Lee Richardson Zoo sits inside Finnup Park in Garden City, Kansas, where it has introduced visitors to wildlife from around the world since 1927. What began with two skunks brought in by local Chief of Police Lee Richardson, through a partnership between the city and the local chapter of the Izaak Walton League, grew into an AZA-accredited facility spread across 47 acres. The zoo was formally named in Richardson’s honor in 1950, a year before his death, recognizing his role as founder and zoo superintendent.
Today the zoo draws around 170,000 visitors annually to see more than 80 species housed in themed habitats that range from African plains to South American pampas. Its accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums reflects ongoing investment in animal care and conservation, and admission remains free for pedestrians, making it an accessible stop for families exploring southwest Kansas.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Garden City, Kansas
- Opened: 1927
- Size: About 47 acres (19 hectares)
- Species: More than 80
- Annual visitors: About 170,000
- Accreditation: AZA accredited
- Famous for: African Plains exhibit with giraffes, lions, and black rhinos
What to See at the Zoo
Lee Richardson Zoo organizes its grounds into regional habitats that let visitors move from continent to continent in a single afternoon. The African Plains area houses giraffes, lions, and black rhinos, while Wild Asia, which opened in 1998, is home to snow leopards and Amur leopards. Cat Canyon, added in 2012, brings cougars, jaguars, and bobcats closer to eye level with naturalistic rockwork.
Other sections include a South American Pampas habitat with maned wolves, anteaters, and alpacas, and a North American Plains area featuring river otters, burrowing owls, bison, and elk. The variety of regional exhibits within a modest 47-acre footprint is part of what distinguishes the zoo among small-city zoos in the region.
A Community-Built Legacy
The zoo’s origins trace back to a modest civic effort in 1927, when the city of Garden City and the local Izaak Walton League chapter began a small animal collection inside Finnup Park. Lee Richardson, serving as the city’s Chief of Police and Park and Zoo Superintendent, is credited as its founder, and the facility carried his name officially starting in 1950.
Nearly a century later, the zoo retains that community character while meeting the standards required for AZA accreditation, a distinction held by a limited number of zoos and aquariums nationwide. Free pedestrian admission continues a tradition of broad public access that dates back to the zoo’s earliest days.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Cold water for the whole loop around the zoo, with a straw lid that doesn't leak in the bag.
A stick means no greasy hands. Reapply quickly between the penguins and the giraffes.
Let them photograph their own favorite animals — and keep your phone in your pocket.
Lee Richardson Zoo FAQs
Where is Lee Richardson Zoo located?
The zoo is located inside Finnup Park in Garden City, Kansas.
How big is Lee Richardson Zoo?
The zoo covers about 47 acres (19 hectares) and is home to more than 80 species of animals.
Is admission free at Lee Richardson Zoo?
Admission is free for pedestrians; vehicles are charged a $20 entrance fee.
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Photo: Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.