Tucked into the Fairmount neighborhood of West Duluth at the base of Spirit Mountain, the Lake Superior Zoo has grown from a single pen built for a pet deer in 1923 into an AZA-accredited zoological park serving as the only zoo in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. What began when founder Bert Onsgard built a small enclosure and locals pitched in donated fencing and exotic animals has evolved into a community institution now run by the nonprofit Lake Superior Zoological Society on land owned by the City of Duluth.
The zoo’s roughly 19 acres are threaded by Kingsbury Creek, a designated trout stream, and connected by over a mile of paved walking trails leading visitors past exhibits like Bear Country, the Australia and Oceania habitat, and the Primate Conservation Center. Having weathered a devastating 2012 flood that destroyed its former polar bear exhibit, and having regained AZA accreditation in 2011 after a brief lapse, the zoo remains a resilient fixture of Duluth’s park system.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Duluth, Minnesota
- Opened: 1923
- Size: About 19 acres (7.7 ha)
- Species/Animal Count: More than 400 animals, over 140 species
- Annual Visitors: Roughly 90,000-100,000+
- Hours: Seasonal – shorter winter hours with midweek closures, longer daily hours in summer
- Famous for: Bear Country habitat and AZA Species Survival Plan participation
Exhibits and Animal Collection
Bear Country is among the zoo’s signature exhibits, home to Alaska Peninsula brown bears. Elsewhere, Zoo Central and the Griggs Learning Center showcase reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals, while the Australia and Oceania area introduces visitors to wallabies, kangaroos, and capybaras. The Primate Conservation Center and an adjoining Nocturnal Building round out a collection built around conservation education as much as public viewing.
Over its history the zoo has been home to memorable animals, including Bessie the elephant, who lived there from 1937 to 1974, and Bubba the polar bear, who resided at the zoo from 1990 until 2007. As an AZA-accredited facility, Lake Superior Zoo also participates in Species Survival Plans aimed at supporting threatened and endangered species through coordinated breeding programs.
Hours and Admission
Lake Superior Zoo operates on a seasonal schedule. During the summer season, the zoo opens daily with extended hours running into the late afternoon and early evening. Once fall arrives, hours shorten and the zoo closes on two midweek days, a pattern that continues through winter and into spring before summer hours resume.
Because exact opening and closing times, midweek closures, and admission prices shift with the season and can change year to year, visitors should confirm the current schedule and ticket prices on the zoo’s official website or by phone before heading out.
Planning a Visit
The zoo first earned AZA accreditation in 1985 but lost it in 2006 amid funding and operational struggles; it regained the distinction in 2011 after the City of Duluth transferred day-to-day operations to the nonprofit Lake Superior Zoological Society. A major setback came in 2012, when flash flooding tore through the grounds and destroyed the zoo’s polar bear exhibit, forcing a long period of rebuilding.
Despite those challenges, the zoo has continued to draw visitors from across the Northland, posting an all-time attendance record of around 106,000 guests in 2021. First-time visitors should plan to arrive earlier in the day to see the animals at their most active, bring layers since much of the zoo is outdoors along Kingsbury Creek, and pair their trip with other West Duluth attractions near Spirit Mountain.
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Easier on your back than carrying in arms all day at the zoo.
Lake Superior Zoo FAQs
Where is the Lake Superior Zoo located?
The zoo sits in the Fairmount neighborhood of West Duluth, Minnesota, at the base of Spirit Mountain, with Kingsbury Creek running through the grounds.
What are the Lake Superior Zoo’s hours?
Hours are seasonal: the zoo keeps shorter hours with two midweek closures during fall, winter, and spring, then switches to longer daily summer hours. Check the zoo’s official website for the current schedule and admission prices before visiting.
How big is the Lake Superior Zoo and how many animals does it have?
The zoo covers about 19 acres and houses more than 400 animals representing over 140 species.
Is the Lake Superior Zoo accredited?
Yes, it is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a status it first earned in 1985, lost in 2006, and regained in 2011 under nonprofit management.
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