Rosamond Gifford Zoo

What Rosamond Gifford Zoo does

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is a county-owned, AZA-accredited zoological park located at 1 Conservation Place in Burnet Park, Syracuse, New York, operated by Onondaga County Government in public-private partnership with the nonprofit Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Founded in 1914 as Burnet Park Zoo and reopened in 1986 after Onondaga County took over operations, the institution maintains over 700 animals representing 216 species and is one of only 240 facilities in North America holding Association of Zoos & Aquariums accreditation. Its operational technology centers on AZA standards, Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding programs, and a state-of-the-art Animal Health Center, rather than digital platforms.

The zoo serves families, school groups, and tourists in the Syracuse and Central New York region through a diversified set of offerings: general admission to animal exhibits, an annual membership program with approximately 10,000 households, special events (Zoo Boo, Holiday Nights, Brew at the Zoo, Penguin Palooza), educational programs including Summer Zoo Camp and Teen Pathways, on-site retail at the Curious Cub Gift Shop, three food-service outlets (HoneyBee Café, Hofmann Dog Haus, Trunk & Tusk Canteen), and event hosting for corporate events, birthdays, and weddings. Revenue is generated across admission fees, recurring membership subscriptions, retail and food sales, event hosting, donations (including memorial benches and Tree of Life contributions), and an Adopt-an-Animal conservation program. The customer base is distributed across consumer visitors and educational groups with no enterprise concentration.

Marketing and distribution rely on the zoo's website, active social media presence across major platforms, a content blog, community partnerships, seasonal event programming, and email communications to the membership base. The zoo's distribution is anchored at the single Syracuse physical site, supplemented by the Zoo to You mobile outreach program and virtual programming. Governance combines county operational ownership with nonprofit fundraising and programmatic support from Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, overseen by County Executive J. Ryan McMahon II with Ted Fox serving as Executive Director.

Name

Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Legal name

Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Website

https://rosamondgiffordzoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoological park in Syracuse, NY, operated by Onondaga County with nonprofit partner Friends of the Zoo, serving families, schools, and tourists across Central New York through animal exhibits, memberships, events, and education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoos and Wildlife Conservation

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation education
• Zoo admission services
• Animal exhibit experiences
• Conservation breeding programs
• Family entertainment venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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. Admission Fees: Visitors pay admission fees to enter the zoo. General admission is the primary revenue driver for day-to-day operations.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership subscriptions providing unlimited visits, guest passes, and other benefits. Approximately 10,000 membership households.
3. Retail and Food Services: Revenue from Curious Cub Gift Shop, HoneyBee Café, Hofmann Dog Haus, and Trunk & Tusk Canteen.
4. Event Hosting: Corporate events, birthday parties, weddings, and private events hosted at the zoo facility.
5. Donations and Tributes: Tax-deductible contributions to Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo including memorial benches ($5,000), Tree of Life contributions ($250-$2,500), and general donations.
6. Adopt an Animal Program: Program allowing donors to symbolically adopt an animal to support their care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo in Syracuse, New York that operates a physical wildlife park housing over 700 animals across 216 species. It sells admission tickets and memberships, runs seasonal special events (Zoo Boo, Holiday Nights, Brew at the Zoo, Penguin Palooza), offers education programs and summer camps, and hosts private and corporate events at its venue. Supporting revenue comes from on-site retail (Curious Cub Gift Shop), food and beverage outlets (HoneyBee Café, Hofmann Dog Haus, Trunk & Tusk Canteen), and conservation fundraising programs such as Adopt an Animal and Tree of Life tributes.

Product overview

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo offering a unified visitor experience centered on animal exhibits, conservation education, and community engagement. The zoo's core offerings include general admission to view over 700 animals across 216 species, supported by membership programs, special events (such as Penguin Palooza, Zoo Boo, Holiday Nights, and Brew at the Zoo), and educational programs including Summer Zoo Camp. Supporting services include The Curious Cub Gift Shop, on-site dining facilities (HoneyBee Café, Hofmann Dog Haus, Trunk & Tusk Canteen), animal encounters, event hosting for birthdays/corporate events/weddings, an Adopt an Animal conservation program, and a state-of-the-art Animal Health Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Admission General admission tickets granting visitors access to view over 700 animals representing 216 species, including many threatened or endangered animals, at the Syracuse zoo facility.
• Membership Program Annual membership subscriptions providing unlimited visits, guest passes, discounts at gift shops and cafes, and reciprocal zoo benefits at partner institutions, with approximately 10,000 membership households.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 animals representing 216 species under care
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Matthews Auto GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatthews Auto Group, a family-owned business, sponsors the Matthews Auto Group Red Wolf Preserve at the zoo for a decade. Their partnership supports the zoo's missions of animal care and wildlife conservation, particularly for the critically endangered red wolf species.
• Make-A-Wish Central New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership during Holiday Nights where $5 of every bear stuff-a-plush purchase is donated to Make-A-Wish Central New York to support children's wishes.
• United Way of CNYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo United campaign where $1 of every hot chocolate purchase during Holiday Nights is donated to United Way of CNY to support community programs.
• McClurg Remodeling and ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcClurg Remodeling and Construction donated a complete breakroom renovation for the animal care team, including new countertops, sink, and fresh paint. Materials were donated by Home Depot, Busch Products, and Purcell's Wallpaper and Paint.
• Friends of the ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo's nonprofit partner organization that provides financial support for animal care, conservation education, and facilities. The Friends of the Zoo supports the zoo's mission through fundraising, events, and community partnerships.
• International Elephant Foundation (IEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTed Fox, Executive Director, joined the Board of Directors of the International Elephant Foundation, supporting global elephant conservation efforts.
• Elephant Managers Association (EMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational professional organization of over 200 members and 19 institutions dedicated to elephant welfare and survival through improved husbandry, research, education, and conservation.
• Asian Elephant SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization receiving donations from zoo events like Pizza for Pachyderms to support wild Asian elephant protection.
• Syracuse City School District / P-TECH ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing career-readiness education through Wildlife Wonders program where students create educational videos about zoo animals.
• Homer Junior High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent art exhibition program where eighth graders created animal-themed sculptures displayed at the Animal Health Center.
• Onondaga CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo is operated by Onondaga County as part of the county park system, with J. Ryan McMahon II serving as County Executive.
• Matthews Auto GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabitat sponsor for red wolf conservation efforts, providing support for the critically endangered species preservation program.
• Syracuse Garden Club and Master GardenersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity volunteers helping maintain zoo grounds through rain gardens, butterfly garden, and vegetable garden that provides animal enrichment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): One of the largest AZA-accredited zoos in the U.S. operated by the WCS nonprofit in New York State. Much larger and more globally recognized, but shares the AZA-accredited, education-and-conservation-driven model serving New York audiences.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo: Federally operated, AZA-accredited zoo in Washington, D.C. with global SSP leadership and conservation research programs. Not a commercial peer but operates under a similar mission-driven, accreditation-anchored model relevant for benchmarking governance and program structure.
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Major AZA-accredited zoo with strong SSP participation and nationally recognized conservation and breeding programs. Larger and more visited than Rosamond Gifford, but shares the AZA-driven, conservation-led operating philosophy and Northeast/Midwest audience profile.

Direct peers

• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory: Mid-sized, municipally operated, AZA-accredited zoo in St. Paul, MN with a similar community-funded, membership-supported operating model and comparable collection scale. Useful comparable for county-owned zoo economics.
• Seneca Park Zoo: AZA-accredited, county-operated zoo in Rochester, NY with a comparable mid-sized collection, education programs, and municipal ownership structure. Strongest direct regional peer in scale and operating model.
• Buffalo Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Buffalo, NY, county-supported and similar in scale (hundreds of animals across dozens of species) with comparable education, membership, and event-driven revenue mix serving upstate New York visitors.
• Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: Mid-sized AZA-accredited zoo in the Northeast U.S. operating with municipal and nonprofit partnership structure. Comparable collection scale, education programming, and seasonal event-driven revenue model.
• Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: Major AZA-accredited zoo with deep SSP engagement and a diversified admissions, membership, and events revenue base. Useful comparable for revenue diversification and conservation-driven visitor engagement strategy.
• Beardsley Zoo: The only AZA-accredited zoo in Connecticut, similarly mid-sized and nonprofit/community-supported. Comparable in collection breadth, event programming, and education focus, with similar exposure to Northeast tourism cycles.

Others

• Friends of the Zoo (Nonprofit Partner Model): Association of Zoo Keepers and analogous Friends-of-the-Zoo nonprofit structures across AZA institutions. Not a direct competitor, but the closest structural analog to the fundraising, education, and volunteer-supplement arm that supports Rosamond Gifford's operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/syracusezoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RosamondGiffordZoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/syracusezoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rosamond-gifford-zoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/syracusezoo
• Pinterestpinterest.com/syracusezoo
• TikToktiktok.com/@syracusezoo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Rosamond Gifford Zoo