ZooWorld Zoological Park

What ZooWorld Zoological Park does

ZooWorld Zoological Park is a privately held, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit zoological and botanical conservancy operating a single zoological park at 9008 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach, Florida. Founded in 2015 under woman- and military family-owned private ownership, the park houses a curated animal collection including 80+ alligators in the Allapattah Swamp exhibit, 350+ budgies in a free-flight aviary, a 40+ animal Friendly Farmyard petting collection, and one of only seven U.S. aardwolf exhibits. It is Zoological Association of America (ZAA) accredited and received the ZAA Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence for its Allapattah Swamp Alligator Feeding Experience. In April 2025, the park announced the first successful U.S. breeding of aardwolf pups in over 40 years.

The business model is direct-to-consumer, relying on admission tickets, paid animal feeding and encounter add-ons, birthday party packages, school field trips, annual memberships, a gem-mining attraction, on-site concessions and gift shop, and a seasonal ZooBoo Halloween event. Pricing spans low-ticket consumables ($6 budgie feed, $7.50 giraffe feed, $11 alligator feed bucket) up to $45 per-person premium encounters and a $175 private experience for two; birthday party base packages start at $250 with up to $250 in add-ons; field trips are $9 per student; and annual memberships range from $75.95 to $179.95. Technology infrastructure is limited to third-party ticketing (HighTrekPOS) and standard point-of-sale, with no proprietary platform, mobile app, API, or AI components described.

The park serves four primary customer segments: vacationing families on Panama City Beach, school and education groups, families booking birthday parties, and local residents holding annual memberships. It markets primarily through organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), its website, email newsletter capture, TripAdvisor/Google reviews, and an annual seasonal event, and operates year-round (closed only Thanksgiving and Christmas) with peak traffic during vacation and school-field-trip windows. It is independently operated with no parent company, no disclosed institutional investment, and reinvests operating dollars into animal care, conservation partnerships (six named partners including GERP, RAREC, and Namibian Brown Hyena Research), and on-site infrastructure.

Name

ZooWorld Zoological Park

Legal name

ZooWorld Zoological Park

Website

https://zooworldpcb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ZooWorld Zoological Park is a ZAA-accredited, 501(c)(3) zoological park in Panama City Beach, Florida, offering interactive animal encounters, feeding experiences, birthday parties, school field trips, and annual memberships to vacationing families, school groups, and local residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Wildlife Attractions

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

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), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

Keywords

• Zoological park experiences
• Interactive animal encounters
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Educational zoo field trips
• Animal feeding experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Panama City Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Visitors pay admission fees to enter the zoo. General admission allows full-day access with last entry at 4:00pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
2. Animal Feeding Experiences: Visitors pay for opportunities to feed various animals including giraffes ($7.50 for 3 leaves), alligators ($11.00 bucket), and budgies ($6.00 for 4 sticks). The Feed Everyone Combo is available for $11.00.
3. Up-Close Animal Encounters: Premium animal experiences including capybara, kangaroo, sloth, lemur encounters at $45 per person. Private experiences for two available at $175. Seasonal alligator wading experiences also offered.
4. Birthday Party Packages: $250 base party package includes reserved tables, petting zoo feed, budgie sticks, free admission for birthday child and parents, plus a free t-shirt. Add-ons include private animal encounters ($49.99-$250) and zoo tours ($250).
5. Annual Memberships: Annual membership subscriptions providing year-round admission, discounts on merchandise and experiences, and member-exclusive events. Individual memberships at $85.95 (adult) / $75.95 (child), Bring A Friend at $179.95.
6. Gift Shop and Concessions: On-site gift shop selling zoo merchandise. Concession stand offering snacks and drinks including Zoo Brew coffee. Eco-friendly serviceware using agave straws and bamboo utensils.
7. Gem Mining Activity: Visitors pan for gemstones, fossils, crystals, and shark teeth. Everything found can be taken home. Additional sales of geodes, amethyst, and crystal points available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ZooWorld Zoological Park operates an interactive zoological park in Panama City Beach, Florida, selling general admission to exhibits and a range of add-on animal experiences (feeding, up-close encounters, party packages, field trips, memberships, and seasonal events). The park is accredited by the Zoological Association of America and invests ticket revenue into on-site animal care and external wildlife conservation programs.

Product overview

ZooWorld Zoological Park is a single unified zoological attraction (not a platform-plus-modules architecture) offering interactive animal experiences and exhibits. The core product is general zoo admission, supplemented by fee-based add-on experiences including Animal Encounters (Capybara, Kangaroo, Sloth, Lemur, Alligator, Private for two), Feed the Animals (Giraffe, Alligators, Budgies, Feed Everyone Combo), Birthday Party Packages, Field Trips, Zoo Memberships, and ZooBoo seasonal event. Additional paid attractions include Allaphattah Swamp Alligator Feeding, Friendly Farmyard petting zoo, Budgie Aviary, and Gem Mining. Conservation donations support in-situ programs. All animal experiences follow an at-will model respecting animal choice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ZooWorld Zoological Park General Admission Full-day access to ZooWorld's exhibits and grounds at 9008 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL, with last admission at 4:00pm and operation rain or shine year-round (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Targeted at visiting families, tourists, and local residents, it provides entry to exhibits including the Allapattah Swamp, Friendly Farmyard, Budgie Aviary, aardwolf habitat, and supporting facilities.
• Up-Close Animal Encounters Premium at-will animal encounters where visitors can cuddle a capybara, hold a kangaroo, pet a sloth, or snuggle with lemurs at $45 per person, with a Private Experience for Two available at $175. Designed for individual visitors and small groups seeking direct interaction with species that choose to participate.
• Feed the Animals Experiences Hand-feeding experiences including Giraffe Feeding ($7.50 for 3 leaves, with 12-inch tongues), Alligator Feeding ($11 bucket of food for 80+ alligators), Budgie Combo ($6 for 4 sticks in the free-flight aviary of 350 budgies), and a Feed Everyone Combo at $11. Sold to walk-up visitors at the zoo.
• Zoo Annual Memberships Subscription-style annual zoo memberships including Individual ($85.95 adult / $75.95 child), Bring A Friend ($179.95 for member plus guest), and Gift A Membership ($85.95, transferable). Members receive 10% off zoo merchandise, animal feed, admissions and birthday parties; 20% off up-close animal experiences; 50% off event-day admission; 50% off first Wild Encounters Cafe booking; and member-exclusive event invites. Marketed to local Panama City Beach residents and repeat visitors.
• Birthday Party Packages Hosted children's birthday party packages starting at $250 base, including reserved picnic tables with tablecloths and settings for 10, petting zoo feed, budgie sticks, a free birthday t-shirt, and free admission for the birthday child and parents. Optional add-ons include a table-side animal encounter ($49.99), up-close animal experience for 10 guests ($250), alligator feeding for 10 guests ($49.99, April-October), and a private 1-hour zoo tour ($250). Requires a non-refundable $50 deposit. Targeted at families seeking unique party venues.
• School Field Trips Educational K-12 field trip visits priced at $9 per student between September 1 and May 31, with free admission for teachers and a 20% discount for chaperones. Includes full-day admission, hands-on activities, animal meet and greets, free petting zoo feed, and a reserved picnic area. Targeted at schools and homeschool groups in the Florida Panhandle and surrounding region.
• ZooBoo Seasonal Event Annual Halloween trick-or-treat event on the last weekend in October (10am-4pm), featuring a trail with nearly 30 local community vendor tables and full-size candy bars. Pre-purchase is required and members receive a 50% discount on event admission. Targeted at local families and tourists during the Halloween season.
• Allapattah Swamp Alligator Feeding Experience Standalone alligator feeding exhibit housing 80+ giant alligators (12 to 13+ feet) in the Allapattah Swamp, with on-site feeding buckets sold for $11 daily from 9:30am-4pm. The exhibit hatches over 500 alligator eggs per year. Winner of the Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence from the Zoological Association of America. Accessible to general admission visitors.
• Gem Mining Activity Sluice-based mining activity where visitors pan for gemstones, fossils, crystals, and shark teeth and take home whatever they find, with additional geodes, amethyst, and crystal points available for purchase. Targeted at visiting families and children seeking hands-on activities.
• Friendly Farmyard Petting Zoo Petting zoo area with 40+ hand-picked kid-friendly animals including Katahdin sheep, African pygmy goats, llama, mini-cow, and Indian axis deer, with petting zoo feed cups available for purchase. Included with general admission and targeted at families with young children.
• Budgie Aviary Walkthrough Free-flight aviary housing 350 budgies, 4 lovebirds, and 2 cockatiels, open daily 9:30am-4pm with budgie sticks available for $6 (4 sticks). Included with general admission and targeted at families and visitors seeking interactive bird encounters.

Quantifiable outcome

• First aardwolf pups born in the U.S. in over 40 years (April 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Groupe d'étude et de recherche sur les primates de Madagascar (GERP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1994 by ten Malagasy primatologists. GERP protects lemurs and their habitats through research, protected area management, and community programs. ZooWorld provides funding support to conservation efforts for 112 lemur species, 98% of which are threatened with extinction.
• Rainforest Awareness Rescue Education Center (RAREC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAREC works with Peruvian Environmental Police to rehabilitate and release wildlife including manatees, ocelots, tapirs, anteaters, sloths, and primates. ZooWorld partially funded the purchase of a vehicle for educational programs and wildlife transportation, with Wild Encounters Cafe funding the remainder.
• Namibian Brown Hyena Research ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by research scientist Marie Lemerle, studying beach-living hyena clans using camera traps and radio collars. ZooWorld supports ongoing research as development threatens their habitat near the Baker's Bay seal colony.
• Khoisan Karoo ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting analysis of wild aardwolf nutrition intake. ZooWorld provided camera traps and receives assistance collecting aardwolf scat for research, supporting conservation of secretive nocturnal species.
• Tupelo Bee Keepers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal bee keeper association supported for pollination conservation. ZooWorld supports local pollinators through designated garden areas and previously maintained an on-site apiary.
• Bay County Box Turtle ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch scientist Adam Kaeser's citizen science project studying box turtle populations in Bay County. ZooWorld supports the survey enabling local citizens to identify individuals and record sightings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: Mid-sized Florida zoological park offering interactive experiences, boat tours, and animal encounters in a tourist-area setting. Comparable in operational scale and target audience (tourists + locals) within the Florida tourism ecosystem.
• Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens: Regional Florida zoological park with comparable size, interactive animal experiences, and educational programs. Most directly comparable peer given similar scale, Florida location, and combined zoo/botanical garden positioning.
• Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: Small-to-mid-size zoological park in Gulf Shores, Alabama — same Gulf Coast tourist corridor as ZooWorld. Highly comparable on coastal tourism dependence, scale, and interactive animal experience positioning.
• Gulf World Marine Park: Located in Panama City Beach, FL — directly competing for the same tourist visitor base within the same destination market. Comparable on geography and visitor demographic even though focused on marine rather than terrestrial species.
• Brevard Zoo: Florida zoological park known for interactive experiences (kayak tours, giraffe feeding, lorikeet feeding). Strongly comparable in experience-based offerings and emphasis on visitor-animal interaction.

Broad incumbents

• SeaWorld Orlando: Major zoological theme park operator in Florida with marine and terrestrial animal experiences. Competes in the broader Florida attraction market with substantially larger scale, brand recognition, and capital base.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom: Florida theme park with extensive animal exhibits, conservation programs, and immersive experiences. Sets the upper bound for animal-based attractions competing for Florida tourist time and spending.
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park: Larger, AZA-accredited Florida zoo with significant interactive experiences and conservation programs. Comparable in operational category but materially larger scale and broader institutional positioning.
• Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens: Mid-to-large accredited zoological park in Florida with conservation partnerships and educational programs. Comparable in zoological park category but larger scale and broader programmatic offerings.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Major Florida theme park with extensive animal exhibits and rides. Competes for the same tourist visitor wallet share in Florida, though at much larger scale and with theme park ride offerings ZooWorld does not have.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZooWorldPCB
• Instagraminstagram.com/zooworldpcb
• Xx.com/ZooWorldPCB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zooworld-panama-city-beach

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ZooWorld Zoological Park