Alaska Zoo

What Alaska Zoo does

The Alaska Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 and headquartered on a 30-acre site in the lower foothills of the Chugach Mountains in Anchorage, Alaska. It is the only zoo in the state and operates as a direct-to-consumer attraction with a specialization in Arctic, sub-Arctic, and like-climate species, providing daytime admission, annual memberships, paid encounters (polar bear, Amur tiger), summer feedings and tours, education programs (field trips, homeschool, adventure camps, virtual field trips, Zoo Snooze overnights), and event venue rentals. The organization works directly with state and federal wildlife agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on animal rescue, triage, rehabilitation, and conservation initiatives such as migratory bird collision prevention.

The business model blends transactional, recurring, and donated revenue streams. Transactional income includes tiered daily admission ($12–$25), group rates ($9.60–$14.40 for 30+ visitors), and paid encounters. Recurring revenue comes from annual memberships with perks such as 10% gift shop and 50% tour discounts. Donations flow through general funds, animal adoptions, PFD/Pick.Click.Give, planned giving, and named sponsorships, with ConocoPhillips Alaska underwriting Summer Family Fun Days and Weekly Storytime. On-site retail and food and beverage are outsourced to specialist operators (Event Network for the Gift Shop, Kape Espresso Tayo for the Coffee Shop), so the zoo captures rent/commission rather than direct retail margin.

Distribution is regional and physical-first: walk-in visits to the Anchorage site, online ticketing via the zoo's ticketapp.org portal, a free summer shuttle between Downtown Anchorage and the zoo on Wednesdays–Saturdays, and advance group bookings. The Polar Bear Cam, operated with Borealis Broadband, extends reach through live streaming. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors; the zoo reports 11–50 employees and does not disclose operating revenue.

Name

Alaska Zoo

Legal name

Alaska Zoo

Website

https://alaskazoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Alaska Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park in Anchorage, Alaska, operating on 30 acres of boreal forest and serving regional visitors, families, students, and donors with Arctic and sub-Arctic species exhibits, education programs, and wildlife rehabilitation partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation

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 Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Zoological park
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Conservation education
• Animal encounters

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Daily admission fees from walk-in visitors, with different pricing for residents, non-residents, seniors, military, and youth
2. Membership Program: Annual membership passes providing year-round zoo access with perks including discounts on tours and events
3. Gift Shop Sales: Retail gift shop selling zoo merchandise, operated by Event Network, located outside the zoo entrance
4. Food & Beverage: Coffee shop and refreshments operated by Kape Espresso Tayo, offering espresso drinks, cold beverages, and light snacks
5. Education Programs: Homeschool programs, field trips, adventure camps, and virtual field trips generating program fees
6. Animal Adoptions: Animal adoption programs allowing donors to support specific animals
7. Facility Rentals: Event venue rentals including the Gateway Hall and other zoo spaces for private events
8. Summer Feedings & Tours: Paid experiences including Amur Tiger Encounters and Polar Bear Encounters
9. Donations & Fundraising: General fund donations, memorial giving, planned giving, and PFD donation program

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Alaska Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological park operating on 30 acres of natural boreal forest in Anchorage, Alaska. It offers daily admissions and annual memberships providing access to Arctic, sub-Arctic, and like-climate species, along with paid animal encounters, summer feedings and tours, education programs, event venue rentals, and animal adoption sponsorships. The zoo also partners with state and federal wildlife agencies to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife.

Product overview

The Alaska Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a single, unified visitor experience centered on wildlife conservation education. The core product is daytime zoo admission and annual memberships providing access to 30 acres of boreal forest habitat showcasing Arctic, sub-Arctic, and like-climate species. Adjacent offerings include paid add-on experiences such as animal encounters (polar bear, tiger), summer feedings and tours, and animal adoptions. Educational programming (field trips, homeschool, camps, storytime) and special events (Zoo Brew, family fun days) extend engagement beyond standard admission. On-site retail and food services—the Gift Shop and Coffee Shop—are operated by third-party partners (Event Network and Kape Espresso Tayo, respectively) and support zoo operations. A free Polar Bear Cam provides remote public access to wildlife viewing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Admission and Memberships Daytime admission to the 30-acre boreal forest zoo with standard and discounted rates for Alaska residents, seniors, military, youth, and children. Annual membership programs provide year-round entry with perks including discounts on tours and feedings, invitations to member events, and a 20% gift shop discount. For individual consumers, families, and tourists in Alaska.
• Animal Encounters and Behind-the-Scenes Experiences Up-close experiences including polar bear encounters and Amur tiger encounters, offering visitors the opportunity for guided interactions with zoo animals. For individual visitors seeking premium wildlife experiences.
• Summer Feedings and Tours Seasonal guided feedings and tours providing visitors with educational wildlife experiences during the summer months, with member discounts available. For zoo visitors and members.
• Education Programs Comprehensive educational offerings including field trips, homeschool programs (K-8), weekly storytime, adventure camps, outreach programs, virtual field trips, Zoo Snooze overnights, and teacher resources through The Learning Yurt. For students, homeschool families, educators, and school groups.
• Group Events and Facility Rentals Private event hosting including Zoo Brew (21+ craft beer event), Summer Family Fun Days, birthday parties, and corporate/group rentals for events and meetings. For event planners, businesses, and community organizations.
• Animal Adoptions

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• World Migratory Bird DayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2025The Alaska Zoo hosts the annual World Migratory Bird Day event, an over two-decade tradition, to raise awareness about bird conservation and creating bird-friendly communities.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Alaska Zoo collaborates with USFWS on bird collision prevention projects, including applying window films to reduce collisions at zoo facilities. This partnership supports the zoo's commitment to migratory bird conservation.
• ConocoPhillips AlaskacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConocoPhillips Alaska is the major sponsor for Summer Family Fun Days community events and Weekly Storytime program. This sponsorship enables free community programming at the zoo, promoting family engagement with wildlife conservation.
• Event NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent Network operates the Alaska Zoo Gift Shop located outside the zoo entrance. The shop sells zoo merchandise and supports nonprofit zoo operations and animal care through retail sales.
• Kape Espresso TayocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKape Espresso Tayo is a local family-owned mobile coffee truck that manages the Alaska Zoo Coffee Shop. They serve Kaladi Brothers Coffee products and provide food and beverage services to zoo visitors.
• Bird Treatment and Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo collaborates with Bird Treatment and Learning Center on bird collision data collection and awareness efforts, sharing statistics on collision intakes for conservation research.
• Kaladi Brothers CoffeeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKaladi Brothers Coffee is the coffee supplier for the Kape Espresso Tayo-operated zoo coffee shop, providing all standard coffee and espresso drinks.
• Snow Leopard EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSnow Leopard Enterprises partnership sells handmade wool items made by families in Mongolia near snow leopard habitat. Sales support conservation by reducing poaching motivation in snow leopard regions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Denver Zoo: A larger nonprofit zoological park in Denver with broader species coverage and more extensive infrastructure. Comparable on nonprofit zoo model and conservation mission, though broader in scope and scale than Alaska Zoo.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: One of the largest nonprofit zoological organizations in the world, operating the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Comparable on nonprofit conservation model and wildlife education, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: A nonprofit wildlife sanctuary and conservation center located in Portage, Alaska (near Anchorage), focused on Alaska-native wildlife including bears, moose, elk, and musk ox. Direct comparable given shared Alaska geography, nonprofit model, wildlife conservation mission, and tourist visitor base.
• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: A mid-size nonprofit zoo in Tacoma, Washington, operated by Metro Parks Tacoma, featuring Pacific Northwest and cold-climate species. Comparable on nonprofit structure, mid-size scale, education programming, and Pacific Northwest / cool-climate species focus.
• Beardsley Zoo: Connecticut's only zoo, a nonprofit operation of similar scale to Alaska Zoo. Comparable on being the only zoo in its state, mid-size nonprofit operations, and conservation-education mission.
• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory: A nonprofit zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota, of similar scale to Alaska Zoo, offering free / low-cost admission and operating with mixed municipal-nonprofit governance. Comparable on mid-size nonprofit zoological park operations and community-driven membership model.
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: A nonprofit zoological park in Colorado Springs, one of the few mountainside zoos in the U.S. Comparable on nonprofit model, mid-size scale, emphasis on conservation, and member-supported operations.
• Oregon Zoo: A nonprofit zoological park in Portland operated by Metro, with a strong focus on Pacific Northwest and cold-climate species including polar bears, condors, and red pandas. Directly comparable on nonprofit zoo model, conservation education mission, and cold-climate species emphasis.
• Woodland Park Zoo: A nonprofit zoological park in Seattle with strong conservation and education programming, including Pacific Northwest species. Comparable on nonprofit zoo model, mid-to-large scale, conservation education, and cool-climate geography.
• Assiniboine Park Zoo: A nonprofit zoo in Winnipeg, Canada, with a focus on cold-climate and northern species including polar bears. Comparable on cold-climate specialization, nonprofit membership model, and conservation-education mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheAlaskaZoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheAlaskaZoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/alaskazoo
• TikToktiktok.com/@alaskazoo
• Xx.com/AlaskaZoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alaska-zoo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Alaska Zoo