Rolling Hills Zoo

What Rolling Hills Zoo does

Rolling Hills Zoo is an AZA-accredited, non-profit zoological park located at 625 N. Hedville Road in Salina, Kansas, operating year-round (closed only four days per year). The facility houses over 120 animals representing 100+ species-including snow leopards, white rhinos, chimpanzees, and anteaters-and anchors a 64,000 square foot Wildlife Museum with state-of-the-art animatronics depicting seven world regions (African Plains, Arctic Tundra, Rainforests, North America, Middle East, Far East), plus a 2,000 sq ft Earl Bane Gallery for traveling exhibits and the Bamboo Bay 3,000-gallon cylindrical aquarium. Supporting amenities include the Overlook Restaurant, Elephant's Trunk Gift Shop, Kid's Country, and tram/shuttle transportation.

The organization monetizes through a multi-stream model: one-time general admission ($12-$16), seven annual membership tiers ($45-$500), symbolic animal adoptions ($50), event-driven programs (Safari Breakfasts, Twilight Safari Adventures at $23/person, Personal Guided Tours at $50/person), summer camps ($25-$140), school group field trips ($7.50/student), rental amenities, and gift shop sales. Pricing is publicly disclosed, with military and AAA discounts and reciprocal 50% admission at 300+ AZA-accredited zoos. GTM is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer through a single physical location, supplemented by online booking via FareHarbor, a Special Event & Group Sales Manager handling school, corporate, and motorcoach groups, and participation in the KAZOO Wild Adventure passport with six other Kansas AZA-accredited zoos.

Customer segments span individual families, K-12 schools, children/teens participating in summer camps, corporate/motorcoach groups, and volunteers. The zoo relies on donations, grants, memberships, and admissions-and notably receives no local or regional tax support. Leadership is Executive Director Ryan VanZant, Director of Development Linda Henderson, Education Curator Teagan Miller, and Special Event & Group Sales Manager Kris Bell. The zoo is currently expanding with the Kathy Tolbert Tiger Falls Asian habitat exhibit, which broke ground April 16, 2026, and announced the birth of a southern white rhino calf (Creed) in February 2026.

Name

Rolling Hills Zoo

Legal name

Rolling Hills Zoo

Website

https://rollinghillszoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rolling Hills Zoo is an AZA-accredited, non-profit zoological park in Salina, Kansas, housing 100+ species and a 64,000 sq ft Wildlife Museum with animatronics. It serves families, K-12 schools, and corporate groups through admissions, memberships, camps, and donations, with no local tax support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG), Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG)

Keywords

• Zoological park
• Wildlife conservation
• Animal exhibits
• Conservation education
• Family attractions

Headquarters

HQ city

Salina

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. General Admission Tickets: Rolling Hills Zoo generates revenue through paid admission to the zoo and museum. Adults (19-64) pay $16, Seniors (65+) pay $15, Children (3-18) pay $12, with children 2 and under admitted free. Admission includes both the Zoo and Wildlife Museum.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships provide unlimited admission for a year. Tiers range from Individual ($45) to Family Plus ($175), with Supporter ($300) and Caregiver ($500) levels that include additional guest passes and benefits. Membership pays for itself in less than three visits.
3. Animal Adoption Program: Symbolic animal adoptions at $50 (donation value $45) valid for one year. Includes gold-embossed adoption folder, personalized certificate, photo of adopted animal, and fact sheet. Add-ons available including admission tickets, tram passes, and memberships.
4. Donations: Rolling Hills Zoo is a non-profit that relies on donations for funding. The zoo does not receive local or regional tax support. Donations support animal care, education programs, and traveling exhibits.
5. Group Programs and Events: Revenue from Twilight Safari Adventures ($23/person), Personal Guided Tours ($50/person), school group programs ($65 first discovery class + $45 additional), tram rides, and special event experiences including Safari Breakfasts.
6. Amenities and Rentals: Tram rides ($5 all-day band), wheelchair rentals ($10), double strollers ($10), wagons ($10), electric scooters ($30), ScooterPals ($5 starting fee + $0.35/minute), and animal feedings ($5).
7. Elephant's Trunk Gift Shop: On-site gift shop located in the Wildlife Museum selling plush animals, jewelry, educational toys, t-shirts, fair-trade items, and zoo souvenirs. Open year-round during regular hours.
8. Summer Camps: Safari Explorer camps at $25-30/single day or $90-108/4-day week for members and non-members. Junior Zoo Keeper camp at $135-140. Guardian & Me camp at $25-30/child & adult.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Rolling Hills Zoo is a zoological park that houses and exhibits a collection of wildlife species for public viewing while supporting wildlife conservation and education initiatives. The zoo sells admission-based visitor experiences, educational programs, and membership opportunities at its physical location in Salina, Kansas.

Product overview

Rolling Hills Zoo operates as a unified zoo and wildlife museum experience accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). The core product portfolio centers on daily zoo admission (offering face-to-face encounters with 100+ species including snow leopards, white rhinos, and chimpanzees) paired with the 64,000 square foot Wildlife Museum featuring animatronic exhibits across seven global regions. The organization monetizes through tiered admission, membership subscriptions (Individual through Caregiver tiers at $45-$500 annually), animal adoption programs ($50), and experiential add-ons including Safari Breakfasts, Twilight Safaris, and Summer Camps. Group services encompass school field trips, motorcoach tours, and corporate events. The property is currently expanding with the Kathy Tolbert Tiger Falls exhibit under construction. Additional revenue streams include the Elephant's Trunk Gift Shop, Overlook Restaurant, tram rides, and a KAZOO Wild Adventure multi-zoo passport program. The zoo relies on donations and grants as a non-profit with no tax support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Daily public admission to the zoo's animal exhibits and grounds for individual visitors and families in Salina, Kansas.
• Annual Membership Recurring membership program offering repeat visitation benefits and member-only perks to local and regional supporters.
• School and Group Programs Structured educational visits and group programming designed for K-12 classes, youth organizations, and other organized groups.
• Conservation and Education Outreach Conservation initiatives and public education efforts tied to the zoo's wildlife collection and broader species-preservation mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Donations pay for itself in under 3 visits compared to individual admission costs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kathy TolbertcoreOthers · 16 April 202631-year former Director and Assistant Director honored through naming of Kathy Tolbert Tiger Falls exhibit. Major donor and supporter of zoo's growth and vision.
• Bennington State BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of Rolling Hills Zoo, providing financial support for zoo operations and special events.
• Plunketts Pest ControlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of Rolling Hills Zoo.
• Clark, Mize & LinvilleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Safari Breakfast events featuring hyena encounters.
• Nex-TechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Christmas in July event at Rolling Hills Zoo.
• Equity BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Toddler Tuesday educational program for toddlers ages 1-5.
• First Bank KansasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Back to School Blast and other zoo events. Also sponsor for Arapawa Goats exhibit.
• Hutton Design+BuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner for Kathy Tolbert Tiger Falls exhibit project. Major strategic partnership for zoo expansion and Asian animal habitat development.
• Salina SubaruminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Summer Camps program as part of Subaru Share the Love initiative.
• VisitSalinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal tourism partnership promoting Rolling Hills Zoo as a destination attraction in Salina, Kansas.
• Other AZA-Accredited Kansas ZooscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with David Traylor Zoo (Emporia), Hutchinson Zoo, Lee Richardson Zoo (Garden City), Sedgwick County Zoo (Wichita), Sunset Zoo (Manhattan), and Topeka Zoo on KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program across all seven AZA-accredited Kansas zoos.
• City of SalinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing local government support for zoo operations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Sunset Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Manhattan, Kansas. KAZOO passport partner of similar scale with comparable educational programming and family audience.
• Dickerson Park Zoo: AZA-accredited regional zoo in Springfield, Missouri. Similar mid-sized zoo model with comparable family programming, education focus, and gift shop/donation revenue mix.
• David Traylor Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Emporia, Kansas. KAZOO passport partner with comparable size and operations as one of the seven Kansas accredited zoos in the reciprocal program.
• Hutchinson Zoo (Prairie Ocean Conservation Center): AZA-accredited Kansas zoo and KAZOO passport partner. Small-to-mid regional zoo comparable in scale and operations to Rolling Hills Zoo.
• Sedgwick County Zoo: AZA-accredited regional zoo in Wichita, Kansas. Most direct comparable as the largest other Kansas zoo and a fellow KAZOO Wild Adventure passport partner serving a similar family/education audience.
• Topeka Zoo: AZA-accredited Kansas zoo in Topeka and KAZOO passport partner. Comparable mid-sized regional zoo model with similar membership, education, and group programming.
• Lee Richardson Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Garden City, Kansas. KAZOO passport partner of comparable size and operational model serving a similar Midwest regional audience.

Regional players

• Tanganyika Wildlife Park: Wildlife park in Goddard, Kansas offering animal encounters and family experiences. Operates in the same Kansas regional tourism market but with a more interaction-focused, smaller-collection model.

Broad incumbents

• Kansas City Zoo: Larger AZA-accredited zoo serving the Kansas City metro. Competes for regional Kansas/Missouri family tourism and operates a similar membership and education model.
• Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: Larger AZA-accredited zoo in neighboring Nebraska. Broad incumbent operating at significantly greater scale with overlapping species collection and family/education offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RHZoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCT50YSaLKBjKr3aWONMFwdQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/rollinghillszoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/rolling_hills_zoo
• TikToktiktok.com/discover/rolling-hills-zoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rollinghillszoo

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Rolling Hills Zoo