Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc

What Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc does

The Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc operates the Fort Wayne Zoo, an AZA-accredited zoological park located at 3411 Sherman Blvd. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Originally founded in the early 1960s as the Franke Park Zoo and rebranded to the Fort Wayne Zoo effective January 1, 2025, the facility cares for over 1,500 animals across multiple themed habitats including the Asian Trek area (featuring Bamboo Forest Adventure Play and Indonesian Rain Forest), Coastal Cove (an 88,000-gallon pinniped habitat housing California sea lions and harbor seals), and a behind-the-scenes coral reef exhibit. The zoo is operated under a cooperative agreement with the City of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department and holds AZA accreditation since the mid-1970s, participating in 63 cooperative Species Survival Plans.

The zoo generates revenue through a diversified mix of admissions ($18 adults, $14 children ages 2-12), annual family memberships ($165), on-site retail (Wild Things Gift Shop), food concessions, paid attractions (Z.O.&O. Railroad at $4 per ride or Ride Wristband, Bamboo Forest Adventure Play), special events (Rock & Roar, Zoobilee gala, Fort Wayne LightFest/Wild Lights), private event hosting, and charitable donations. As a self-supporting nonprofit receiving no tax dollars, the facility funds operations and capital projects entirely through earned revenue and fundraising; notable examples include the All Aboard Campaign, which raised over $475,000 to replace the Z.O.&O. Railroad's diesel engine with an electric unit expected to save $34,000 annually in energy costs.

The zoo serves Northeast Indiana as the region's largest tourist attraction, hosting 600,000+ guests annually, and contributes over $300,000 annually to a network of 35+ conservation partners including Lion Guardians, Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Vulpro, and the Clouded Leopard Project. Operational technology includes habitat camera monitoring systems, six Motus Wildlife Tracking System towers using radio telemetry to track migrating birds, bats, and insects across multiple continents, and specialized coral husbandry equipment. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Tom Ackmann and managed by Executive Director & CEO Rick Schuiteman, with animal care oversight by Director of Animal Care/VP Michelle Smurl and Head Veterinarian Dr. Kami Fox.

Name

Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc

Legal name

Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc

Website

https://fwzoo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Fort Wayne Zoological Society operates the Fort Wayne Zoo, an AZA-accredited nonprofit zoological park in Fort Wayne, Indiana, hosting 600,000+ annual guests with 1,500+ animals across themed habitats, funded through admissions, memberships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: The zoo sells admission tickets to visitors. General admission is $18 for adults and $14 for children ages 2-12. Tickets can be purchased through the ticket app portal.
2. Memberships: The zoo sells annual family memberships providing unlimited visits and exclusive benefits. Family memberships are priced at $165. August is designated as Membership Appreciation Month with exclusive coupons and benefits.
3. Retail and Concessions: Revenue generated from Wild Things Gift Shop purchases, food concessions, and special activity fees such as the Z.O.&O. Railroad train rides ($4 per guest or Ride Wristband for unlimited rides).
4. Private Events: The zoo hosts private events including corporate events, birthday parties, and special programs like Zoobilee gala.
5. Donations: The zoo operates as a self-supporting nonprofit facility receiving no tax dollars for operations. Donations and the 'round up' program at the Wild Things Gift Shop support conservation efforts.
6. Donations and Fundraising Campaigns: Capital campaigns such as the 'All Aboard Campaign' raised over $475,000 to replace and refurbish the Z.O.&O. Railroad train. Donations fund major improvements and conservation efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc operates the Fort Wayne Zoo, a 40-acre AZA-accredited zoological park in Fort Wayne, Indiana offering general admission access to animal exhibits and habitats housing more than 1,500 animals across species survival plans. The zoo sells admission tickets, annual memberships, on-site retail and food concessions, rides (Z.O.&O. Railroad, Bamboo Forest Adventure Play), private event hosting, and educational programs, while contributing over $300,000 annually to wildlife conservation partners worldwide.

Product overview

The Fort Wayne Zoo operates as a single physical attraction offering admission-based access to animal exhibits and habitats. The zoo's core revenue comes from admission tickets and annual memberships, supplemented by special events (Rock & Roar, Zoobilee, Wild Lights), attractions (Z.O.&O. Railroad, Bamboo Forest Adventure Play), education programs, and conservation initiatives. The zoo participates in 63 cooperative Species Survival Plans and contributes over $300,000 annually to conservation efforts. As a self-supporting facility receiving no tax dollars for operations, the zoo is funded entirely by earned revenue and donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Admission General admission tickets to the Fort Wayne Zoo providing access to all animal exhibits, habitats, and walkways throughout the facility.
• Zoo Membership Annual family memberships at $165 providing unlimited zoo visits, exclusive coupons, and member-only perks including discounts at the Wild Things Gift Shop.
• Z.O.&O. Railroad Scenic train ride attraction with wheelchair-accessible cars; $4 per guest or unlimited Ride Wristband. Now powered by a new electric engine built at Chance Rides Manufacturing.
• Bamboo Forest Adventure Play Adventure play attraction within the reimagined Asian Trek area featuring a two-story ropes course with 27 elements, 120+ foot free-flying sky rail, Sky Tykes course for children under 48 inches, and a Marketplace for refreshments.
• Coastal Cove Reimagined pinniped habitat featuring California sea lions and a harbor seal in a shared 88,000-gallon space with West Coast-inspired aesthetics including a lighthouse, driftwood, and painted barnacles.
• Bald Eagle Habitat North American bald eagle habitat featuring Liberty, a bald eagle, debuting for the patriotic summer season.
• Rock & Roar Summer evening event featuring live music, drinks, rides, and after-hours access to select zoo areas; presented by Rohrman Automotive Group.
• Zoobilee Signature annual fundraising gala featuring food, drinks, and auctions; presented by PNC Bank.
• Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo Holiday light display featuring nearly one million lights, dance parties, Santa visits, Evergreen Express train rides, cookie decorating, and special animal area access during the November-January season.
• Education Programs Educational programming for various age groups including school programs, summer camps, and family learning experiences focused on animal conservation.
• Wild Encounters Behind-the-scenes animal encounters allowing guests to meet keepers, learn about animal care, and support conservation efforts.
• Private Events Event hosting services for corporate events, birthday parties, and private gatherings at zoo facilities.
• Conservation Programs Zoo-supported conservation initiatives including financial support to 35+ organizations worldwide, contributing over $300,000 annually to local, regional, and international wildlife protection efforts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600,000 guests annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• City of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fort Wayne Zoological Society operates the Fort Wayne Zoo under a cooperative agreement with the City of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department.
• Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo is accredited by AZA and participates in 63 cooperative species survival plans. AZA accreditation requires rigorous inspection every five years.
• Lion GuardianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFort Wayne Zoo is a proud financial supporter of Lion Guardians, a conservation organization dedicated to finding and enacting long-term solutions for people and lions to coexist in Kenya.
• Save the Tasmanian Devil ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo partners with Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, featured at the Kids for Nature Kiosk at the zoo entrance, focused on sustaining endangered Tasmanian devil populations on the island of Tasmania.
• VulprocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFort Wayne Zoo supports Vulpro, which focuses on the rescue and rehabilitation of African vulture species in South Africa, working toward repopulating declining African vulture populations.
• WildCats Conservation AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo financially supports WildCats Conservation Alliance which works to preserve wild tiger and leopard populations for future generations through conservation projects and general awareness.
• Clouded Leopard ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe zoo is proud to financially support the Clouded Leopard Project, specifically the international partners working together to develop a viable self-sustaining breeding program in Thailand.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Purdue University and Indiana Department of Natural Resources to hatch and raise young hellbender salamanders for release into Indiana rivers.
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Indiana DNR and Purdue University for hellbender conservation. Scientists found a juvenile hellbender in the Blue River watershed in 2023, showing collaborative efforts are paying off.
• Mariana Avifauna Conservation (MAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFort Wayne Zoo Head Veterinarian Dr. Kami Fox teamed up with MAC for conservation research on Rota island, advancing science of relocating endangered bird species.
• Motus Wildlife Tracking SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fort Wayne Zoo has installed six Motus towers in Northeast Indiana as part of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System using radio telemetry to track migrating wildlife.
• Chance Rides ManufacturingminorOthersThe new electric train engine was built at the Chance Rides factory in Wichita, Kansas for the Z.O.&O. Railroad replacement.
• Rohrman Automotive GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRohrman Automotive Group is the presenting sponsor of Rock & Roar, the zoo's summer evening event featuring live music, drinks, rides, and after-hours zoo access.
• PNC BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPNC Bank is the presenting sponsor of Zoobilee, the zoo's signature gala event.
• Blue JacketcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Blue Jacket to present Fort Wayne LightFest, combining the Fantasy of Lights drive-through with Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo.
• Asplundh Tree ExpertsminorOthersDonates browse (tree branches with foliage) every other week for animal diet, perches, and enrichment. Supported by American Electric Power and Indiana Michigan Power.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sedgwick County Zoo: Midwest nonprofit zoo (Wichita, Kansas) with similar scale (~500K+ visitors), family membership model, and AZA accreditation. Operates similar mix of pinniped habitats, train rides, and donor-funded capital projects.
• Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: Midwest AZA-accredited zoo with similar mix of family attractions, conservation programs, and species survival plans. Larger attendance (~1M+ visitors) but operationally comparable in mission, accreditation tier, and visitor mix.
• Como Park Zoo and Conservatory: Midwest nonprofit zoological park (St. Paul, Minnesota) with comparable AZA accreditation, family-focused programming, and self-supporting funding model. Similar mix of free/paid admission policies and donor-supported conservation.
• Toledo Zoo & Aquarium: Midwest AZA-accredited zoological park with comparable size, family entertainment focus, and aquarium component. Operates similar capital reinvestment cycle and donor-funded expansion model.
• Louisville Zoo: Regional AZA-accredited zoo with similar scale and community-supported funding model. Operates overlapping species survival plans and comparable family/membership pricing structure.
• Indianapolis Zoo: Another Indiana-based AZA-accredited zoological park with comparable scale, membership-driven revenue model, and conservation focus. Closest geographic peer and natural comparison for Fort Wayne within the state.
• Milwaukee County Zoo: Mid-size Midwest AZA-accredited zoo with comparable attendance, family and educational programming, and conservation partnerships. Closely comparable in mix of ticketed attraction with specialty habitats.

Broad incumbents

• Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium: Larger, internationally recognized Midwest AZA-accredited zoo with significantly higher attendance and broader species collection. Comparable in operating model and accreditation tier but meaningfully larger in scale and brand reach.
• Saint Louis Zoo: Larger Missouri-based AZA-accredited zoo with deep conservation mission and free admission model. Comparable in nonprofit structure and AZA tier but much larger in scale and operating budget.
• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: Larger Ohio-based AZA-accredited zoological park with comparable family focus, conservation programs, and donor-funded capital projects. Operates at a meaningfully larger scale but in the same regional Midwestern market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fortwaynezoo
• TikToktiktok.com/@fw_zoo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Fort Wayne Zoological Society Inc