What Cameron Park Zoo does

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Name

Cameron Park Zoo

Legal name

Cameron Park Zoo

Website

https://cameronparkzoo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Short description

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Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park and Wildlife Conservation

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG)

Keywords

• Zoological park services
• Wildlife conservation programs
• Animal education programs
• Zoo membership passes
• Field trip group visits

Headquarters

HQ city

Waco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: One-time admission fees charged to visitors at standard rates for adults, seniors, and children. Children 2 and under admitted free. Group rates available for parties of 15 or more at discounted per-person pricing.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership passes sold at four tiers (Individual $60, Duo $80, Family $110, Patron $200) providing unlimited admission, guest passes, and discounts on retail and dining. Military and senior discounts available at 10%. Memberships expire on last day of month, 12 months from purchase date.
3. Event Rentals: Revenue from hosting private events including evening rentals, birthday parties, corporate events, and special facility use. Deposits required and separate fees apply.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations through Cameron Park Zoological & Botanical Society supporting conservation fund, enrichment fund, education fund, and general operations. Includes adopt-an-animal program, memorial/honor gifts, and planned giving (Legacy Society).
5. On-site Retail and Food Service: Revenue from Zootique Gift Shop and Cameron Park Zoo Cafes with 10% discount for members. Outside food allowed but onsite dining generates additional revenue.
6. Education Programs: Fees for educational programming including zoo camp, zoo school, behind-the-scenes tours, penguin encounters, wild nights, zoo-to-you outreach, and group trip programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cameron Park Zoo operates a 52-acre natural-habitat zoological park in Waco, Texas, providing public access to over 1,700 animals representing 300 species through admission tickets, annual memberships, and group field trips. The zoo layers paid educational programs (camps, school programs, animal presentations), premium animal experiences (Behind the Scenes Tours, Penguin Encounters, Wild Nights), event venue rentals, and an Adopt-An-Animal symbolic adoption program, with revenue supplemented by on-site retail, food service, and charitable donations supporting the 10 to Protect conservation initiative.

Product overview

Cameron Park Zoo operates as a single-location zoological park in Waco, Texas, offering a unified visitor experience centered on animal exhibits across 52+ acres. The product portfolio consists of core admission and membership offerings (standard tickets, Family/Duo/Individual/Patron memberships, Community Access Memberships, and Director's Circle premium tiers) that provide access to animal habitats and reciprocal benefits at 100+ AZA-accredited zoos. Educational programming modules include Zoo Camp, Spring Break Camp, Zoo School, Story Time, and Zoo To You outreach programs. Experiential add-on offerings encompass Behind the Scenes Tours, Penguin Encounters, Wild Nights evening events, and Animal Presentations. The zoo's supporter engagement products include Adopt-An-Animal symbolic adoption packages, Animal Art/enrichment purchases, and general donations to Conservation, Enrichment, and Education Funds. The digital infrastructure includes an eMembership digital card app, CampDoc registration system, and Kindful donation platform. The zoo holds AZA accreditation and was expanded in 2024 with new Penguin Shores, Education Center, and Veterinary Hospital facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Admission Tickets Single-visit admission granting access to all animal exhibits during regular operating hours. Tiered by age: Adults $18, Seniors 65+ $14, Children 3-12 $14, Children 2 and under free. Tickets do not expire and no refunds are issued.
• Group Trips and Field Trips Discounted zoo admission for organized groups of 15 or more at $10 per person, available Monday through Saturday with a minimum two-week advance booking. Includes guided educational programming for school groups.
• Annual Memberships (Individual, Duo, Family, Patron) Recurring annual memberships providing unlimited admission, guest passes, 10% shop and cafe discounts, reciprocal admission to 100+ AZA-accredited zoos, and Zoo Camp discounts. Tiers: Individual $60, Duo $80, Family $110, Patron $200. Military and seniors receive 10% discount on Family, Individual, and Patron levels.
• Director's Circle Giving Program High-level donor program at $1,000 (Director) and $2,500 (Gold) annually, with monthly installment options. Includes unlimited visits, private behind-the-scenes tours, VIP events, early Zoo Camp registration, and donor board recognition.
• Community Access Membership $200 annual group membership for qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving underserved populations. Each card covers 3 adult supervisors and 10 children or adult clients per visit for regular daily admission.
• Behind the Scenes Tour Guided tour of non-public zoo areas for groups of 10-25 people at $45 per person including admission. 45-60 minutes in duration.
• Penguin Encounter Up-close encounter with African Penguins including feeding and keeper presentation, $35 per person, available to adults 18+ or accompanied minors with closed-toe shoes.
• Wild Nights Evening Program After-hours group experience including behind-the-scenes tour and animal presentation, $35 per person with a 10-person minimum and 50-person maximum. Attendees must be 6+ for behind-the-scenes access. $50 non-refundable deposit required.
• Zoo Camp Summer day camp programs for ages 3-14 with age-appropriate tracks: Zoo Tales (3-4, half-day), Habitat Heroes (5-6), Amazing Animals (7-8), Back from the Brink (9-11), and Explore Waco (12-14, with overnight). Pricing $150-$400 per camper.
• Spring Break Camp Three-day mini camp for ages 6-9 with Nature Investigators theme. $130 members / $150 non-members.
• Zoo School Monthly school-year program for ages 3-11 with Animal Science curriculum, meeting 5 times over 5 months. $130 members / $150 non-members per 5-month session.
• Story Time Bi-weekly reading program for ages 2-6 featuring books paired with animal encounters at designated exhibits, free with admission.
• Zoo To You Outreach Off-site program bringing animal ambassadors to schools for 30-minute interactive PreK-2nd grade presentations. $75 first program and $50 each additional same-day program. Available in McLennan County only.
• Animal Presentations 30-minute live animal presentations at the Education Center. $75 first program, $50 each additional same-day program. Requires two-week advance scheduling.
• Birthday Parties Birthday party celebration packages held at the zoo with animal presentations and behind-the-scenes experiences, with deposits required and separate fees applying.
• Private Event and Venue Rentals Private event hosting at the zoo including evening rentals, corporate events, and special facility use. Deposits required and separate fees apply.
• Adopt-An-Animal Program Symbolic animal adoption program with seven tiers ranging from $25 (eKeeper digital certificate) to $300 (Part of the Pack family membership). Includes certificates, fact sheets, plush animals, Zoom sessions, and behind-the-scenes experiences for higher tiers.
• Animal Art Enrichment Program Program where animals create paintings using non-toxic paints, with artwork available for purchase to support the Enrichment Fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 to Protect conservation program supports ten species including African Penguins (critically endangered), Orangutans, Sumatran Tigers, Southern White Rhinos, Giraffes, Stingrays, Turtles & Tortoises, Jamaican Iguanas, Two-Toed Sloths, and Paddlefish
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• AZA Professional DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Duane Hills, Deputy Director, serves as instructor for AZA professional development course 'Effective Leadership: Foundation and Development.' Week-long course for zoo and aquarium leaders and middle managers from various institutions across North America.
• Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner for orangutan protection. BOS rescues, rehabilitates, and releases orangutans into protected forests in Borneo. Cameron Park Zoo supports BOS's rescue and reforestation programs for critically endangered orangutans sharing 97% DNA with humans.
• AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) / Tiger Conservation CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZA's Species Survival Plan for Sumatran Tigers. Supports efforts to protect habitat, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and prevent illegal poaching. Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild.
• International Rhino Foundation (IRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner for Southern White Rhinoceros protection. IRF works on anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection, and community outreach. Once nearly wiped out, now a conservation success story in progress.
• SAFE: African PenguincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFE program working to construct artificial nests, protect fisheries, and respond swiftly to oil disasters for African penguins. Fewer than 25,000 breeding pairs remain.
• SAFE: Sharks & RayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFE program uniting aquariums and researchers to advocate for healthy oceans, reduce bycatch, and support sustainable fisheries for stingray and shark species.
• Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience-based efforts to protect wild turtle and tortoise populations, fight trafficking, and restore habitats around the world. Many species are endangered or critically endangered.
• International Iguana FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecovery efforts for Jamaican Iguana, once thought extinct and rediscovered in 1990. Funds monitoring, headstarting programs, and habitat protection. One of the rarest lizards in the world.
• Sloth Conservation Foundation (SloCo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to install canopy bridges, conduct research, and educate communities on safe coexistence for sloths facing threats from urban expansion, power lines, and road crossings.
• Save Giraffes NowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks directly with local communities to create safe habitats, prevent poaching, and protect giraffe populations in the wild. Endangered in some species.
• Caddo Lake InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestoration and reintroduction work for American paddlefish to Caddo Lake. Prehistoric freshwater fish living in Mississippi River Basin for over 300 million years. Vulnerable in Texas.
• Allen Samuels (Dodge Chrysler Jeep)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Automotive dealership providing branding and promotional opportunities on-site at zoo.
• H-E-BmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor of H-E-B Zoo Stampede running event. Major regional grocery chain supporting zoo events and conservation efforts.
• Reliant (NRG Energy)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Energy provider offering branding and promotional opportunities.
• TFNB (Your Bank for Life)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Local bank providing financial services partnership.
• Ascension ProvidenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Healthcare system providing branding opportunities.
• Community BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Local financial institution partnership.
• JRBT (John Robert B. Turner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Local business providing sponsorship support.
• John Erwin General ContractorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Construction company providing sponsorship.
• Genco Federal Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Credit union providing financial partnership.
• Sherry Wood (Real Estate)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Real estate professional sponsorship.
• Bosque Valley DentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Dental practice providing local sponsorship.
• Zimmerman LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Law firm providing sponsorship.
• AxiomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Business providing sponsorship support.
• Brazos BracesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Orthodontic practice providing local sponsorship.
• Extraco BanksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner and annual sponsor. Regional bank providing sponsorship.
• 100+ AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (Reciprocal)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal membership program with over 100 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums nationwide. Members receive 50% off admission at participating institutions across all 50 states and Canada including Smithsonian's National Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Houston Zoo, and many others.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• Sedgwick County Zoo: AZA-accredited mid-size zoo in Wichita, Kansas with similar municipal-affiliation structure, conservation focus, and educational programming offerings.
• Nashville Zoo: AZA-accredited mid-size zoo with similar natural-habitat exhibits, education programming, and membership tiers. Comparable scale, mission, and operational footprint.
• Dallas Zoo: Larger AZA-accredited Texas zoological park with overlapping visitor demographics, membership program, and educational offerings. Direct competitor for Texas family entertainment spend.
• San Antonio Zoo: AZA-accredited zoological park in San Antonio, Texas operating on similar scale with comparable family/education programming, memberships, and conservation mission. Direct geographic and operational peer.
• Blank Park Zoo: AZA-accredited mid-size zoo in Des Moines, Iowa with comparable scale, education programming, and family-focused visitor experience. Similar operating characteristics.
• Fort Worth Zoo: AZA-accredited Texas zoo with similar natural-habitat exhibit philosophy, education programming, and tiered membership structure. Comparable in mission and operating model.
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: AZA-accredited mid-size zoo in Colorado Springs with similar natural-habitat design, conservation focus, and tiered membership/education offerings.
• Audubon Zoo: AZA-accredited zoological park in New Orleans with comparable animal collection, education programming, and membership tiers. Similar mission and operational structure.
• Como Park Zoo (City of St. Paul): AZA-accredited municipal zoo operated by a city government, providing a structural peer for Cameron Park's City of Waco ownership model. Similar scale and public-private partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Houston Zoo: Much larger AZA-accredited Texas zoo with a comparable focus on conservation, education, and family visitation. Operates as a broader incumbent in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cameron-park-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 Cameron Park Zoo