Cape May County Park & Zoo

What Cape May County Park & Zoo does

Cape May County Park & Zoo is a free-admission zoological facility and public park operated as a department of the Cape May County government in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, under the Board of County Commissioners. The zoo houses approximately 200 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles, and is open daily (except Christmas) from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM in summer and 3:30 PM in winter. It serves families, school groups, general tourists, and community organizations through a diversified mix of free public access, paid education and event programming, and on-site retail.

The facility's technology footprint is modest and operational rather than differentiated: a CivicPlus-powered county government website serves as the primary visitor information and marketing interface, while the CivicRec online registration platform handles transactional bookings for Zoo Camp, animal encounters, guided tours, pavilion rentals, bus permits, and gift certificates. No mobile app, proprietary platform, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The Safari Cafe & Gift Shop (The Lion's Den Souvenirs & Gifts), a third-party-operated Tree to Tree Adventure Course, disc golf, and fitness trails are also located on park grounds.

The business model is a hybrid government-and-ancillary-revenue structure. The primary funding mechanism is the Cape May County annual budget appropriation, supplemented by voluntary donations (the zoo states "Your donations keep us free"), program and event fees, pavilion and bus-permit rentals, and on-site retail sales including merchandise, food, equipment rentals (strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, motorized scooters), and the Adopt an Animal sponsorship program. The Zoo-To-You outreach program extends the zoo's educational reach to off-site schools and community groups. Personal vehicle parking is free, and bus/van permits are the only parking-related paid item.

Name

Cape May County Park & Zoo

Legal name

Cape May County

Website

https://capemaycountynj.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cape May County Park & Zoo is a free-admission county-run zoological facility in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, housing approximately 200 species. It serves families, school groups, and tourists through public visitation, paid educational programs, on-site retail, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Zoological Park and Wildlife Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Public zoological park
• Wildlife education programs
• Community recreation services
• Animal conservation exhibits
• School field trip programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape May Court House

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriation: As a department of Cape May County government, the Park & Zoo is funded through annual county budget allocations and public funds. This represents the primary funding mechanism for zoo operations, animal care, and staff.
2. Donations and Contributions: Visitors are encouraged to donate. The zoo explicitly states 'Your donations keep us free.' Donations can be made online via credit card or on-site.
3. Retail Sales (Gift Shop & Cafe): The Lion's Den Souvenirs & Gifts (Safari Cafe & Gift Shop) generates revenue through sale of merchandise, food, beverages, and rental items including strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, and motorized scooters.
4. Program Fees: Revenue generated from fee-based programs including Zoo Camp registration, Animal Encounters and Guided Tours, Birthday Party Meet & Greets, pavilion rentals, bus permits, and the Tree to Tree Adventure Course (operated by third party on zoo grounds).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Cape May County Park & Zoo is a free-admission county government-operated zoological facility featuring wildlife exhibits for approximately 200 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. The zoo offers educational and recreational programs including Zoo Camp, Animal Encounters, Guided Tours, Birthday Parties, the Zoo School Program, and outreach through the Zoo-To-You program, supplemented by on-site retail at the Safari Cafe and Gift Shop and facility rentals for community events.

Product overview

Cape May County Park & Zoo is a free-admission county zoological facility and park system offering wildlife exhibits, animal encounters, guided tours, and educational programming. The zoo operates as a core attraction with multiple add-on services and programs including Zoo Camp, birthday parties, pavilion rentals, and an animal adoption program. Online registration for programs and facility rentals is managed through the CivicRec platform. The park also includes ancillary amenities such as the Safari Cafe & Gift Shop, disc golf, fitness trails, and the Tree to Tree Adventure Course (operated by a third party).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safari Cafe & Gift Shop: On-site food service and souvenir shop located within the park premises
• The Lion's Den Souvenirs & Gifts
• Tree to Tree Adventure Course

Products and services

• Cape May County Park & Zoo General Admission Free-admission public access to the county zoo featuring approximately 200 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles, with free personal-vehicle parking. Open daily except Christmas Day.
• Animal Encounters and Guided Tours Private guided tours and animal encounter experiences offered to visitors and reserved through the CivicRec online platform. Intended for families, school groups, and individual visitors seeking enhanced educational interactions with zoo animals.
• Birthday Party Packages Birthday party packages at the zoo, including animal meet-and-greet experiences for children's celebrations. Targeted at families seeking unique venues for children's birthday events.
• Zoo Camp Summer camp program for children providing educational and interactive experiences with zoo animals. Registration processed through CivicRec with seasonal fee-based enrollment.
• Pavilion Rentals Picnic pavilion rental service within the park, available for group events and parties. Reservations and bus/van permits processed through CivicRec.
• Zoo School Program Educational programming tailored for school groups visiting the zoo, designed to provide curriculum-aligned, hands-on learning experiences for K-12 students.
• Zoo-To-You Outreach Program Off-site outreach program that brings zoo animals and educational content to schools, community groups, and events that cannot visit the zoo on-site. Targeted at schools and community organizations across the region.
• Safari Cafe & Gift Shop On-site food service and souvenir retail location within the zoo, also offering rental items including strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, and motorized scooters. Accepts credit cards and traveler's checks and has an ATM on-site.
• Tree to Tree Adventure Course Zipline and adventure park course located at the park, operated by a third-party operator on zoo grounds. Targeted at visitors seeking recreational adventure experiences.
• Adopt an Animal Animal adoption program enabling donors to symbolically support specific zoo animals through recurring or one-time contributions. Targeted at individual donors and animal welfare supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free admission and free parking for personal vehicles, removing cost barriers for visitors

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• American Association of Zoo KeepersminorOthersThe Cape May County Zoo is affiliated with the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), a professional organization for zoo personnel. AAZK membership supports staff professional development and aligns the zoo with industry standards for animal care and zoo operations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/capemayzoo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@capemaycountyzoologicalsoc2173
• Facebookfacebook.com/capemaycountyparkzoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/capemaycountyzoo
• Pinterestpinterest.com/capemaycountynj
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cape-may-county-police-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Cape May County Park & Zoo