animals across 250+ species, and participates in Species Survival Plans for endangered species including gorillas, sharks, and rays.

The Institute's revenue model is a diversified mix of consumer-facing streams: admission ticket sales to individual attractions and all-attraction combos, annual memberships providing unlimited multi-attraction access with ancillary discounts, group sales to schools and organizations, donations, separately ticketed Wild Encounters experiences, golf course and tennis court operations including annual passes, event rentals, and corporate event sponsorships (most notably the Boo at the Zoo annual event). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the Institute's website, a mobile app for Zoo visitors, at-the-door box office, and a dedicated group sales team, supplemented by third-party ticketing partnerships. Audience segments include families and tourists (primary), K-12 school groups, annual members, and corporate/organization groups.

The organization pursues a conservation-focused mission supported by the Freeport McMoran Audubon Species Survival Center and the Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network, and it is governed under a recent leadership transition with Michael Sawaya serving as President and CEO (2025). Recent strategic activity centers on a three-phase riverfront park expansion, facility reinvestment including the Insectarium renovation reopening in October 2025, the seasonal Cool Zoo Waterpark launch, and new art installations developed in partnership with Downtown Development District and Arts New Orleans.

Name

Audubon Nature Institute

Legal name

Audubon Nature Institute

Website

https://audubonnatureinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Audubon Nature Institute is a New Orleans-based nonprofit operating Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, Insectarium, parks, a golf course, and tennis courts, serving families, tourists, school groups, and members through ticketing, memberships, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Parks and Nature Education

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG), Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Zoological park management
• Wildlife conservation education
• Public aquarium operations
• Nonprofit nature education
• Recreational park services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from admission tickets to Zoo, Aquarium, and Insectarium attractions. Combo tickets offer savings for visiting all three attractions. Prices vary by attraction and age group.
2. Memberships: Annual membership programs providing unlimited access to all attractions with perks including discounts on events, train rides, food, retail, exclusive member events, and preferred pricing.
3. Donations: Charitable contributions from supporters to fund conservation efforts, wildlife care, and educational programs.
4. Group Sales: Discounted group admission for schools (20+ guests), organizations, corporate groups, camps, and church groups with advance reservations.
5. Wild Encounters: Separate ticketed animal encounter experiences including Rhino Rendezvous, Penguin Party, Giraffe Feedings, and behind-the-scenes tours.
6. Golf Course Operations: Public golf course revenue including green fees, cart rentals, pro shop sales, lessons, and annual passes.
7. Event Rentals: Private event hosting including catered events, birthday parties, corporate events, and facility rentals.
8. Tennis Court Rentals: Public clay court rental revenue with hourly rates and savings books, plus ball machine rentals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Audubon Nature Institute operates a family of wildlife attractions and public parks in the Greater New Orleans area, including Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center with a planetarium, Cool Zoo Waterpark, Audubon Park Golf Course, Audubon Park Tennis Courts, and multiple public parks. It sells admissions, annual memberships, group reservations, behind-the-scenes Wild Encounter experiences, golf and tennis facility usage, and private event rentals, while funding conservation, education, and animal welfare programs through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Audubon Nature Institute operates a multi-attraction portfolio consisting of Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, and Audubon Insectarium (combined ticket offering), plus Parks & Athletics facilities including Audubon Park, Riverview Park, Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Audubon Golf Course, Audubon Tennis Courts, and Audubon Louisiana Nature Center with Planetarium. The Zoo and Aquarium/Insectarium are sold as separate attractions with an all-attraction combo ticket option. The organization also operates Cool Zoo Waterpark as a seasonal add-on experience at the Zoo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cool Zoo Waterpark: Seasonal waterpark featuring lazy river, giant water slide, and splash zones at Audubon Zoo.
• Audubon Clubhouse
• Audubon Planetarium
• Wild Encounters

Products and services

• Audubon Zoo

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 10 Best Aquarium ranking by Travel + Leisure
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Keesler Federal Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Presenting sponsor for Boo at the Zoo annual Halloween event benefitting Manning Family Children's and Audubon Zoo. Major visibility partnership providing significant event funding.
• Manning Family Children'scoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Annual Boo at the Zoo event beneficiary supporting children's health programs in greater New Orleans area. Event contributions directly fund vital children's health programs.
• Pan American Life Insurance GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Large area sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event, providing event funding and visibility support.
• ValerominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Large area sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event, supporting event production and community engagement.
• LA MCDminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Stage sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025, providing entertainment stage area sponsorship.
• HumanaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Trick-or-Treat House sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event.
• Wendy'sminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Trick-or-Treat House sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event.
• LabCorpminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Trick-or-Treat House sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event.
• Legacy GMCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Trick-or-Treat House sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event.
• Pelican Pointe CarwashminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Trick-or-Treat House sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event.
• TerminixminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 October 2025Trick-or-Treat House sponsor for Boo at the Zoo 2025 event.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZA accreditation ensures Audubon meets highest standards of animal care, conservation, and education. Participation in Species Survival Plans for endangered animals including gorillas, sharks, and rays.
• Downtown Development DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDD partnered with Audubon Aquarium and Arts New Orleans to commission ChamäleTuna interactive light art installation by Ilya Sobol, enhancing the visitor experience.
• Arts New OrleansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts New Orleans collaborated with Audubon Aquarium and Downtown Development District for ChamäleTuna art installation, funded in part by City of New Orleans Percent for Art Program.
• Freeport McMoran Audubon Species Survival CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation facility focused on species survival efforts and wildlife protection across Louisiana, the Gulf South, and around the world.
• Audubon Coastal Wildlife NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork dedicated to coastal wildlife conservation and rescue operations in the Gulf region.
• NOLA AAZKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers partners with Eco-Cell to collect and recycle cell phones and tablets, supporting gorilla conservation by reducing demand for coltan mining.
• Eco-CellminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE-recycling company partnered with NOLA AAZK to collect and recycle electronics. Proceeds support gorilla conservation efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Houston Zoo: Major metropolitan zoo and AZA-accredited nonprofit operating a similar multi-attraction wildlife and conservation model in Houston, Texas. Comparable in scale, mission, and reliance on ticketing, memberships, and donations.
• Tennessee Aquarium: AZA-accredited nonprofit aquarium in Chattanooga with comparable freshwater/marine animal collections and immersive exhibits. Highly comparable as a single-site aquarium nonprofit with similar revenue model.
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Mid-major AZA-accredited zoo with botanical garden elements, strong education and conservation programs, and a comparable urban footprint. Closely aligned in scale and operating model to Audubon.
• Saint Louis Zoo: AZA-accredited urban zoo operated as a nonprofit with similar membership, ticket, and donation-driven revenue model. Directly comparable in size, visitor experience, and conservation mission.
• Georgia Aquarium: One of the largest aquariums in the U.S., AZA-accredited nonprofit, with comparable focus on marine animal collections and immersive visitor experiences. Comparable in core attraction type and nonprofit structure.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Pioneering AZA-accredited nonprofit aquarium with strong conservation programming and comparable emphasis on visitor education. Highly relevant peer for aquarium-specific operations and mission alignment.
• Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: AZA-accredited zoo combining zoo and aquarium in a single nonprofit operator with comparable mid-major scale, immersive exhibits (including aquarium components), and diversified revenue streams.
• Shedd Aquarium: Chicago-based AZA-accredited nonprofit aquarium with comparable animal collection scale, urban waterfront location, and ticket/membership/event-driven revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Much larger AZA-accredited zoo/wildlife organization operating the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park with significantly greater scale, budget, and global conservation footprint. Sets the standard that Audubon competes against in rankings and species programs.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo): Operates the Bronx Zoo and four other NYC parks with global conservation programs. Comparable as an AZA-accredited urban zoo nonprofit, but at substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AudubonNature
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@audubonnatureinstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/AudubonNatureInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/audubon-nature-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/auduboninstitute

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Audubon Nature Institute