Reid Park Zoological Society

What Reid Park Zoological Society does

Reid Park Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, founded in 1975 and incorporated in 1976, that operates the city-owned Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona. The organization manages a 24-acre campus housing more than 400 animals, serving over 550,000 annual visitors as of its 2025 60th anniversary, and runs wildlife-care, K-12 education, and conservation-outreach programs. It holds Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation, renewed in April 2025, and serves as the operator of a community-owned zoological facility rather than a private enterprise.

The product surface spans core zoo admission and annual memberships, premium paid experiences such as giraffe feeding, elephant, and rhino encounters, venue rentals for weddings and corporate events, seasonal programming including ZooLights, digital offerings including live Zoo Cams and on-site audio tours, and K-12 field-trip education. Operational technology includes a Life Support System for aquatic habitats and a CT scanner for veterinary diagnostics, both in service of animal welfare rather than consumer-facing product. The organization maintains participation in Species Survival Plans (SSP), SAFE programs, and a broader partner network including the Tucson International Airport anti-wildlife-trafficking program announced in August 2025.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid non-profit model: ticket sales, subscription memberships, individual donations (including symbolic adoptions and planned giving), private event rentals, corporate partnerships, and a voter-approved one-tenth of one percent Tucson sales tax first passed in 2017 that funds the zoo's 10-Year Master Plan. Distribution is entirely physical at the Tucson campus, supplemented by digital channels including the website, social media, Zoo Cams, and an online conservation speaker series. Governance is by an independent Board of Directors with no private equity or venture capital ownership, and the entity is operated under a long-standing arrangement with the City of Tucson.

Name

Reid Park Zoological Society

Legal name

Reid Park Zoological Society

Website

https://reidparkzoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Reid Park Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates the city-owned Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona, serving 550,000+ annual visitors with animal care, conservation, and education across a 24-acre, AZA-accredited campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Zoological park operations
• Wildlife conservation education
• Animal care services
• Zoo membership programs
• Private event venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Daytime entry tickets sold online and at the gate; free admission for Zoo Members
2. Memberships: Annual membership program with free daytime entry and additional benefits
3. Donations: Individual donations, memorial and honorary gifts, planned and legacy gifts
4. Private Events: Venue rentals for weddings, corporate events, holiday parties, and birthday parties
5. Animal Adoptions: Symbolic animal adoption programs for conservation support
6. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate memberships and sponsorships with businesses
7. Sales Tax Revenue: Voter-approved one-tenth of one percent sales tax since 2017 funding zoo improvements and operations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Reid Park Zoological Society operates Reid Park Zoo, a 24-acre AZA-accredited zoological facility in Tucson, Arizona, housing more than 400 animals in naturalistic habitats. The organization delivers daytime zoo admission, an annual Zoo Membership program, premium Behind-the-Scenes animal encounters, K-12 education and field trip programs, private venue rentals for weddings and corporate events, seasonal events such as ZooLights, and a constellation of conservation partnerships and species survival programs.

Product overview

Reid Park Zoo is a 24-acre AZA-accredited zoological facility offering a unified visitor experience centered on animal care, conservation, and education. The core offering is daytime zoo admission and membership, supplemented by paid add-on experiences including Behind-the-Scenes animal encounters (giraffe feeding, elephant experiences), Zoo Cams for remote viewing, audio tours, rides (carousel, railway), and the World of Play interactive playground. The Zoo also operates venue rental services for private events (weddings, corporate events, birthdays) and seasonal events including ZooLights holiday displays. Education programs include field trips, outreach, and volunteer/internship opportunities. The Pathway to Asia major expansion (2026) will add 4.5 acres featuring tigers, red pandas, Komodo dragons, and sand cats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Admission (Daytime Tickets) Daytime entry tickets to Reid Park Zoo, sold online or at the gate, free for Zoo Members. Open daily 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the visit typically taking approximately two hours.
• Zoo Membership Annual membership program providing free daytime entry and additional benefits, with options including individual, dual, family, and premium levels, plus corporate and social service memberships.
• Behind-the-Scenes Animal Experiences Behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters including Elephant, Rhino, and Giraffe encounters, allowing guests to go behind the scenes and see animal training sessions.
• Private Event Venue Rentals Venue rental services including weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and holiday parties at the Zoo, with add-on experiences available.
• Field Trips and Education Programs Educational programming for K-12 students including school field trips, outreach programs, virtual programs, and teacher resources aligned with classroom curriculum.
• ZooLights Seasonal Event Holiday light event running most evenings through January, featuring decorated displays, live entertainment, falling snow, a 36-foot decorated tree, and an 18-foot gingerbread house.
• Adopt an Animal Symbolic animal adoption program allowing donors to financially support specific animals and their care as a conservation giving program.
• Community Access Programs Programs providing reduced-cost or free Zoo access for underserved community members and 501(c)(3) non-profit fundraising activities.
• Corporate Memberships and Partnerships Corporate memberships and sponsorship packages providing businesses with employee and client benefits tied to Zoo access and brand association.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water conservation: 1,000,000 gallons saved annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tucson International Airport (TIA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 August 2025Partnership to raise awareness about wildlife trafficking through the AZA 'I Travel for Wildlife' campaign. Features informational displays in the airport showcasing banners at baggage claim.
• ecocellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhone recycling partnership to recapture lithium and minerals, reducing need for new mining. Proceeds support the SAFE: Andean Highland Flamingo program.
• International Rhino FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership supporting IRF's work in protecting all five rhino species through habitat protection, anti-poaching, and community engagement in Africa and Asia.
• City of TucsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoter-approved one-tenth of one percent sales tax funding; composting program partnership through Food Cycle; road maintenance; Tucson Green Business certification.
• Recyco, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLight recycling partnership accepting old holiday lights at bin by front entrance instead of landfill disposal.
• Seafood Watch / Monterey Bay AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership promoting sustainable seafood choices to protect otter habitat and reduce pollution.
• Giraffe Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation support providing fieldwork in Uganda to stabilize wild populations of endangered reticulated giraffes.
• AZA African Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative program working to maximize health, wellbeing, and genetic diversity of African elephants across AZA-accredited zoos.
• AZA SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecies survival programs for endangered species including giraffes and flamingos.
• AZA Wildlife Trafficking AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration among AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, airports, and wildlife agencies to educate public about wildlife trafficking.
• Columbus Zoo and AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the W.I.L.D. Zero-Waste Challenge (Walk Intentionally, Live Differently), an app-based sustainability challenge.
• Conservation CATalystminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization coordinating conservation events and speaker series at the zoo.
• Rewilding InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organization working to bring jaguars back to their native ranges within Arizona and the borderland region.
• Anteaters and Highways ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership protecting anteaters and their habitat throughout Brazil, including wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation.
• Tarangire Conservation Research ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner15+ year partnership that has conserved over three million acres of elephant habitat in Africa and led anti-poaching efforts.
• Wildlife Conservation SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership; Dr. George Schaller conducted early career work for WCS observing Alaskan wildlife.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Zoo: Larger, world-class AZA-accredited zoo in Southern California with extensive conservation and breeding programs. Broader incumbent operating in the same Southwestern US zoo space with overlapping species and conservation positioning.
• Denver Zoo: AZA-accredited urban zoo of similar scale and operating model, with comparable focus on conservation, education programming, and ticketed member experiences in a Western US market.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo: Free-admission AZA-accredited zoo with comparable mission focus on conservation, education, and species survival plans. Useful benchmark for community access and donor development programming.
• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: Mid-sized AZA-accredited zoo with similar family entertainment model, conservation partnerships, and sustainability programming. Existing collaborator with Reid Park on the W.I.L.D. Zero-Waste Challenge.
• Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: AZA-accredited zoo with comparable visitor scale (~2M annually but similar operating complexity), advanced animal care infrastructure, and strong LSS/exhibit technology. Useful comparable for capital expansion benchmarking.

Direct peers

• Phoenix Zoo: Arizona-based mid-sized AZA-accredited zoo with comparable visitor scale, similar arid-climate species mix, and overlapping school and family programming. Most direct comparable peer in same state and market tier.
• Audubon Zoo: Mid-sized AZA-accredited urban zoo with similar visitor profile, family programming, event venue rentals, and conservation partnerships. Same tier of mid-size city zoo operation.
• Sedgwick County Zoo: Mid-sized AZA-accredited zoo with similar footprint, visitor scale, and exhibit expansion model. Useful peer for benchmarking attendance uplift from major habitat additions.
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: Tucson-area zoological institution focused on Sonoran Desert flora and fauna with combined museum, zoo, and botanical garden experience. Closest geographic peer and direct competitor for Tucson tourist and education visitation.

Others

• Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo): AZA-accredited zoo and global conservation organization with which Reid Park has historical ties. Not a direct scale peer but a relevant conservation partner and a global leader in the wildlife NGO space Reid Park operates within.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/reidparkzoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReidParkZoo
• Instagraminstagram.com/reidparkzoo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reid-park-zoological-society

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Reid Park Zoological Society