What Memphis Zoo does

Memphis Zoo, Inc. (also known as the Memphis Zoological Society) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit zoological institution founded in 1906 and headquartered on a 76-acre campus in Overton Park, Memphis, Tennessee. It operates as a direct-to-consumer attraction housing 3,500+ animals across 14 major exhibits — including African Veldt, Cat Country, Primate Canyon, CHINA, Northwest Passage, Teton Trek, and Zambezi River Hippo Camp — and serves families, school groups, event attendees, members, and conservation donors. The zoo was ranked #2 best zoo in the United States by Newsweek Reader's Choice Awards in 2024 and was granted AZA accreditation in March 2025.

The organization monetizes through a multi-stream revenue model: tiered daily admission tickets; annual and monthly membership subscriptions (with reciprocal access to 150+ AZA zoos); school field trip group sales at $12/student; ticketed special events (Zoo Brew, Zoo Rendezvous, Roar and Pour, Zoom Through the Zoo 5K, Gorilla Golf Tournament); on-site food and beverage (Cathouse Cafe, Bar-B-Zoo, Bamboo Springs, Ancient Grounds, food carts); retail sales at the Bamboo Shop featuring The Bear Factory plush; and a conservation donation stack including Adopt an Animal and Wild Friends recurring giving. The Tennessee Tuesdays program provides free admission to Tennessee residents on Tuesdays, supported by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. Distribution is via on-site box office, third-party e-commerce (KMIT), a dedicated field-trip booking channel, and direct membership sales.

Operationally, Memphis Zoo runs 36 departments led by a full C-suite under President & CEO Matt Thompson and governed by a Board chaired by Jason Maykowski. The zoo pursues an active Species Survival Plan agenda across Sumatran tigers, western lowland gorillas, and other threatened species, supported internationally through the Conservation Six (C6) program and partnerships with the Leuser International Foundation, Dilmah Conservation, Polar Bears International, and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Recent capital projects include the 2025 veterinary hospital renovation and the 2026 groundbreaking of Stingrays at Mangrove Cove, a new aquatic exhibit scheduled to open in Spring 2027.

Name

Memphis Zoo

Legal name

Memphis Zoo, Inc.

Website

https://memphiszoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Memphis Zoo is a 501(c)(3) non-profit zoological institution founded in 1906, operating a 76-acre AZA-accredited zoo in Memphis, Tennessee with 3,500+ animals that serves families, school groups, and event attendees through admissions, memberships, education programs, retail, and conservation initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Wildlife Attraction

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Zoo attractions
• Wildlife conservation
• Animal education
• Membership programs
• Family entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Daily admission fees charged to general visitors, with tiered pricing for adults, children, and seniors. Tennessee residents receive free admission on Tuesdays through the Free Tennessee Tuesday program.
2. Memberships: Annual and monthly membership programs offering unlimited visits, discounts, and exclusive benefits.
3. School Field Trips: Group admission for school groups at $12 per student with educational programs available at additional cost.
4. Twilight Tours and Special Experiences: After-hours tours and special animal encounters available for purchase at $30-$35 per person.
5. Food and Beverage: On-site dining at multiple locations including Cathouse Cafe, Bar-B-Zoo, Wokin' Tots, Ancient Grounds coffee shop, Bamboo Springs, and food carts. Retail sales at gift shops including The Bear Factory plush toys.
6. Special Events: Fundraising events including Zoo Brew, Zoo Rendezvous, Gorilla Golf Tournament, Roar and Pour, and Zoom Through the Zoo race events.
7. Donations and Conservation Support: Donation programs including Adopt an Animal, Wild Friends membership, and direct conservation contributions supporting Conservation Six (C6) initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Memphis Zoo operates a 76-acre zoological park housing 3,500+ animals across major exhibits (African Veldt, Cat Country, Primate Canyon, CHINA, Northwest Passage) and sells admission tickets, annual memberships, educational programs, animal encounters, special events, on-site dining, and retail merchandise. The zoo funds international wildlife conservation through its Conservation Six (C6) program and accepts donations, adoptions, and group bookings from schools and event planners.

Product overview

Memphis Zoo operates as a unified attraction-platform combining a traditional zoo with diverse guest experiences. The core product is the 76-acre zoo housing 3,500+ animals across 14 major exhibits (African Veldt, Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Herpetarium, Animals of the Night, Dragon's Lair, CHINA, Aquarium, Northwest Passage, Once Upon a Farm, Teton Trek, Zambezi River Hippo Camp, Penguin Rock, Tropical Bird House). This core is augmented by add-on modules: Animal Encounters (Close/Exclusive/Gift encounters), Education Programs (Field Trips, Camps, Virtual Programs, Twilight Tours, Zoo Snooze), Special Events (Zoo Brew, Zoo Rendezvous, Zoo Lights, seasonal events), Dining (Bamboo Springs, Ancient Grounds, Bar-B-Zoo, food carts), Retail (Bamboo Shop with Bear Factory plush), and Conservation Programs (Adopt an Animal, Conservation Six/C6 initiatives). The organization functions as a non-profit, AZA-accredited institution with a mission of 'Creating Adventures. Saving Wildlife.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Memphis Zoo Admission Daily admission to the 76-acre Memphis Zoo featuring 3,500+ animals across major exhibits including African Veldt, Cat Country, Primate Canyon, CHINA, Northwest Passage, and Zambezi River Hippo Camp. Tiered pricing for adults, children, and seniors. Tennessee residents receive free admission every Tuesday through the Free Tennessee Tuesday program supported by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership offering unlimited admission, member pricing on events, reciprocal AZA zoo benefits (150+ participating zoos), discounts, and exclusive member events. Current promotion: 14 months for the price of 12.
• Education Programs Comprehensive educational offerings including Field Trips (school group programs at $12/student), Homeschool Programs, Twilight Tours (after-hours Zoo experiences at $30-35), Virtual Zoo Programs (via Zoom), Zoo Camps (seasonal day camps), Zoo Labs (hands-on dissections), OWL Programs (Observe Wonder Learn for school trips), Zoo Snooze (overnight Zoo experiences), Zoo-To-You (in-classroom visits), and Zoo Strolls (early-entry guided stroller tours).
• Twilight Tours After-hours Zoo experiences ($30 for members, $35 for non-members) featuring behind-the-scenes access, animal visitors, and guided tours. Available on dates including July 25, August 22, September 26. Private tours for groups of 15+ available by reservation.
• Zoo Snooze Overnight Experience Overnight Zoo experiences including evening hike, behind-the-scenes peek, pizza dinner, animal visitor, light breakfast, and next-day Zoo admission. Guests bring sleeping bags and stay in Zoo classrooms with themed programming.
• Animal Encounters Interactive guest experiences including Close Encounters (meet animals up close), Exclusive Encounters (premium behind-the-scenes experiences), and Gift Encounters (animal adoption gift packages).
• Field Trips School group field trip program with discounted rates ($12/student) and free teacher tickets (1 per 10 students). Includes educational programs, bus parking, and group booking capabilities. Groups of 20+ eligible for group discount. Bookings Monday-Friday only.
• Special Events Major annual events including Zoo Brew (21+ beer tasting event), Zoo Rendezvous (largest fundraiser with food/drink tastings), Gorilla Golf Tournament (conservation fundraiser), Tennessee Tuesdays (free admission for Tennessee residents), Zoo Lights (holiday seasonal event), Roar and Pour (whiskey tasting event), Party for the Planet (Earth Day celebration), and Zoom Through the Zoo (5K/fun run race).
• Dining Options Food and beverage offerings including Bamboo Springs (cocktails and premium wines, 21+), Ancient Grounds (coffee shop with lattes and snacks), Cathouse Cafe (pizza and concessions), Bar-B-Zoo (BBQ), Wokin' Tots (Asian fusion), and Beer Carts (weekend beer service). Memphis Zoo transitioned to cashless payment for all food and retail locations.
• The Bamboo Shop (Retail) Primary retail gift shop at Memphis Zoo featuring The Bear Factory plush toys (100% recycled materials), animal-themed merchandise, apparel, drinkware, ornaments, and Memphis Zoo branded items.
• Conservation Six (C6) Program Memphis Zoo's conservation initiative protecting six priority species and ecosystems. Programs include Sumatran tiger conservation, Louisiana pinesnake breeding, Dusky gopher frog reintroduction, gorilla conservation, Sumatran orangutan protection, and Marianas bird conservation. Includes field stations in Sri Lanka (CARE Center).
• Adopt an Animal Animal adoption gift program allowing supporters to symbolically adopt Zoo animals. Includes various adoption levels with corresponding experiences such as close encounters for higher-tier packages.
• Private Event Hosting Private venue rental for corporate events, birthday parties, and special celebrations at the Memphis Zoo campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,700 zoo-bred dusky gopher frog tadpoles and juveniles released into wild since 2017
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Levy and Rank + RallycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026Hospitality and retail partners brought in to strengthen food and beverage and retail experiences at Memphis Zoo. Levy brings culinary expertise while Rank + Rally enhances retail operations.
• Dilmah ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Joint conservation education initiatives including the CARE (Conservation, Awareness, Research, Education) Center in Sri Lanka and tea party events. Supports human-elephant conflict mitigation and conservation education programs.
• Fertility Associates of MemphisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presenting sponsor for Baby Day event celebrating motherhood in the animal kingdom with keeper chats and activities.
• Leuser International FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Partnership to protect wild Sumatran tigers through the Sumatran Tiger Guardian Fund. Supports civilian patrols, training in GPS navigation and camera trap operation, and anti-poaching efforts in the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh, Indonesia.
• Buff City SoapminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership creating custom soaps for Memphis Zoo big cats (Front Gate Fresh, Paws and Pamper, Safari Suds). Buff City Soap donates 15% of proceeds to Memphis Zoo conservation efforts.
• Yoga 6minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for unique yoga experiences with red pandas and clouded leopards in the CHINA dayrooms.
• Sneaker ImpactminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustainability partnership during Zoom Through the Zoo event. Accepts gently worn running shoe donations; $1 per pair donated to Memphis Zoo Green Team for sustainability initiatives.
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZA accreditation ensuring highest standards in animal care, education, and conservation. Memphis Zoo must complete rigorous accreditation process every five years. Participation in Species Survival Plans for endangered species.
• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal zoo industry association providing international conservation collaboration and standards.
• Overton Park ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for habitat restoration and monarch butterfly waystations. Collaborates on green initiatives and environmental sustainability within Overton Park.
• Polar Bears InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership for polar bear protection and climate change awareness.
• Gorilla Species Survival PlancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZA program managing gorilla populations across accredited zoos through careful breeding recommendations and transfer coordination.
• Gorilla SAFEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner for gorilla protection efforts through Conservation Six (C6) initiatives.
• Dian Fossey Gorilla FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Conservation Six (C6) gorilla conservation efforts supporting protection of all four gorilla subspecies.
• Limbe Wildlife CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner in C6 gorilla conservation efforts based in Cameroon.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for dusky gopher frog captive breeding and reintroduction program. Helped establish Mississippi release site.
• Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabitat restoration support for dusky gopher frog reintroduction site in southern Mississippi.
• Santa Fe College Teaching ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource of new Asian small-clawed otter group (Duncan, Chitra, and their family of seven) who moved to Memphis Zoo.
• Orion FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Zoom Through the Zoo 2025 5K race event, reinforcing commitment to strengthening Memphis community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zoo Atlanta: Mid-major AZA-accredited zoo with a comparable animal collection and a particularly strong primate/gorilla program, mirroring Memphis's Primate Canyon and gorilla conservation emphasis. Similar scale, accreditation tier, and program mix.
• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere: Tennessee-based AZA-accredited zoo of similar scale, sharing the same state-resident audience and education market. Most direct geographic competitor for Tennessee-resident visitation, school field trips, and membership conversions.
• St. Louis Zoo: Mid-major AZA-accredited zoo with a comparable animal collection, conservation focus, and free/affordable admission model. Operates in the same Mid-South/Midwest catchment and competes for similar regional tourism and education dollars as Memphis Zoo.
• Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance: Mid-major AZA-accredited zoo with comparable animal collection size, conservation programs, and education breadth. Comparable on revenue model mix (admissions, memberships, events, donations) and on exhibit-development cadence.
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Mid-major AZA-accredited zoo with a similarly strong conservation and education mandate, comparable animal collection size, and a track record of capital projects (e.g., Hippo Cove). Closest direct comparable to Memphis Zoo on scale, accreditation tier, and program breadth.
• Indianapolis Zoo: Mid-major AZA-accredited zoo of similar size and program scope, with comparable conservation, education, and special-event revenue lines. Useful benchmark for non-destination zoo economics and exhibit-pipeline management.

Broad incumbents

• Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): One of the largest and most recognized AZA-accredited zoos in the U.S., operated as part of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Significantly larger scale and global conservation footprint, but overlaps heavily on family attendance, education, and AZA conservation programs.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: The largest U.S. zoo and a national/international tourism anchor. Operates a much broader portfolio (Safari Park, conservation programs) but competes for the same Newsweek/AZA accolades, donor dollars, and high-tier family visitation that anchor Memphis Zoo's brand.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute: Federally operated AZA-accredited zoo with global conservation research footprint and free admission. Sets a benchmark for AZA conservation standards, education programming, and brand authority that any top-10 ranked zoo, including Memphis, is measured against.

Regional players

• Audubon Zoo (New Orleans): Mid-size AZA-accredited zoo in the U.S. South with comparable exhibit scale, education programming, and tourism-dependent revenue mix. Useful regional benchmark for Southern U.S. zoo economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MemphisZoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/memphiszoo

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 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 Memphis Zoo