Sunset Zoo
Sunset Zoo is a 26-acre AZA-accredited municipal zoo in Manhattan, Kansas, operated by the City of Manhattan's Parks and Recreation Department. It serves local families, school groups, and regional visitors through animal exhibits, seasonal events, educational programs, and facility rentals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1933
- HeadquartersManhattan, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sunset Zoo does
Sunset Zoo is a 26-acre, AZA-accredited zoological park located in Manhattan, Kansas, operating as a division of the City of Manhattan Park and Recreation Department. It maintains animal exhibits across three themed trails — Americas, Asia, and Africa — featuring species such as White Pelican, Malayan Tiger, Chimpanzee, Spotted Hyena, and Red-Footed Tortoise, with regular Animal Spotlights enrichment demonstrations. The zoo's stated mission is to inspire conservation of the natural world, and it serves local families, school groups, regional tourists, and private event renters through a multi-channel direct-to-consumer model.
The zoo generates revenue through five primary streams: daily admission fees (seasonal, March–October), annual Friends of Sunset Zoo (FOSZ) memberships, special events (Summer Celebration, Zoo Late Nights, Wine in the Wild, Brew at the Zoo, Boo at the Zoo), on-site gift shop sales including animal enrichment item sponsorships ($5–$100+), and educational programs such as summer camps, classes, wildlife volunteer programs, and facility rentals for birthday parties and private events. Pricing is unit-based for admission and events, with subscription pricing for annual memberships. Marketing is conducted through the zoo's own website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, X), email newsletter, community outreach via Manhattan Parks and Recreation, and regional tourism partnerships including the KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program with six other AZA-accredited Kansas zoos.
Sunset Zoo employs over 20 full-time staff plus part-time and seasonal workers, with all employees being City of Manhattan personnel. The zoo does not operate as a standalone commercial entity — it is a municipal government division with no venture capital, private equity, or public shareholders, and is not engaged in technology development. Its strategic positioning rests on AZA accreditation, municipal funding stability, community embeddedness, and regional zoo partnerships rather than on commercial differentiation or technology adoption.
Sunset Zoo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sunset Zoo
- Legal name
- Sunset Zoo
- Website
- https://sunsetzoo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1933
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sunset Zoo is a 26-acre AZA-accredited municipal zoo in Manhattan, Kansas, operated by the City of Manhattan's Parks and Recreation Department. It serves local families, school groups, and regional visitors through animal exhibits, seasonal events, educational programs, and facility rentals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sunset Zoo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), 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), Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG), Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)
Keywords
Where Sunset Zoo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manhattan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sunset Zoo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Admission Fees: The zoo charges admission fees for entry, with specific pricing tiers for adults, children, and special events. Children ages 12 and under receive free admission during Summer Celebration with a paid adult.
- Memberships (Friends of Sunset Zoo): Annual membership programs offering unlimited admission, special member events, and discounts at the gift shop. Members can win prizes like family memberships through event participation.
- Event Revenue: Special events including Summer Celebration, Wine in the Wild, Brew at the Zoo, and Boo at the Zoo generate revenue through admission and vendor partnerships. Face painting tickets available for $5.
- Gift Shop Sales: On-site gift shop selling souvenirs, stuffed animals, and sponsored enrichment items for zoo animals (ranging from $5 to $100+).
- Programs and Camps: Educational programs including summer camps, classes, Wildlife Warriors volunteer programs, and facility rentals for birthday parties and events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard admission with seasonal variations |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual membership (FOSZ) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Special event admission |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sunset Zoo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sunset Zoo operates a 26-acre zoological park in Manhattan, Kansas, providing public access to animal exhibits across Americas, Asia, and Africa trails, along with Animal Spotlights enrichment demonstrations. It sells admissions, annual memberships (Friends of Sunset Zoo), educational programs, summer camps, birthday party packages, facility rentals, gift shop merchandise, and seasonal events such as Summer Celebration and Zoo Late Nights. The zoo is a division of the City of Manhattan's Parks and Recreation Department and is AZA accredited.
Product overview
Sunset Zoo is a 26-acre AZA-accredited zoo operated by the City of Manhattan's Parks and Recreation Department in Manhattan, Kansas. The zoo operates on a single unified service model offering animal exhibits and viewing experiences, environmental education programs, and special event programming. Core offerings include daily animal exhibits across multiple themed trails (Americas, Asia, Africa), regular Animal Spotlights enrichment demonstrations, and seasonal events such as Summer Celebration and Zoo Late Nights. Supporting services include education programs (Wildlife Warriors, Little Cub Club), summer camps, birthday party packages, facility rentals, gift shop, and FOSZ membership program. The zoo participates in the regional KAZOO Wild Adventure multi-zoo passport program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zoo Exhibits and Animal Viewing
Quantifiable outcome
- Seven Kansas AZA-accredited zoos participate in regional KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program (May 24 - September 7, 2026)
Companies that use Sunset Zoo
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sunset Zoo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sunset Zoo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Kansas State BankminorKansas State Bank sponsors the Summer Celebration event on July 11, 2026, providing promotional support for the annual family event.
- IHOP ManhattanminorIHOP provides complimentary beverages at the Summer Celebration event entrance as a community sponsorship.
- Manhattan Brewing CominorManhattan Brewing Co provides adult beverages for purchase at the Summer Celebration event covered pavilion near the playground.
- David Traylor Zoo (Emporia, KS)coreParticipating zoo in KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program running May 24 - September 7, 2026. Visitors collect stamps from all seven participating Kansas zoos for prize entry.
- Hutchinson Zoo (Hutchinson, KS)coreParticipating zoo in KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program running May 24 - September 7, 2026.
- Lee Richardson Zoo (Garden City, KS)coreParticipating zoo in KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program running May 24 - September 7, 2026.
- Rolling Hills Zoo (Salina, KS)coreParticipating zoo in KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program running May 24 - September 7, 2026. Serves as passport submission address for grand prize drawings.
- Sedgwick County Zoo (Wichita, KS)coreParticipating zoo in KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program running May 24 - September 7, 2026.
- Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center (Topeka, KS)coreParticipating zoo in KAZOO Wild Adventure passport program running May 24 - September 7, 2026.
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)coreAZA membership provides accreditation standards, conservation resources, and reciprocal admission programs connecting Sunset Zoo with hundreds of accredited institutions worldwide.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sunset Zoo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rolling Hills Zoo: Salina, Kansas-based AZA-accredited zoo and direct KAZOO Wild Adventure partner. Operates a comparable mid-size zoological park model with animal exhibits, education programs, and event-based revenue, making it the closest operating peer to Sunset Zoo within the Kansas zoo network.
- Lee Richardson Zoo: Garden City, Kansas-based AZA-accredited zoo and KAZOO Wild Adventure partner. Comparable mid-size municipal zoological park offering animal exhibits, education programs, and event revenue, directly comparable in operating model and regional positioning to Sunset Zoo.
- Sedgwick County Zoo: Wichita, Kansas-based AZA-accredited zoo and KAZOO Wild Adventure partner. The largest Kansas zoo in the same regional passport program as Sunset Zoo, serving as both a peer and a potential draw on regional visitors given its significantly larger animal collection and program breadth.
- Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center: AZA-accredited Kansas zoo and KAZOO Wild Adventure partner. Operates a comparable zoological park with animal exhibits, conservation programming, and education offerings, but at a larger scale than Sunset Zoo, making it a direct regional competitor for visitors and school-group business.
- Hutchinson Zoo: Hutchinson, Kansas-based AZA-accredited zoo and KAZOO Wild Adventure partner. Comparable municipal zoological park operating model with animal exhibits and education programming, providing another like-for-like peer within the same Kansas regional network.
- David Traylor Zoo: Emporia, Kansas-based municipal zoo and KAZOO Wild Adventure partner. Operates a similar small-to-mid size zoological park model with animal exhibits, education, and special events, and is a direct passport-program peer competing for the same Kansas regional visitor base.
Regional players
- Milford Nature Center: State-park-based nature center and wildlife facility near Milford Lake, Kansas. Provides free wildlife exhibits and education programming in the same regional catchment as Sunset Zoo, partially overlapping on family and school-group demand.
- Dickinson County Nature Center: Regional nature/education center near Manhattan, KS offering wildlife education programming in the same north-central Kansas catchment. Adjacent rather than direct competition, but competes for school field trips and family nature-based recreation dollars.
Broad incumbents
- Kansas City Zoo: AZA-accredited zoo serving the broader Kansas City metro area. Larger scale and broader programming make it a competitive destination for Kansas families considering multi-zoo visits, overlapping with Sunset Zoo's regional catchment.
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: Regionally significant AZA-accredited zoo within driving distance of Manhattan, KS. Operates a much larger and broader portfolio of animal exhibits, aquarium, and attractions, competing for regional discretionary visitor dollars in a higher tier than Sunset Zoo.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sunset Zoo social profiles
Digital presenceSunset Zoo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sunset Zoo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sunset Zoo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sunset 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 Sunset Zoo
What does Sunset Zoo do?
Sunset Zoo operates a 26-acre zoological park in Manhattan, Kansas, providing public access to animal exhibits across Americas, Asia, and Africa trails, along with Animal Spotlights enrichment demonstrations. It sells admissions, annual memberships (Friends of Sunset Zoo), educational programs, summer camps, birthday party packages, facility rentals, gift shop merchandise, and seasonal events such as Summer Celebration and Zoo Late Nights. The zoo is a division of the City of Manhattan's Parks and Recreation Department and is AZA accredited.
Is Sunset Zoo a public or private company?
Sunset Zoo is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Sunset Zoo founded?
Sunset Zoo was founded in 1933. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sunset Zoo based?
Sunset Zoo is headquartered in Manhattan, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sunset Zoo make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Admission Fees are the primary driver. The others are memberships (Friends of Sunset Zoo), event Revenue, gift Shop Sales and programs and Camps.
Who are Sunset Zoo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rolling Hills Zoo, Lee Richardson Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center, Hutchinson Zoo and David Traylor Zoo. Regional players are Milford Nature Center and Dickinson County Nature Center. Broad incumbents are Kansas City Zoo and Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Does Sunset Zoo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sunset Zoo.
What industry is Sunset Zoo in?
Sunset Zoo's product category is Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAEAE, Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions), with a secondary code of THAJADAL, Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections). Its NAICS code is 71213 and its SIC code is 7990.