Caldwell Zoo
Caldwell Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park in Tyler, Texas, founded in 1953 and accredited by AZA and WAZA. It houses 3,000+ animals including 30+ threatened species, runs education and conservation breeding programs, and is funded by admissions, memberships, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersTyler, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Caldwell Zoo does
Caldwell Zoo Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park founded in 1953 in Tyler, Texas, by Lottie and D.K. Caldwell. It operates as a single-site physical visitor destination housing over 3,000 animals, including more than 30 threatened or endangered species, and is accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The zoo's core offerings are diverse animal exhibits (most prominently the 7+ acre Amazon River's Edge habitat featuring jaguars, giant river otters, and capybaras), interactive guest experiences (giraffe feeding, animal encounters, keeper talks), and an education stack spanning ZooSchool, Summer Camp (serving 400+ students), and the ZooCrew volunteer program.
The organization participates in coordinated AZA Species Survival Plan breeding programs for ocelots, African cheetahs, Attwater's prairie chickens, Texas horned lizards, reticulated giraffes, and the Waldrapp ibis. Its conservation work is supported by partnerships with peer institutions (e.g., Fossil Rim Wildlife Center) and by the zoo's 100+ staff and veterinary program using ZIMS electronic medical records.
Revenue is generated through a multi-stream model: one-time admissions and group tickets (20% discount for parties of 15+), recurring annual memberships, tax-deductible donations including the tiered Donor Circles patron program ($1,000–$10,000+), gift cards, corporate and private event rentals at the River's Edge Center, and program fees. Marketing is conducted through the zoo website, email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, and local media/PR, targeting East Texas families, students and educators, community organizations, and conservation partners.
Caldwell Zoo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Caldwell Zoo
- Legal name
- Caldwell Zoo Inc.
- Website
- https://caldwellzoo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Caldwell Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park in Tyler, Texas, founded in 1953 and accredited by AZA and WAZA. It houses 3,000+ animals including 30+ threatened species, runs education and conservation breeding programs, and is funded by admissions, memberships, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Caldwell Zoo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO)
Keywords
Where Caldwell Zoo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tyler
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Caldwell Zoo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Admission and Tickets: Revenue generated from visitor admissions to the zoo, with online ticket purchasing available through the website.
- Membership Programs: Annual memberships providing unlimited visits, early registration for summer camps, and member-exclusive benefits.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations to support wildlife conservation and animal care, including standard donations and Donor Circles patron-level contributions.
- Gift Cards: Digital gift cards for memberships and general zoo use.
- Programs and Events: Revenue from educational programs including ZooSchool, Summer Camp, ZooCrew, animal encounters, and venue rentals for private events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Group Discount |
| Subscription | Annual | Donor Circles Membership ($1,000-$2,499) |
| Subscription | Annual | Donor Circles Membership ($2,500-$4,999) |
| Subscription | Annual | Donor Circles Membership ($5,000-$9,999) |
| Subscription | Annual | Donor Circles Membership ($10,000+) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Caldwell Zoo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Caldwell Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park in Tyler, Texas, operating animal exhibits and habitats (most notably the 7-acre Amazon River's Edge), conservation breeding programs for threatened and endangered species, and educational programs including ZooSchool, Summer Camp, and ZooCrew. The zoo generates revenue from admissions, annual memberships, donations (including tiered Donor Circles), gift cards, group ticket sales, venue rentals, and special events such as Boo at the Zoo.
Product overview
Caldwell Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological institution offering animal exhibits, conservation programs, and educational experiences. The zoo operates as a unified visitor destination featuring diverse animal habitats (notably Amazon River's Edge spanning 7 acres), education programs (ZooSchool, Summer Camp, ZooCrew), conservation breeding initiatives for endangered species, and guest experiences (animal encounters, keeper talks). Revenue-generating offerings include membership programs, donor circles ($1,000-$10,000+ tiers), group ticketing, and special events. The zoo is accredited by AZA and WAZA, housing over 3,000 animals including more than 30 threatened or endangered species.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Amazon River's Edge: A 7-acre area showcasing high standards of the Zoo with expansive habitats of threatened animals, including the River's Edge Center for meetings and the Exploration Station for youth adventure.
- Caldwell Zoo Donor Circles
- Caldwell Zoo Inc.
Products and services
- Amazon River's Edge Exhibit A 7-acre habitat area showcasing threatened Amazonian species including capybaras, jaguars, and giant river otters, featuring nature-inspired spaces with pools and flowing water features for zoo visitors.
- Lemur Island Exhibit Lemur habitat where visitors can see Sprig and Sprout, two lemur pups born at the zoo.
- Caldwell Conservation Programs Conservation initiatives including breeding programs for endangered species such as African cheetahs, reticulated giraffes, Attwater's prairie chickens, Texas horned lizards, and critically endangered Waldrapp ibis, conducted in partnership with AZA Species Survival Plans.
- ZooSchool Home school and nature-based education program offering classes for students of all ages with curriculum aligned to educational standards.
- Summer Camp Seasonal camp activities for over 400 students providing fun and adventure during summer months.
- ZooCrew Volunteer Program Volunteer program for high school students to participate in zoo operations and wildlife education.
- Animal Encounters Interactive animal experiences including giraffe feeding, goat experiences, wild bird walkabouts, and keeper talks for zoo visitors.
- Membership Program Annual membership providing unlimited visits, early registration for summer camps, and member-exclusive benefits.
- Donor Circles Patron-level membership program with donation levels from $1,000 to $10,000+ offering exclusive benefits including day passes, animal artwork, conservation tours, and VIP experiences including a CEO-led animal experience at the Eagle's Flight level.
- Group Tickets Group admission discounts offering 20% off for parties of 15 or more people.
- River's Edge Center Venue Rental River's Edge Center available as a unique meeting and event venue for corporate functions, private events, and birthday parties within the Amazon River's Edge area.
- General Admission Tickets Daily visitor admissions to the zoo at 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd., Tyler, Texas. Open 9am-5pm daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, with online ticket purchasing available.
- Gift Cards Digital gift cards usable for memberships and general zoo purchases.
- Field Trip Programs School field trip programs bringing students to the zoo for structured educational experiences aligned to curriculum standards.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $17M in positive community impact annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Caldwell Zoo
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Caldwell Zoo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Caldwell Zoo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Fossil Rim Wildlife CentermajorCaldwell Zoo announced the arrival of Freddy, a young reticulated giraffe from Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, as part of ongoing conservation efforts to protect this endangered species. This represents an animal exchange for breeding program purposes.
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreCaldwell Zoo is an accredited member of the AZA, participating in conservation and breeding programs to help endangered species in Texas and abroad. AZA accreditation requires meeting stringent standards of animal care, conservation, education, and visitor experience.
- World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)coreCaldwell Zoo holds membership in WAZA, connecting it with the global zoo and aquarium community for international conservation efforts.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Caldwell Zoo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fort Worth Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, recognized nationally for conservation and education programs. Comparable Texas zoo with overlapping donor catchment and similar multi-revenue model (admissions, memberships, events).
- Fossil Rim Wildlife Center: AZA-accredited wildlife center in Glen Rose, Texas, focused on conservation and breeding of endangered species. Direct partner with Caldwell Zoo on a giraffe transfer for breeding program purposes, making it a closely comparable regional peer.
- Ellen Trout Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Lufkin, Texas, similar in scale to Caldwell and located in the same East Texas region. Direct geographic and size peer for regional visitor and donor dynamics.
- Houston Zoo: One of the largest AZA-accredited zoos in Texas, with extensive conservation programs and education offerings. Sets the bar for Texas zoo programming and donor development that Caldwell must compete against.
- San Antonio Zoo: AZA-accredited zoological park in San Antonio with conservation, education, and event rental operations. Comparable operating model and revenue mix, representing a competing Texas zoo in the same accreditation tier.
- Dallas Zoo: Major AZA-accredited zoological park in Dallas, Texas, operating 100+ acres with extensive conservation and education programs. Closest large-market peer for understanding Texas zoo competitive dynamics and donor expectations.
- Gladys Porter Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Brownsville, Texas, with strong focus on Latin American species conservation and breeding programs. Comparable in mission and AZA status, with similar community-based operating model.
- Abilene Zoo: Mid-sized regional zoo in Abilene, Texas, offering similar mix of education programs, conservation, and admissions-based revenue. Closely comparable in scale and West/Central Texas regional draw.
- Cameron Park Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Waco, Texas, similar in size and community focus to Caldwell Zoo. Most directly comparable mid-sized Texas zoo peer in terms of scale, programming, and regional draw.
Others
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA): Accrediting body and trade association for North American zoos and aquariums, of which Caldwell is a longstanding accredited member. Not a competitor but the governing body whose standards shape Caldwell's operations and revenue opportunities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Caldwell Zoo social profiles
Digital presenceCaldwell Zoo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Caldwell Zoo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Caldwell Zoo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Caldwell Zoo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Caldwell Zoo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Caldwell Zoo
What does Caldwell Zoo do?
Caldwell Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park in Tyler, Texas, operating animal exhibits and habitats (most notably the 7-acre Amazon River's Edge), conservation breeding programs for threatened and endangered species, and educational programs including ZooSchool, Summer Camp, and ZooCrew. The zoo generates revenue from admissions, annual memberships, donations (including tiered Donor Circles), gift cards, group ticket sales, venue rentals, and special events such as Boo at the Zoo.
Is Caldwell Zoo a public or private company?
Caldwell Zoo is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Caldwell Zoo founded?
Caldwell Zoo was founded in 1953. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Caldwell Zoo based?
Caldwell Zoo is headquartered in Tyler, United States, in the North America region.
How does Caldwell Zoo make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Admission and Tickets are the primary driver. The others are membership Programs, donations, gift Cards and programs and Events.
Who are Caldwell Zoo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fort Worth Zoo, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Ellen Trout Zoo, Houston Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Dallas Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo, Abilene Zoo and Cameron Park Zoo. Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is listed as an others.
Does Caldwell Zoo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Caldwell Zoo.
What industry is Caldwell Zoo in?
Caldwell Zoo's product category is Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAL, Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections), with a secondary code of THAJAEAE, Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions). Its NAICS code is 71213 and its SIC code is 7900.