Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil

What Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil does

Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil is a family-oriented zoo located on Oberseestrasse 36 in Rapperswil, Switzerland, operated by the family-owned Swiss stock corporation Gebrüder Knie, Schweizer National-Circus AG, with Sibylle Marti listed as authorized representative. The zoo houses approximately 30 species and 400 individual animals and is run by a small team of about 8 employees, reflecting a lean operating model typical of a single-site regional attraction rather than a scaled chain. Its core offering is the daily zoo visit (9:00–18:00), complemented by bookable premium Tiererlebnisse such as "Elefanten hautnah" and the Giraffen-Lodge, family activities (Fantasy Dschungel, Zaubershow, Kindergeburtstage at the Piratenschiff, Zoo-OL, and the "Arche Noah" animal presentation), and on-site amenities including Restaurant Tiergarten, Restaurant Wintergarten, a Food Truck, and a souvenir shop.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer, multi-revenue-stream model: daily admission tickets sold via the e-guma online shop or at the gate, premium animal encounter add-ons (transaction-based), on-site F&B and souvenir retail (hardware sales), event-venue rental through the Knies Zauberhut (professional services), birthday-party packages, season cards and gift vouchers (subscription/recurring), and two contribution-style products — Tierpatenschaften (animal sponsorships) and the capped Gönneraktie (symbolic supporter shares at CHF 100 junior and CHF 1,000 senior, limited to 1,000 shares). Technology is limited to commodity third-party tools (e-guma for ticketing, Google Analytics, Vimeo/YouTube), with website build and hosting outsourced to admotion and Hostpoint AG respectively. Distribution is intentionally regional/local, with marketing concentrated on the company website, Instagram, LinkedIn, email newsletter, and e-guma, and credibility reinforced through VdZ membership and SwissTainable certification.

Strategically, the zoo is doubling down on experiential monetization rather than geographic expansion: layering paid encounters, event rentals, donation instruments, and seasonal shows onto a single physical footprint, while leveraging the multi-generational Knie family brand (shared with the Swiss National Circus and Knies Zauberhut) and the Swiss Location Award for differentiation in the German-speaking Swiss family-entertainment market.

Name

Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil

Legal name

Gebrüder Knie, Schweizer National-Circus AG Rapperswil

Website

https://knieskinderzoo.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil is a family-owned Swiss zoo in Rapperswil housing around 400 animals across 30 species. It earns revenue from admission tickets, premium animal experiences, on-site dining and retail, event venue rental, animal sponsorships, and symbolic supporter shares.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoo and Wildlife Park

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (45991)

SIC

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), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

Keywords

• Family zoo attractions
• Animal encounter experiences
• Wildlife conservation education
• Children's zoo entertainment
• Event venue hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Rapperswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Zoo Admission Tickets: Revenue from daily admission tickets for visitors to the zoo. Ticket sales are processed through their e-guma online shop.
2. Tiererlebnisse (Animal Experiences): Premium paid animal encounter experiences including 'Elefanten hautnah' (Elephant up close), feeding sessions, and exclusive guided tours that can be booked separately.
3. Gastronomy: On-site restaurants and food services including Restaurant Tiergarten, Restaurant Wintergarten, and Food Truck generating food and beverage revenue.
4. Souvenir Shop: On-site souvenir shop sales.
5. Tierpatenschaften (Animal Sponsorships): Direct contributions from visitors and supporters sponsoring animals for conservation purposes.
6. Gönneraktie (Supporter Shares): Symbolic share offerings (CHF 100 Junior, CHF 1,000 Senior) to supporters, limited to 1,000 shares total. These are charitable/contribution instruments rather than traditional equity.
7. Event Venue Rental (Zauberhut): Knies Zauberhut event location is rented out for corporate events, team events, weddings, customer events, family celebrations, and association gatherings. Contact via [email protected].
8. Kindergeburtstage (Children's Birthday Parties): Birthday party packages at the Piratenschiff in Flamingo Bay, booked through the e-guma shop.
9. Season Cards and Gift Vouchers: Annual season passes and gift vouchers sold as recurring/membership-style products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil operates a family-oriented zoo housing approximately 30 species and 400 animals, offering daily animal encounters, feeding sessions, and exclusive experiences such as "Elefanten hautnah" (Elephant Close-Up) and the Giraffen-Lodge. The zoo supplements admissions with on-site gastronomy, a souvenir shop, an event venue (Knies Zauberhut), children's birthday party packages, animal sponsorship programs (Tierpatenschaften), and a symbolic supporter share (Gönneraktie) program for conservation funding.

Product overview

Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil is a family-oriented zoo offering a unified visitor experience centered on animal encounters, conservation education, and family entertainment. The core offering comprises daily animal experiences (Tiererlebnisse) including hands-on feeding sessions and exclusive experiences like Elefanten hautnah and Giraffe Lodge. The zoo's activity portfolio includes the Fantasy Jungle, Magic Shows, Children's Birthday Parties, and the Animal Presentation 'Arche Noah'. Additional offerings include the Knies Zauberhut event venue for corporate and private events, Tierpatenschaften (animal sponsorships) for conservation supporters, and the Gönneraktie (supporter share) symbolic ownership program. Visitor conveniences include on-site dining (Restaurant Tiergarten, Restaurant Wintergarten, Food Truck), a souvenir shop, and locker facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tiererlebnisse (Animal Experiences) Daily bookable animal encounters, feeding sessions, and exclusive experiences such as Elephant Close-Up and Giraffen-Lodge that allow visitors to interact with and learn about the zoo's animals.
• Knies Zauberhut Event Venue Event location within the zoo rented out for corporate events, team events, weddings, customer events, family celebrations, and association gatherings, set against wildlife surroundings including cheetahs, giraffes, and elephants.
• Tierpatenschaften (Animal Sponsorships) Symbolic adoption program through which supporters contribute to the protection and habitat preservation of the zoo's approximately 30 species and 400 individual animals.
• Gönneraktie (Supporter Share) Symbolic ownership instrument offered to supporters in Junior (CHF 100) and Senior (CHF 1,000) tiers, capped at 1,000 shares, with proceeds supporting the zoo, its animals, and species conservation.
• Kindergeburtstage (Children's Birthday Parties) Birthday party packages hosted at the Piratenschiff in Flamingo Bay, bookable as a unit through the e-guma online shop, targeted at families with children.
• Gastronomie (On-site Dining) On-site food and beverage service through Restaurant Tiergarten, Restaurant Wintergarten, Food Truck, and barbecue areas, serving visitors during zoo hours.
• Zoo Admission Tickets Daily admission tickets granting access to the zoo and its 30 species/400 animals, sold online via the e-guma platform and at the entrance, alongside annual season cards and gift vouchers.
• Souvenir Shop On-site retail outlet selling souvenirs and merchandise to zoo visitors.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• VdZ (Verband der Zoologischer Gärten)coreOthersMember of the association of German-speaking zoos, providing credibility, shared best practices, and collaborative conservation efforts across the zoo network.
• SwissTainablecoreOthersParticipant in the Swiss tourism sustainability certification program, demonstrating commitment to sustainable operations and environmental responsibility.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SEA LIFE: Global aquarium and marine attraction brand that competes for ticket-purchasing families and school groups, directly comparable in the 'animal experience day out' category.
• Zoo Zürich: Largest and most-visited zoo in Switzerland, directly competing for family and tourist visitors in the German-speaking Swiss market with a vastly larger animal collection and brand.
• Zoo Basel: Major incumbent Swiss zoo with strong international recognition, competing for the same school-trip, family, and tourist spend across northern Switzerland.

Direct peers

• Natur- und Tierpark Goldau: Swiss nature and animal park combining zoo operations with conservation education, overlapping with Knies Kinderzoo on family experiences and school segment.
• Walter Zoo: Family-run zoo in Gossau, Switzerland, comparable mid-sized Swiss zoo with a similar mix of animal experiences, family activities, and educational programming targeting regional visitors.
• Tierpark Bern: Mid-sized Swiss zoo in Bern with a comparable mix of family-focused animal encounters, education programs, and on-site amenities.

Regional players

• Papiliorama: Tropical zoo in Kerzers, Switzerland, offering immersive butterfly and rainforest experiences — a comparable regional experiential attraction competing for Swiss family leisure spend.
• Vivarium Lausanne: Aquarium and animal exhibit in Lausanne with a similar mid-scale, education-and-experience model serving the French-speaking Swiss market.
• Wildpark Langenberg: Swiss wildlife park focused on native species and family excursions, comparable geographic positioning and operating model in the Swiss German-speaking market.

Others

• Patronat Schweizer Tierparks: Swiss zoo industry association and supporting network; comparable as a peer-by-ecosystem, providing governance, certification, and shared best practices across the Swiss Tierpark landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knies-kinderzoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/knieskinderzoo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Knies Kinderzoo Rapperswil