ZooMontana
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersBillings, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ZooMontana does
ZooMontana is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit zoological and botanical park incorporated in 1984 and operating on a 70-acre campus at 2100 S. Shiloh Road in Billings, Montana, immediately off Interstate 90. The facility houses more than 100 animals representing 56 species, the majority of which are non-releasable wildlife rescues including Amur Tigers, Grizzly Bears, Wolverines, River Otters, Sichuan Takin, and Canada Lynx. The park also operates an accredited arboretum and botanical garden with more than 10 themed gardens maintained by 50+ volunteers through the ZooMontana Botanical Society, and a Foster Waterfowl Refuge containing over 1,200 native Montana plantings. The organization is AZA-accredited (achieved September 2019), a credential held by fewer than 10% of USDA-licensed wildlife exhibitors, and functions as the only true zoological and botanical park within a 500-mile radius of Billings.
The organization serves approximately 150,000 annual visitors from the northern Rockies region, with additional reach to 18,000+ students annually through ZooSchool preschool, school field trips, homeschool programs, and summer camps. The core operational offering centers on animal care, conservation education, and visitor experiences delivered through physical admission, annual memberships ($89-$189 tiers), the ADOPT an Animal donor program ($30-$500 tiers), event rentals (weddings, corporate functions at Homestead House), ZooSchool preschool ($180-$425/month tuition), and a webstore for merchandise and adoption sales. Digital engagement supplements the physical experience through ZooCams (live webcams of grizzly bear habitat and Winston the sloth) and the @sloth_zoomontana Instagram channel.
ZooMontana does not receive public tax support and funds operations through a diversified revenue mix spanning admissions, memberships, program fees, donations, event rentals, and capital campaign contributions. The organization is currently executing the 'Wild & Well: A New Era of Animal Care' capital campaign, which has raised $2.9 million of a $3.9 million goal to construct a new on-site Animal Health Center. Leadership transitioned in February 2025 when Jessica Hart moved from Operations Director to President/CEO; the executive team includes Travis Goebel (Animal Curator, ~25-year tenure), Pete Bolenbaugh (Chief Development Officer), Wendy Chavez (Guest Experience Director), and Brooke Randak (Education & Conservation Director), governed by a Board of Directors chaired by community business leaders.
ZooMontana firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZooMontana
- Legal name
- ZooMontana
- Website
- https://zoomontana.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZooMontana industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zoological and Botanical Park Services
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wildlife Viewing & Birdwatching Tours (THAAAEAB)
Keywords
Where ZooMontana is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Billings
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ZooMontana business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Admissions: Entry fees charged to visitors for zoo access. Summer hours (May-September) open 10am-4pm daily with ZooMembers getting early entry at 9:30am.
- Memberships: Annual membership subscriptions providing unlimited free admission, discounts, early entry privileges, and reciprocal benefits at 150+ AZA accredited zoos. Individual ($89), Family ($109), Grandparent ($109), Family Adventure ($189), plus Membership Plus add-on ($35).
- Adopt an Animal Program: Symbolic animal adoption donations with tiered benefits including certificates, magnets, plush animals, golf cart tours, and keeper encounters. Donation levels from $30 to $500.
- Capital Campaign Donations: Major gift fundraising for capital projects including the current Wild & Well campaign for Animal Health Center. Raised $2.9M of $3.9M goal from individual and corporate donors.
- Event Rentals: Private event rentals of zoo facilities including the Homestead House as a wedding venue, meeting spaces, and birthday parties.
- ZooSchool Preschool: Preschool educational programming with monthly tuition ranging from $180 to $425 depending on class schedule and student status. Requires zoo membership for enrollment.
- Webstore Sales: Online retail sales of merchandise, animal plush toys, and zoo-branded products through the webstore platform.
- Community Donations and Grants: Private contributions, stock/crypto donations, planned giving, memorial donations, and pathway brick paver sales. ZooMontana gives back over $35,000 per year in community donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership - $89/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Membership - $109/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Grandparent Membership - $109/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Adventure Membership - $189/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership Plus - $35/year |
| Other | Annual | Adopt an Animal - $30 Level |
| Other | Annual | Adopt an Animal - $50 Level |
| Other | Annual | Adopt an Animal - $100 Level |
| Other | Annual | Adopt an Animal - $250 Level |
| Other | Annual | Adopt an Animal - $500 Level |
| Subscription | Monthly | ZooSchool Bears Class - $425/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | ZooSchool Bison Class - $365/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | ZooSchool Otters Class - $305/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | ZooSchool Pandas Class - $180/month |
| Other | Multi-year contract | ZooSchool Registration Fee |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Pathway to Play - 4x8 Brick |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Pathway to Play - 8x8 Brick |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
ZooMontana product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZooMontana operates a 70-acre AZA-accredited zoological and botanical park in Billings, Montana, housing over 100 animals of 56 species and offering public admission, annual memberships, education and conservation programs, ZooSchool preschool, live animal webcams, private event rentals, and a botanical garden. Revenue is generated through ticket admissions, tiered memberships ($89–$189), preschool tuition ($180–$425/month), donor programs (Adopt an Animal, brick pavers, stock/crypto gifts), capital campaigns, webstore merchandise, and venue rentals — operating without public tax support as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Product overview
ZooMontana is a 70-acre AZA-accredited zoological and botanical park in Billings, Montana, operating as a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The institution does not offer a single software product but rather a portfolio of physical, educational, and hospitality services centered on animal care and public education. Core visitor-facing services include general zoo admission, annual membership programs (Individual, Family, Grandparent, Family Adventure tiers), and the ADOPT an Animal donor program. Educational offerings span ZooSchool Preschool for ages 3–5, school field trips, homeschool programs, and summer camps serving over 18,000 students annually. Digital engagement includes ZooCams live streaming of animal habitats and Amazon Wish Lists for in-kind donations. Fundraising initiatives feature the ongoing Wild & Well capital campaign for an Animal Health Center, stock/crypto donations, planned giving through the Billings Community Foundation, and the Pathway to Play brick paver program. The site also includes event rentals, a botanical garden with 10+ themed gardens managed by the ZooMontana Botanical Society, and volunteer opportunities. Revenue is generated through admissions, memberships, events, and private contributions; the zoo does not receive public tax support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zoo Admission General admission tickets to ZooMontana in Billings, MT, with summer and winter operating hours and special member early-entry benefits (open 10am-4pm daily in summer with ZooMembers admitted at 9:30am; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day). Targeted at the general public and tourists visiting the Billings area.
- Zoo Membership Annual membership program with tiers (Individual $89, Family $109, Grandparent $109, Family Adventure $189, Membership Plus $35 add-on) offering unlimited free admission, early entry, 10% shop discount, monthly newsletter, and reciprocal benefits at 150+ AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
- ADOPT an Animal Symbolic animal adoption donor program with five donation levels ($30, $50, $100, $250, $500) offering certificates, plush toys, gift shop discounts, docent-led golf cart tours, and Meet the Keeper animal encounters as escalating benefits.
- ZooSchool Preschool On-site preschool program for children ages 3–5 with class tiers (Bears, Bison, Otters, Pandas), differentiated monthly tuition ($180, $305, $365, $425), $125 nonrefundable registration fee, and curriculum integrating zoo animals and gardens. Requires active ZooMontana membership for enrollment.
- Education & Outreach Programs Educational programming including school field trips, homeschool groups, summer camps, outreach programs, and teacher resources serving over 18,000 K-12 students annually. Targets K-12 schools, homeschool networks, and summer camp organizers.
- ZooCams Live webcams streaming views of the Grizzly Bear habitat and Winston the Sloth, allowing virtual visitors to monitor animals remotely.
- Event Rentals Venue rental of zoo grounds and facilities for private events, weddings (Homestead House), corporate meetings, and birthday parties. Targets couples, corporate event planners, and families in the Billings/Yellowstone County area.
- Botanical Garden Experience Accredited arboretum and botanical park with 10+ themed gardens (Sensory Garden, Bamboo Garden, Children's Garden, Dottie's Water-Wise Garden, Foster Waterfowl Refuge, and more), maintained by 50+ volunteer gardeners from the ZooMontana Botanical Society. The Foster Waterfowl Refuge contains 1,200+ native Montana plantings.
- Pathway to Play Brick Paver Personalized engraved brick paver donor program allowing supporters to have their name or tribute installed on the zoo's Pathway to Play near the main playground. Available in 4x8 ($100) and 8x8 ($200) brick options with character line limits.
- Planned Giving and Endowment Program Planned giving and endowment program operated in partnership with the Billings Community Foundation, offering Montana state tax credits for qualified endowments and supporting sustainable long-term zoo funding.
Quantifiable outcome
- AZA accreditation achieved September 2019, placing ZooMontana among fewer than 10% of wildlife exhibitors worldwide
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ZooMontana
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
ZooMontana technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
ZooMontana partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Cushing TerrellcoreArchitecture and engineering firm likely providing design services for the Animal Health Center facility.
- Big Bear Alpine ZoocoreAZA reciprocal partner offering ZooMontana members FREE admission at Big Bear City, California location.
- Binghamton Zoo at Ross ParkcoreAZA reciprocal partner offering ZooMontana members 50% reduced admission at Binghamton, New York.
- Bramble Park ZoocoreAZA reciprocal partner offering ZooMontana members FREE admission at Watertown, South Dakota.
- Montgomery ZoocoreAZA reciprocal partner offering ZooMontana members FREE admission at Montgomery, Alabama location.
- Yellowstone Wildlife SanctuarycoreAZA reciprocal partner offering ZooMontana members 50% reduced admission at Red Lodge, Montana (nearby regional partner).
- Billings Community FoundationcoreZooMontana partners with Billings Community Foundation to establish and manage endowment fund and planned giving programs for sustainable zoo funding.
- Amazon Wish ListminorAmazon wish lists for Animal Care (a.co/0cyQJ2Yn) and Education and Conservation (a.co/0eeB6gN5) allowing donors to purchase needed supplies directly.
- Stockman BankcoreHelped facilitate Winston the Sloth naming contest, narrowing down suggestions and managing public voting for the sloth's name selection.
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)flagshipAZA accreditation body providing rigorous standards for animal care, welfare, conservation, and education. ZooMontana maintains accreditation requiring renewal every five years, accessing reciprocal membership benefits with 150+ member institutions.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ZooMontana competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Roosevelt Park Zoo: An AZA-accredited zoo in Minot, North Dakota serving a similar small-city northern Plains market. Comparable to ZooMontana in scale, family-recreation programming, and AZA reciprocal membership network participation.
- Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary: A wildlife sanctuary in Red Lodge, Montana focused on providing permanent homes for non-releasable animals. Directly comparable to ZooMontana in mission (rescue/rehabilitation), regional catchment (Montana), and scale as a smaller wildlife facility with reciprocal admission partnerships.
- Pueblo Zoo: An AZA-accredited zoo in Pueblo, Colorado of similar size and community-scale mission. Directly comparable to ZooMontana in operational scale and was even referenced in ZooMontana's own Sichuan Takin acquisition story.
- Big Bear Alpine Zoo: A wildlife rehabilitation facility and zoo in Big Bear City, California focused on injured and orphaned native alpine animals. Comparable to ZooMontana through its rescue/rehabilitation mission, smaller-scale operations, and AZA reciprocal partnership arrangement.
- Bramble Park Zoo: An AZA-accredited zoo in Watertown, South Dakota serving a similar mid-sized regional community. Directly comparable in scale, family-recreation focus, and reciprocal AZA membership status with ZooMontana.
- Lee Richardson Zoo: An AZA-accredited zoo in Garden City, Kansas serving a similar mid-sized regional community in the Great Plains. Comparable to ZooMontana in scale, family visitor focus, and free/membership-based community access model.
- Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary: An AZA-accredited wildlife sanctuary in Prescott, Arizona providing permanent care for non-releasable animals. Closely comparable to ZooMontana in size, rescue-driven mission, AZA standards, and community education programming.
- Red River Zoo: An AZA-accredited zoo in Fargo, North Dakota focused on cold-climate species from northern regions. Comparable to ZooMontana in size, climate-driven operations, regional northern catchment, and species curation philosophy.
Broad incumbents
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: A long-established AZA-accredited zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a broader collection and national brand recognition. Comparable to ZooMontana in AZA standing and Rocky Mountain regional catchment, but operates at significantly larger scale with more diverse species.
Regional players
- Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center: A West Yellowstone, Montana wildlife park focused on grizzly bears and wolves that cannot be released to the wild. Comparable to ZooMontana through its rescue-focused mission, regional Montana/Idaho catchment, and emphasis on natural-habitat visitor experiences.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ZooMontana social profiles
Digital presenceZooMontana compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
ZooMontana financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZooMontana leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
ZooMontana funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZooMontana 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 ZooMontana
What does ZooMontana do?
ZooMontana operates a 70-acre AZA-accredited zoological and botanical park in Billings, Montana, housing over 100 animals of 56 species and offering public admission, annual memberships, education and conservation programs, ZooSchool preschool, live animal webcams, private event rentals, and a botanical garden. Revenue is generated through ticket admissions, tiered memberships ($89–$189), preschool tuition ($180–$425/month), donor programs (Adopt an Animal, brick pavers, stock/crypto gifts), capital campaigns, webstore merchandise, and venue rentals — operating without public tax support as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Is ZooMontana a public or private company?
ZooMontana is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ZooMontana founded?
ZooMontana was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ZooMontana based?
ZooMontana is headquartered in Billings, United States, in the North America region.
How does ZooMontana make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Admissions are the primary driver. The others are memberships, adopt an Animal Program, capital Campaign Donations, event Rentals, zooSchool Preschool, webstore Sales and community Donations and Grants.
Who are ZooMontana's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Roosevelt Park Zoo, Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, Pueblo Zoo, Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Bramble Park Zoo, Lee Richardson Zoo, Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary and Red River Zoo. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is listed as a broad incumbent. Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is listed as a regional player.
Does ZooMontana have an API?
No public API is recorded for ZooMontana.
What industry is ZooMontana in?
ZooMontana's product category is Zoological and Botanical Park Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAFAA, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations), with a secondary code of THAAAEAB, Wildlife Viewing & Birdwatching Tours. Its NAICS code is 712130 and its SIC code is 7990.