The Greenville Zoo sits inside Cleveland Park in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, where it has welcomed families since opening in 1960. Approved by the Greenville City Council in 1957 and built on land that started at just 5 acres, the zoo grew over the decades into its current 14-acre footprint, making it one of the more compact municipal zoos in the Southeast.
Despite its small size, the Greenville Zoo houses more than 200 animals representing around 79 species, drawing roughly 325,000 visitors annually. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a distinction held by only a fraction of U.S. animal facilities, and it has steadily added exhibits like an Amur leopard den and a South American pampas area to keep the experience fresh for repeat visitors.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Greenville, South Carolina
- Opened: 1960
- Size: 14 acres
- Species: About 79 species, 200+ animals
- Annual visitors: About 325,000
- Hours: Open daily; the zoo closes at 5 p.m. year-round, with last admission around 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. in spring/summer (March-September) and 10 a.m.-4:15 p.m. in fall/winter (October-February). Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- Famous for: Masai giraffes and Primate Row
What to See at the Zoo
The Greenville Zoo’s Masai giraffe exhibit has been a signature draw since it opened in 2008, and the herd made local history in October 2012 when a calf named Kiko became the first giraffe born in South Carolina. Visitors can also explore the renovated Primate Row, an Amur leopard den added in 2021, and a waterfowl lagoon populated with Chilean flamingos.
A South American Pampas-themed area replaced the zoo’s former elephant exhibit around 2015, reflecting a broader shift among AZA-accredited zoos toward species that thrive in smaller urban footprints. Other residents added in recent years include an American alligator named Big Al, Southern screamers, and Kunekune pigs, giving the compact grounds a surprising amount of variety.
Planning Your Visit
The zoo is open daily year-round and closes at 5 p.m., but last admission varies by season: expect gates to admit visitors until around 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. during spring and summer (March through September) and 10 a.m.-4:15 p.m. during fall and winter (October through February). The only closures are Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, so it’s worth checking the zoo’s own hours page before a holiday-season trip. Because it sits inside Cleveland Park, a visit easily pairs with the park’s walking trails, the Greenville Family Fitness Center, and the Reedy River that runs nearby.
The zoo’s growth has been incremental rather than dramatic, with an education center and reptile building added during a 1984-1986 renovation and an Asian Encounter exhibit following in 2003. That slow, consistent investment is part of why the Greenville Zoo has held AZA accreditation, a standard that requires strict animal welfare benchmarks most roadside zoos never meet.
Explore more: Explore more Zoos & Aquariums.
Let them photograph their own favorite animals — and keep your phone in your pocket.
Hauls kids, coolers and souvenirs across a big zoo or park, folds flat for the trunk.
Little hands reach in, snacks stay in — a lifesaver on long zoo days.
Greenville Zoo FAQs
When did the Greenville Zoo open?
The Greenville Zoo opened in 1960 after the Greenville City Council approved the project in 1957.
What are the Greenville Zoo’s hours?
The zoo is open daily and closes at 5 p.m. year-round, though last admission is seasonal: around 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. in spring and summer (March-September) and 10 a.m.-4:15 p.m. in fall and winter (October-February). It’s closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
How big is the Greenville Zoo and is it accredited?
The zoo covers about 14 acres inside Cleveland Park, grew from an original 5-acre site, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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Photo: City of Greenville, South Carolina / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.