Lincoln Children's Zoo
Lincoln Children's Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoological facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, operating an 18-acre site housing 400+ animals and serving approximately 411,000 annual visitors through admissions, memberships, education programs, and signature events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersLincoln, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lincoln Children's Zoo does
Lincoln Children's Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological facility founded in 1959 by Arnott Folsom and opened to the public in the summer of 1965 on an 18-acre site at 1222 South 27th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. The zoo houses more than 400 animals including 40+ endangered species (Sumatran tiger, Matschie's tree kangaroo, giraffe, cheetah, red panda, penguin) and participates in AZA Species Survival Plan breeding and conservation programs. It holds continuous AZA accreditation since 1990 and was the first Nebraska facility to earn KultureCity Sensory Inclusive certification.
The organization generates revenue through six primary streams: general admission ($14.95–$16.95), annual memberships (Individual $120, Family $145, Grandparent tiers with AZA reciprocal benefits), education programs including Summer Zoo Camp, Tots & Turtles, Spring Break Camp, Flashlight Safari, and Zoo Crew ($140–$299), ticketed special events (Brews at the Zoo, Zoo Lights Powered by LES, Boo at the Zoo, Family Fun Fest, Sensory Safari), charitable giving through general donations, symbolic adoptions, workplace giving via Give Nebraska and the Lincoln Community Foundation, and gift cards. Direct-to-consumer distribution is via walk-up admissions, the lincolnzoo.org website (with a $2 processing fee), and phone/mail membership sales. The zoo reports approximately 411,496 visitors in 2025, 1,278 summer campers in 2024, and 20,000+ free CATZ tickets distributed annually to underserved families through partner human-service agencies. Leadership comprises CEO Evan Killeen (since January 2022, following 10 years as COO), COO Sarah Wood, and functional directors across education, guest experience, animal health, horticulture, development, and facilities; the operation runs on approximately 35 full-time employees with a daily operating cost of ~$13,000.
Lincoln Children's Zoo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lincoln Children's Zoo
- Legal name
- Lincoln Children's Zoo
- Website
- https://lincolnzoo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Lincoln Children's Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, AZA-accredited zoological facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, operating an 18-acre site housing 400+ animals and serving approximately 411,000 annual visitors through admissions, memberships, education programs, and signature events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lincoln Children's Zoo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zoological Park & Wildlife Education Services
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)
- 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), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)
Keywords
Where Lincoln Children's Zoo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincoln
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lincoln Children's Zoo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Admissions Revenue: Entry fees for visitors including Adults ($16.95), Children ages 2-12 ($14.95), with free admission for seniors 62+, children 1 and under, and zoo members. Additional add-on experiences available for purchase including Explorer Pass ($8), Giraffe Feed Bundles, Train Rides, and Camel/Goat Feed.
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership programs including Family ($145), Grandparent, and Individual ($120) tiers. Members receive unlimited access, exclusive member hours, discounts on events and camps, and reciprocal admission benefits at other AZA zoos. Memberships are tax deductible.
- Education Programs: Revenue from Summer Zoo Camp (5-day: $260 Members/$299 Non-Members), Off-Season/Spring Break Camp, Tots & Turtles toddler program ($125 Members/$145 Non-Members), Flashlight Safari ($40-45 per person), and Zoo Crew youth volunteer program ($250 per session). Additional add-ons include camp lunches and merchandise bundles.
- Special Events: Ticketed events including Brews at the Zoo ($39 general admission with 3 drink tickets), Zoo Lights Powered by LES (holiday event), Boo at the Zoo (trick-or-treat), Family Fun Fest ($11-13 per person), and Sensory Safari. Events include food, beverage, and merchandise sales.
- Donations and Charitable Giving: Donations through general fund, symbolic animal adoptions ($80 for penguin packages), planned giving/bequests, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, memorial gifts, and clothing donation box partnerships. Zoo operates as 501(c)(3) nonprofit without local, state, or federal operational funding.
- Gift Cards and Retail: Zoo gift cards usable for admission, events, add-on experiences, memberships, gift shop, and food/beverage. Gift cards available in variable amounts, delivered via email or physical cards purchased at zoo.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Admission (Ages 13-61) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Child Admission (Ages 2-12) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Senior Admission (62+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids 1 & Under |
| Subscription | Annual | Zoo Members - All Ages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Explorer Pass Add-On |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Giraffe Feed Bundle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Train Ride |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Camel/Goat Feed |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Grandparent Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 5-Day Summer Zoo Camp |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 4-Day Summer Zoo Camp |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 4-Year-Old Half Day Mini Camp (5-Day) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 4-Year-Old Half Day Mini Camp (4-Day) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Camp Add-Ons |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Tots & Turtles (6-week program) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flashlight Safari |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Zoo Crew (per session) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brews at the Zoo General Ticket |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brews at the Zoo Meal Ticket |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family Fun Fest Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chile the Penguin Symbolic Adoption Package |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Spring Break Camp (5-day) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels9 records
Lincoln Children's Zoo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lincoln Children's Zoo operates an 18-acre zoological facility housing over 400 animals including 40+ endangered species, offering general admission access, animal encounters (giraffe feeding, cheetah runs), and hands-on wildlife experiences. The zoo sells annual memberships, runs STEAM-based educational camps and toddler programs, hosts ticketed seasonal events (Zoo Lights, Boo at the Zoo, Brews at the Zoo, Family Fun Fest, Sensory Safari), and provides venue rentals and charitable programs including symbolic animal adoptions and the CATZ community access program.
Product overview
Lincoln Children's Zoo is a traditional zoological facility (not a technology company) offering a unified visitor experience centered on animal exhibits and educational programs. The core offering is general admission providing access to over 400 animals. The product portfolio includes membership programs, educational camps (Summer Zoo Camp, Zoo Crew, Tots & Turtles, Off-Season Camps), special events (Zoo Lights, Boo at the Zoo, Brews at the Zoo, Family Fun Fest, Sensory Safari), charitable programs (Symbolic Adoptions, CATZ), and experiences (Add-Ons, Flashlight Safari, Horticulture Tours, Adventures Trips). The zoo also offers venue rental and internship programs. No technology platform, API, or SaaS product is offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zoo Admission & Animal Exhibits
- Zoo Memberships
- Summer Zoo Camp
- Zoo Crew
- Tots & Turtles
- Flashlight Safari
- Add-On Experiences
- Zoo Lights Powered by LES
- Boo at the Zoo
- Brews at the Zoo
- Family Fun Fest
- Sensory Safari
- Symbolic Animal Adoptions
- Children at the Zoo (CATZ)
- Horticulture Tours
- Adventures Trips
- Off-Season Camps
- Zoo Gift Cards
- Rent the Zoo
- Zookeeping Internship
Quantifiable outcome
- 411,496 visitors annually (2025)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Lincoln Children's Zoo
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Lincoln Children's Zoo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lincoln Children's Zoo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KultureCitycorePartnership to become Certified Sensory Inclusive Organization - first in Nebraska. KultureCity provides sensory bags with noise-canceling headphones (Puro Sound Labs), fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and KCVIP lanyards. Staff trained on recognizing and assisting guests with sensory needs including autism, dementia, and PTSD.
- Nebraska Statewide ArboretumminorZoo named Landscape Steward Affiliate Site recognizing its collection of approximately 300 species of plants and trees, one-third native to Great Plains. NSA developed program to recognize important people-planted landscapes and form ongoing partnerships with caregivers.
- Lincoln Children's MuseumcoreDual Membership Discount Program allowing purchase of separate Zoo and Museum memberships at any time while receiving cross-discounts. Zoo members get $10 off Children's Museum membership. Coupon codes available online or show membership card in-person.
- Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionminorPartnership for Sensory Safari event - nature experts from organizations across Nebraska engage visitors at interpretative stations throughout the zoo for guests who are blind, have low vision, or experience sensory processing needs.
- Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually ImpairedminorPartnership for Sensory Safari event providing touch, feel, hear, and smell interpretative stations for guests with visual or sensory processing needs.
- Global Green ClothingminorPartnership for clothing donation boxes at zoo parking lot and 15+ other locations in Lincoln. Global Green accepts gently used clothing and household items for recycling/reuse. Portion of proceeds benefit the zoo.
- Give NebraskacoreWorkplace giving program at 75+ companies throughout Nebraska, particularly Lincoln/Lancaster County. Employees can designate payroll deductions to support zoo. Donations also accepted via United Way pledge forms and Lincoln Community Foundation.
- Empyrean Brewing Co., Glacial Till Vineyard, Lucky Bucket Brewing Company, Stone Hollow Brewing Company, Thunderhead Brewing, White Elm Brewing Co., Zipline Brewing Co.minorLocal craft breweries and cideries providing beverages for Brews at the Zoo events. Event features local bands and local beer selection. breweries gain visibility and zoo gains event appeal.
- Lincoln Community FoundationcorePartner for Give to Lincoln Day matching funds campaign. Handles check processing and donor advised fund grants for zoo donations. Zoo participates annually to earn higher percentage of matching funds.
- Cheyenne Mountain ZoocoreAZA Giraffe Species Survival Plan partner. Kay the giraffe calf transferred to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado Springs) on future breeding recommendation. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe.
- Wildlife Safari (Oregon)coreCheetah breeding center that provided Sasha and Zuri cheetah cubs as ambassador animals for Lincoln Children's Zoo. AZA Cheetah Species Survival Plan identified zoo as great fit for ambassador program.
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumminorProvided lifesaving giraffe plasma for hand-raising Kay the giraffe calf. Critical veterinary support partnership within AZA zoo network.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lincoln Children's Zoo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Blank Park Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, explicitly listed as a Lincoln reciprocal-admission partner. Highly comparable in scale, mission, and Midwest family/education market positioning.
- Beardsley Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut—the only zoo in that state. Comparable as a small-to-mid-size AZA-accredited zoo with a strong education and family-program focus.
- Sedgwick County Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Wichita, Kansas. Highly comparable as a mid-sized zoo in a similar secondary Midwestern market, with comparable attendance scale, education programs, and community-mission orientation.
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: AZA-accredited zoo in Omaha, NE (~50 miles from Lincoln) and one of the most-visited zoos in the U.S. Directly comparable as a regional competitor for Nebraska family visitors and donor dollars, and explicitly named as a partner in Lincoln's source data.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Colorado Springs and home of the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe. A direct SSP partner that received Lincoln's giraffe calf Kay on breeding recommendation, making it highly comparable on mission and animal collection.
- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden: AZA-accredited zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. Comparable as a mid-size AZA zoo with a strong gardens/horticulture program (matching Lincoln's Landscape Steward Affiliate Site status) and robust education offerings.
- Roger Williams Park Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo in Providence, Rhode Island operated by a nonprofit. Comparable as a mid-size, mission-driven, education-heavy zoo with strong community programs and conservation partnerships.
- Wildlife Safari: AZA-accredited park in Winston, Oregon that served as a cheetah breeding center and provided ambassador cheetahs (Sasha and Zuri) to Lincoln Children's Zoo. Comparable as a mid-sized AZA facility with active SSP participation.
- Kansas City Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo serving the Kansas City metro, listed among reciprocal-admission partners for Lincoln members. Directly comparable as a mid-size regional zoo competing for similar family/education audiences in the central U.S.
Regional players
- Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center: AZA-accredited zoo in Topeka, Kansas operating in a similar Midwest secondary-metro market. Comparable in scale and educational programming focus, though operating in a different geography than Lincoln.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lincoln Children's Zoo social profiles
Digital presenceLincoln Children's Zoo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lincoln Children's Zoo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Lincoln Children's Zoo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lincoln Children's 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 Lincoln Children's Zoo
What does Lincoln Children's Zoo do?
Lincoln Children's Zoo operates an 18-acre zoological facility housing over 400 animals including 40+ endangered species, offering general admission access, animal encounters (giraffe feeding, cheetah runs), and hands-on wildlife experiences. The zoo sells annual memberships, runs STEAM-based educational camps and toddler programs, hosts ticketed seasonal events (Zoo Lights, Boo at the Zoo, Brews at the Zoo, Family Fun Fest, Sensory Safari), and provides venue rentals and charitable programs including symbolic animal adoptions and the CATZ community access program.
Is Lincoln Children's Zoo a public or private company?
Lincoln Children's Zoo is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lincoln Children's Zoo founded?
Lincoln Children's Zoo was founded in 1965. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Lincoln Children's Zoo based?
Lincoln Children's Zoo is headquartered in Lincoln, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lincoln Children's Zoo make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Admissions Revenue is the primary driver. The others are membership Subscriptions, education Programs, special Events, donations and Charitable Giving and gift Cards and Retail.
Who are Lincoln Children's Zoo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Blank Park Zoo, Beardsley Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Wildlife Safari and Kansas City Zoo. Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center is listed as a regional player.
Does Lincoln Children's Zoo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lincoln Children's Zoo.
What industry is Lincoln Children's Zoo in?
Lincoln Children's Zoo's product category is Zoological Park & Wildlife Education Services. 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.