Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is a compact zoo and amusement park tucked inside Kelley Park in San Jose, California. What started in 1956 as a Jaycees civic project led by Alden Campen and Ernie Renzel became a beloved local institution when it opened in 1961, and it has anchored family outings in the South Bay for more than six decades.
The park is owned and operated by the City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, in partnership with the nonprofit Happy Hollow Foundation. After closing in 2008 for a major renovation, it reopened on March 20, 2010, with upgraded animal habitats and refreshed attractions, and today holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Stats at a Glance
- Location: San Jose, California
- Opened: 1961 (reopened March 20, 2010 after renovation)
- Operator: City of San José, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services
- Size: 16 acres
- Animal Collection: About 150 animals across roughly 60 species
- Annual Visitors: Over 500,000
- Famous For: AZA-accredited city zoo combined with a classic amusement park and petting zoo
The Zoo & Animal Collection
Despite its small footprint, Happy Hollow’s zoo holds AZA accreditation and is home to roughly 60 species, including jaguars, ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, macaws, red pandas, and capybaras. The park also runs Doc’s Critter Care, an on-site animal hospital with surgery and radiology capabilities that doubles as an educational exhibit for visitors.
A petting zoo and rotating educational programs tie the animal collection to conservation themes, while the Happy Hollow Foundation supports the city-run zoo through fundraising and community programs.
Rides, History & Family Traditions
The amusement park side traces back to the same 1956 Jaycees effort that founded the zoo. Rides include the Keep-Around Carousel, the Danny the Dragon train, and the Pacific Fruit Express, a small kiddie coaster built by E&F Miler Industries that opened with the park’s 2010 reopening and is themed to the valley’s historic fruit-shipping trains. A puppet theater, one of California’s oldest, has entertained generations of South Bay kids with classic and original shows.
The park’s identity as both a municipal zoo and a nostalgic small-scale amusement park is unusual for a facility of its size, and that dual mission has kept it a multigenerational tradition for San Jose families.
Explore more: more zoos and aquariums.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo FAQs
Where is Happy Hollow Park & Zoo located?
It’s located at 1300 Senter Road in San Jose, California, inside Kelley Park.
Who owns and operates Happy Hollow Park & Zoo?
It’s owned and operated by the City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, in partnership with the nonprofit Happy Hollow Foundation. It’s also an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and belongs to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA).
When did Happy Hollow Park & Zoo open?
The original park opened in 1961 after being planned starting in 1956. It closed in 2008 for a major renovation and reopened on March 20, 2010.
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Photo: Don DeBold from San José, CA, USA / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.