What Phoenix Zoo does

Phoenix Zoo, legally organized as the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (ACNC), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit zoological park that has operated continuously in Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona since November 1962. The zoo occupies approximately 125 acres of walking trails and maintains a collection of over 3,000 animals across nearly 400 species, making it one of the largest non-profit zoos in the United States and the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility in the Phoenix metropolitan Valley. On-site infrastructure includes the Joyce Corrigan Animal Care Center (providing radiology, surgery, and laboratory services), the Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Conservation Center (native species breeding), and the planned Doornbos Animal Rescue & Care Center (quarantine and holding).

The business operates a diversified revenue model across direct-to-consumer and enterprise channels. Daytime general admission is priced at $39.95 for adults and $29.95 for children, with annual memberships (starting at $89) including reciprocal benefits at 150+ zoos. Secondary revenue streams include venue rentals for weddings and corporate events (accommodating 60 to 5,000 guests across 14+ venues), educational programs (Camp Zoo, Horse Hands, field trips, teen and adult programs), retail (Plaza Marketplace gift shop, remodeled 2022), food and beverage (Savanna Grill, Starbucks-operated Jungle Java), symbolic animal adoption sponsorships ($25-$1,000 tiers), and recurring monthly giving. Conservation grants support 40+ species globally through partnerships with organizations including ProCAT, The Peregrine Fund, International Rhino Foundation, and Grevy's Zebra Trust.

Operationally, Phoenix Zoo deploys AI and machine learning capabilities in its conservation research vertical: 50 wildlife cameras in the Atascosa Complex feed into computer vision pipelines, a publicly available AI wildlife identification model was co-developed with 16 scientific partners including Addax Data Science, and acoustic recorders plus gunshot detection systems support conservation fieldwork in Costa Rica and Arizona. The zoo participates in AZA Species Survival Plan and at least 8 SAFE programs (African Painted Dog, Andean Bear, Cheetah, Maned Wolf, Radiated Tortoise, and others). Marketing is executed through owned social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube, TikTok), zNews email newsletter, Wild Times Magazine, local media partnerships, and signature events including ZooLights and the Conservation Speaker Series.

Name

Phoenix Zoo

Legal name

Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (ACNC)

Website

https://phoenixzoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Phoenix Zoo (Arizona Center for Nature Conservation) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit zoological park in Phoenix, AZ operating a 125-acre facility with 3,000+ animals across 400 species, serving families, schools, corporate clients, and conservation donors through admissions, memberships, education programs, events, retail, and global conservation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Park and Zoological Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

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 industries

Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC)

Keywords

• Zoological park services
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Educational field trips
• Private event venues
• Animal adoption donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from daytime general admission tickets for adult ($39.95) and child ($29.95) visitors. Special event tickets such as ZooLights also generate revenue.
2. Memberships: Annual and lifetime memberships providing free daytime admission, discounts on encounters and experiences, reciprocal admission to other zoos, and exclusive access to events and programs.
3. Venue Rentals and Private Events: Revenue from hosting weddings, corporate events, proms, retreats, birthday parties, and other special events at various zoo venues with capacities ranging from 60 to 5,000 guests.
4. Animal Adoption Program: Symbolic animal adoption program with tiers from $25 (Digital Sponsorship) to $1,000 (Protector of the Herd), including certificates, photos, and fact sheets.
5. Donations: Individual donations, monthly giving programs, tribute gifts, adopt-an-animal sponsorships, and legacy/planned giving.
6. Retail (Gift Shop): On-site gift shop selling apparel, gifts, and souvenirs, with emphasis on locally produced products and artwork from Phoenix artisans. Also available online.
7. Food and Beverage: Food service locations including Savanna Grill, Jungle Java (Starbucks coffee), Safari Snacks, and Crossroads Cafe. Birthday party packages include cake and ice cream.
8. Souvenir Photos: Professional souvenir photos available for purchase, including photos at entrance and camel ride experiences.
9. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities including naming rights, event sponsorships, and employee engagement programs.
10. Educational Programs: Revenue from camps (Camp Zoo, Night Camps), educational programs, outreach programs, and special workshops for various age groups.
11. Horse Hands Program: Equestrian education programs including Mini Horse Hands, Junior Horse Hands, and Level 1-3 programs, plus horseback riding series.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Phoenix Zoo operates a 125-acre non-profit zoological park in Papago Park, Phoenix, housing 3,000+ animals across nearly 400 species. Its core commercial offering is direct visitor admission — daytime general tickets (Adult $39.95, Child $29.95), annual memberships with reciprocal access to 150+ zoos, and premium experiences including Animal Encounters, Backstage Adventures, Discovery Tours, and Premium Adventures. The zoo also monetizes its grounds through private venue rentals (weddings, corporate events, proms), Wild Birthday Party packages, on-site retail and food & beverage, educational camps and programs, and a fundraising-driven portfolio of animal adoptions, monthly giving, and international conservation grants.

Product overview

Phoenix Zoo is a non-profit zoological park offering a comprehensive portfolio of visitor experiences, educational programs, and conservation initiatives across its 125-acre facility. The core visitor products include daytime general admission tickets ($39.95 adults, $29.95 children) and annual memberships with reciprocal benefits to 150+ zoos. Experiential offerings encompass Animal Encounters (Giraffe Encounter, Stingray Bay, Camel Rides), Backstage Adventures behind-the-scenes tours, Discovery Tours via eco-shuttle, and Premium Adventures combining multiple experiences. The zoo operates over a dozen private event venues including Ruby's House (historic 1935 cottage dedicated to Ruby the painting elephant) for weddings and corporate events, plus Wild Birthday Party packages at multiple ramada locations. Educational programs span kids, families, educators, teens, and adults through camps (Camp Zoo, Night Camps), Horse Hands equestrian program, field trips, teen career conferences, and adult photography classes. Conservation programs include Wildlife Champions symbolic animal adoption, monthly giving (Wolfpack), and international conservation grants supporting 40+ species including African Painted Dog, Amur Leopard, Andean Bear, and Bornean Orangutan. Supporting amenities include Plaza Marketplace Gift Shop, Zoo Dining (Savanna Grill, Jungle Java Starbucks), and the Joyce Corrigan Animal Care Center veterinary facility serving over 3,000 animals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Daytime General Admission Standard daytime entry tickets to Phoenix Zoo providing access to all exhibits, animal viewing areas, and general zoo facilities. Adults (14+) $39.95, Children (3–13) $29.95, with EBT discount of $10 per ticket on Tuesdays and Sundays and free admission for active Arizona PK-12 educators.
• Zoo Membership Annual membership program providing free daytime admission, discounts on encounters and experiences, reciprocal admission to 150+ zoos and aquariums, exclusive event access, early entry privileges, and member-only programs. Positioned as paying for itself in as little as two visits.
• Animal Encounters Interactive visitor experiences including Animal Presentations, Monkey Village, Harmony Farm, Giraffe Encounter, Stingray Bay, and Camel Rides allowing direct engagement with animals.
• Zoo Experiences Additional paid visitor activities including Virtual Reality & Art Adventure, ScooterPals, Safari Cruiser, Lakeside Carousel, and special Zoo Events included with or layered atop general admission.
• Backstage Adventures Behind-the-scenes premium tours offering exclusive animal interactions including Reptile encounters, Galapagos Tortoise experiences, Giant Anteater visits, Greater One-Horned Rhino encounters, Flamingo interactions, and Stingray Bay backstage access.
• Discovery Tours 60-minute guided eco-shuttle tours through the zoo accommodating 1–12 guests, allowing on/off stops for closer viewing and photography. Priced at $49 per person.
• Premium Adventures Fully custom ultimate zoo experience combining a 60-minute Discovery Tour with one Backstage Adventure, a souvenir photo and water bottle. Priced at $340 per person.
• Guided Tours Predetermined guide-led 45-minute walking tours through zoo trails covering animal and conservation topics, priced at $2 per person for school groups and $5 per person for custom guided tours.
• Wild Birthday Parties Birthday party packages hosted at zoo ramadas including admission for 10 children and 12 adults, reserved party host, food, cake, ice cream, and craft activities. Available Saturdays and Sundays at Siamang Ramada, Tropical Flights, Millhouse, Neely Center, and Windmill House. Members $375, General $425–$525.
• Private Event Venues 14+ distinct on-site venues available for weddings, corporate events, proms, retreats, and birthday parties, accommodating groups from 60 to 5,000 guests including Enchanted Forest, Wild Side Patio, Wild Side Gallery, Doornbos Desert Grove, Lemur Lane, Lakeside, Orang-Hutan, Plaza de los Ninos, Savanna, and Stone House Pavilion.
• Plaza Marketplace Gift Shop On-site retail store (remodeled 2022) selling apparel, gifts, and souvenirs with emphasis on locally produced products from Phoenix artisans, also available online through muzemerch.com partner store.
• Zoo Dining Food and beverage operations across on-site locations Savanna Grill, Jungle Java (Starbucks coffee), Safari Snacks, and Crossroads Cafe, plus allowance for outside food and coolers (no glass or alcohol).
• Horse Hands Program Equestrian education program connecting participants with horses and horseback riding. Includes Mini Horse Hands (ages 3–4), Junior Horse Hands (ages 5–6), Levels 1–3 (ages 7–14), Middle School Horse Hands Camp, and Horseback Riding Series.
• Camp Zoo Year-round camp programs including Summer Camp Zoo, Winter Camp Zoo, and Night Camp for all ages, plus Girl Scouts badgework activities.
• Field Trips and Youth Groups Self-guided and guide-led field trip programs for K–12 schools and youth organizations at $8/student and $10/adult (groups of 15+); includes Outreach Live on Location bringing ambassador animals to classrooms and ZooReach scholarships for Title I schools.
• Teen Programs Programming for high school students grades 9–12 including Teen Career Conference, Trailblazers Youth Advisory Council, and ZooTeens volunteer program.
• Adult Programs Adult-focused educational offerings including Animals in Focus photography classes ($30 plus zoo admission), the Conservation Speaker Series (free, donations accepted), and Adult Twilight Camp experiences.
• Wildlife Champions Animal Adoption Symbolic animal adoption program with six tiers from $25 Digital Sponsorship to $1,000 Protector of the Herd, each including certificate, photo, and species fact sheet. Tiers include Species Supporter ($35), Animal Ambassador ($75), Friends of the Wild ($150), Defender of the Troop ($250), and Leader of the Pack ($500).
• Monthly Giving (Wolfpack) Recurring monthly donation program supporting ongoing animal care and conservation work, accepted via the online donation platform.
• Conservation Grants Program International field conservation grants and direct program support spanning 40+ species across Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, and North America (African Painted Dog, Amur Leopard, Andean Bear, Asian Elephant, Bornean Orangutan, California Condor, Cheetah, Giant Anteater, Jaguar, Komodo Dragon, Mexican Wolf, etc.).
• Joyce Corrigan Animal Care Center On-site veterinary medical facility operating 365 days per year delivering radiology, ultrasound, surgery, laboratory, treatment, and examination services for the zoo's 3,000+ animals.
• Art on the Wild Side Rotating art exhibition program dedicated to conservation through art, featuring wildlife and nature photography, paintings, and mixed media works in the Savanna Gallery and Wild Side Gallery.
• Zoo Special Events (ZooLights, Winter in July, Dinosaurs in the Desert, etc.) Recurring calendar of ticketed/promotional special events such as ZooLights, Dinosaurs in the Desert, Winter in July, $20 Tuesdays, 4th of July Discount, Bidders For Critters, and Zoo & You 50/50 Raffle, driving seasonal visitation and fundraising.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ruby the elephant raised over $200,000 for wildlife conservation through her paintings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KultureCitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhoenix Zoo partnered with KultureCity to improve their ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory processing needs. This partnership implements the Sensory Inclusive Zoo Initiative, providing sensory bags, weighted lap pads, quiet zones, and staff training for sensory accessibility.
• ProCAT (Costa Rica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ProCAT to support local communities protecting forest habitat and increasing connectivity for wildlife in Costa Rica. Part of the Jaguar Corridor initiative.
• Addax Data SciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated with 16 scientific partners including Addax Data Science to create an AI model for identifying animals recorded on wildlife cameras in Arizona.
• Arizona Game and Fish DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to combat disease at black-footed ferret release sites. Both black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs are threatened by sylvatic plague. Provided funds for disease response and prevention.
• The Peregrine FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports The Peregrine Fund's work to address California condor lead poisoning through trapping, testing, and treatment in Arizona and Utah. Also monitors for avian influenza.
• Gaia (Malaysia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Gaia's work to protect and preserve wrinkled hornbills as well as nine other hornbill species in Malaysia through artificial nest cavity installation, surveys, and breeding documentation.
• WildCats Conservation AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Wildlife Conservation Society's work to monitor and protect wild Amur leopards in northeastern China and Southwest Primorskii Krai region.
• Seratu Aatai (Malaysia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports efforts in Malaysia's Kinabatangan region to understand community attitudes toward elephants and design mitigation strategies for human-elephant coexistence.
• HUTAN (Malaysia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports HUTAN's efforts to understand orangutan distribution and population status outside protected areas in Malaysia's Kinabatangan region using thermal drones, transects, and camera trapping.
• Prairie Wildlife ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funds to Prairie Wildlife Research to respond to and prevent sylvatic plague affecting black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs.
• International Rhino FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports International Rhino Foundation's work in India to restore greater one-horned rhino habitat including removing invasive plants in Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Grevy's Zebra Trust (Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the 'Grevy's Zebra Warrior Program' where local Samburu warriors monitor wild Grevy's zebra populations and work with communities to manage grass and water resources.
• Turtle Survival AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides general support for Turtle Survival Alliance's work to protect and restore wild populations of tortoises and freshwater turtles around the world.
• AZA SAFE ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in multiple AZA Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programs including African Painted Dog, Andean Bear, Andean Highland Flamingo, Cheetah, Chinchilla, Maned Wolf, Radiated Tortoise, and Shark & Ray programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: One of the largest non-profit AZA-accredited zoo and conservation organizations in the U.S., operating the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Highly comparable in mission (conservation + education), AZA standing, and non-profit operating model.
• Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): Iconic non-profit AZA-accredited zoo operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society, with a similarly large animal collection and a globally recognized field conservation program. Comparable in scale, AZA standing, and non-profit/501(c)(3) structure.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo: Major AZA-accredited non-profit zoo with a deep conservation and education mandate. Closely comparable in mission, accreditation tier, and programming mix (admissions, memberships, education, conservation grants).
• Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance: Non-profit AZA-accredited zoo with a strong conservation and education focus. Comparable in collection size, programming breadth (camps, events, animal encounters), and non-profit operating model.
• Saint Louis Zoo: Long-established, AZA-accredited non-profit zoo with strong education and conservation programs and free/discounted admission tiers. Comparable in operating model, AZA standing, and educational programming.
• Houston Zoo: Large non-profit AZA-accredited zoo with comparable hot-climate operating conditions, broad education programs, and significant membership base. Strong analog for Phoenix's hot-weather operating profile.
• Zoo Atlanta: Non-profit AZA-accredited zoo known for signature animal collections (great apes, giant pandas) and conservation research. Comparable in collection focus, AZA accreditation, and education programming.
• Dallas Zoo: Large non-profit AZA-accredited zoo in a hot-climate Sun Belt metro. Comparable in climate, regional family-entertainment competition, and non-profit membership/event-based revenue model.
• Oregon Zoo: Non-profit AZA-accredited zoo with strong conservation and education programs. Comparable in non-profit 501(c)(3) structure, AZA standing, and mix of admissions, events, and grants revenue.
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Non-profit AZA-accredited zoo with a botanical garden component, strong social media presence, and signature animal programs. Comparable in non-profit model, AZA standing, and event-driven revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/phoenixzoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/thephoenixzoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/phoenixzoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/phoenixzoo
• TikToktiktok.com/@phoenixzoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phoenix-zoo

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Phoenix Zoo