Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a public zoo and wildlife rehabilitation facility in Big Bear Lake, California, operated by the Big Bear Valley Recreation & Park District. It serves regional visitors, schools, and donors through admissions, memberships, group tours, and events, rehabilitating hundreds of injured and orphaned wild animals annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersBig Bear Lake, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Big Bear Alpine Zoo does
The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a wildlife rehabilitation facility and public zoo located in Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, California, operated by the Big Bear Valley Recreation & Park District, a public-sector entity. Founded in 1959 as Moonridge Animal Park after a wildfire displaced local wildlife in the San Bernardino National Forest, the zoo today houses mammals, birds, and reptiles representing over 85 species and receives hundreds of orphaned and injured wild animals annually for rehabilitation, with the majority released back to native environments. It operates under a 1994 Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Fish and Game for rehabilitation of native sick, injured, or orphaned birds and mammals, and under USDA veterinary oversight requirements.
The zoo serves general public visitors, schools and youth organizations, and a base of members and donors who financially support its rehabilitation mission. Revenue is generated through admission tickets ($17 adult, $12 youth/senior, free under 2), an eight-tier membership program ranging from $50/year Individual to a $5,000 one-time Lifetime membership, docent-led group tours ($200 base for 1–25 persons), an animal adoption and sponsorship program, gift shop merchandise, and seasonal events such as the Wild Lights holiday lighting event ($20 per ticket). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the on-site box office, the Peek online booking platform, and a school/youth group tour application process, with marketing conducted via Facebook, Instagram, the zoo website, and email newsletters distributed through the supporting Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo nonprofit. A 2020 relocation to a new facility, funded by a $5.75 million transfer from San Bernardino County's General Fund, replaced the original 1959 site after 61 years of operation; the zoo is staffed by a small team of approximately 8 employees including a curator, lead animal keepers, registered veterinary technician, animal keepers, maintenance, and gift shop personnel.
Big Bear Alpine Zoo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Bear Alpine Zoo
- Legal name
- Big Bear Alpine Zoo
- Website
- https://bigbearzoo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a public zoo and wildlife rehabilitation facility in Big Bear Lake, California, operated by the Big Bear Valley Recreation & Park District. It serves regional visitors, schools, and donors through admissions, memberships, group tours, and events, rehabilitating hundreds of injured and orphaned wild animals annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Bear Alpine Zoo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Rehabilitation and Zoo Services
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)
Keywords
Where Big Bear Alpine Zoo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Big Bear Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Big Bear Alpine Zoo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Admission Fees: Revenue from daily admission tickets for visitors. Pricing varies by age category (Adult $17, Senior/Youth $12, Children 2 and under free).
- Memberships: Annual membership programs offering free admission, discounts, and reciprocal benefits. Levels range from Individual ($50/year) to Lifetime ($5,000 one-time).
- Group Tours: Docent-led educational tours for schools and youth organizations. Base rate of $200 for groups of 1-25 persons, plus $4 per additional person.
- Donations: Visitor donations and sponsorship/adoption programs support wildlife rehabilitation costs.
- Gift Shop: Merchandise sales with 10-20% discounts for members.
- Special Events: Seasonal events such as Wild Lights holiday lighting event with $20 per ticket admission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult (Ages 13-59) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Senior (Ages 60+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Youth (Ages 3-12) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children 2 and Under |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Military Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Tours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wild Lights Event |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Couple Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Grandparents Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Contributing Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Supporting Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustaining Membership |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Lifetime Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Big Bear Alpine Zoo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Bear Alpine Zoo operates a public zoological facility and wildlife rehabilitation center at 42801 Moonridge Road in Big Bear Lake, California, housing over 85 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Its core mission is rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured, orphaned, and imprinted wild native animals under a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Fish and Game. The zoo generates revenue through paid public admission, tiered annual memberships, docent-led educational group tours, animal adoption sponsorships, gift shop sales, and seasonal events such as Wild Lights.
Product overview
The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a wildlife rehabilitation facility and public zoo offering injured, orphaned and imprinted wild animals a second chance. The zoo is home to mammals, birds, and reptiles representing over 85 species. Core offerings include zoo admission tickets for public visits, an annual membership program with multiple tiers, and group educational tours for schools. Additional services include an animal adoption program, wildlife rehabilitation services, and behavioral enrichment programs included with daily admission. The zoo also operates seasonal events such as Wild Lights, a holiday lighting display. The facility operates in San Bernardino County, California.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zoo Admission
Quantifiable outcome
- Majority of animals brought for rehabilitation are successfully released back into their native environment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Bear Alpine Zoo
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Bear Alpine Zoo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Big Bear Alpine Zoo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, strategic and core.
- Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle)majorReceived snow leopard sisters Asha and Shanti from Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. The Species Survival Plan (SSP) coordinated the placement of these conservation ambassadors to Big Bear Alpine Zoo due to their specialized medical needs.
- San Bernardino National Forest AssociationstrategicMOU established with Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District, Friends of the Moonridge Zoo, San Bernardino National Forest Association, and USDA Forest Service to explore relocation opportunities.
- California Department of Fish and GamecoreMemorandum of Understanding for rehabilitation of native sick, injured or orphaned birds and mammals. Establishes regulatory framework for the zoo's rehabilitation operations.
- Friends of the Big Bear Alpine ZoocoreNonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to support the zoo through public education, volunteer support, fundraising, development, and key project financial support.
- San Diego Natural History MuseumcorePartnership with San Diego Natural History Museum, US Fish and Wildlife, and Forestry Service regarding flying squirrels education program. The zoo educates the public about the uniqueness of flying squirrels in Big Bear through this collaborative effort.
- US Fish and WildlifecoreCollaborative partnership for flying squirrel conservation education and public awareness about species found in high-elevation mixed-conifer forests.
- Forestry ServicecoreJoint efforts with Forestry Service on flying squirrel conservation and habitat education programs.
- Woodland Park ZoomajorParticipates in Species Survival Plan programs for endangered species conservation, coordinating with zoos nationwide for breeding programs and animal placement.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Big Bear Alpine Zoo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentPeers
- Lindsay Wildlife Experience:
Direct peers
- Sequoia Park Zoo: A small accredited zoo in Eureka, California operated by a municipal district, offering similar educational programming, wildlife conservation focus, and membership/admission revenue model. Directly comparable as a publicly-operated, conservation-focused regional zoo.
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: A Southern California zoo and botanical garden focused on desert wildlife conservation and education with a comparable mix of admission, membership, and group tour revenue streams. Comparable in scale and mission to Big Bear Alpine Zoo as a regional California zoological attraction.
- Santa Barbara Zoo: A mid-sized California zoo with similar admission/membership/group tour revenue streams and conservation education programming. Larger than Big Bear but the closest analog in operating model and California regional tourism orientation.
- Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary: A municipally-operated zoo sanctuary in Northern California with a similar emphasis on animal welfare, education, and small-staff operations. Closely comparable to Big Bear in public-entity governance and modest scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Big Bear Alpine Zoo social profiles
Digital presenceBig Bear Alpine Zoo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Bear Alpine Zoo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Big Bear Alpine Zoo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Bear Alpine 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 Big Bear Alpine Zoo
What does Big Bear Alpine Zoo do?
Big Bear Alpine Zoo operates a public zoological facility and wildlife rehabilitation center at 42801 Moonridge Road in Big Bear Lake, California, housing over 85 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Its core mission is rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured, orphaned, and imprinted wild native animals under a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Fish and Game. The zoo generates revenue through paid public admission, tiered annual memberships, docent-led educational group tours, animal adoption sponsorships, gift shop sales, and seasonal events such as Wild Lights.
Is Big Bear Alpine Zoo a public or private company?
Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Bear Alpine Zoo founded?
Big Bear Alpine Zoo was founded in 1959. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Bear Alpine Zoo based?
Big Bear Alpine Zoo is headquartered in Big Bear Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Bear Alpine Zoo make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Admission Fees are the primary driver. The others are memberships, group Tours, donations, gift Shop and special Events.
Who are Big Bear Alpine Zoo's main competitors?
Lindsay Wildlife Experience is listed as a peer. Direct peers are Sequoia Park Zoo, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Santa Barbara Zoo and Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary.
Does Big Bear Alpine Zoo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Bear Alpine Zoo.
What industry is Big Bear Alpine Zoo in?
Big Bear Alpine Zoo's product category is Wildlife Rehabilitation and Zoo Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAL, Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections), with a secondary code of BPAGAIAC, Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release. Its NAICS code is 71213.