The Phoenix Zoo opened on November 21, 1962, in Papago Park, Arizona, after Robert Maytag of the Maytag family donated the land and animal collection that became its founding core. What began as a modest desert menagerie has grown into the largest privately owned, nonprofit zoo in the United States, now operated under the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation.
Spread across 125 acres with 2.5 miles of walking trails divided into four themed zones — the Arizona Trail, Africa Trail, Tropics Trail, and Children’s Trail — the zoo cares for more than 3,000 animals. It’s best known for Operation Oryx, a pioneering breeding program launched in 1962 that helped save the Arabian oryx from extinction and has since contributed to thousands of oryx living worldwide.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona
- Opened: November 21, 1962
- Size: 125 acres
- Animal count: Over 3,000 animals
- Annual visitors: Nearly 1.4 million
- Hours: Open daily year-round (except Christmas Day daytime); early-morning-only in peak summer, expanding to daytime hours the rest of the year — check phoenixzoo.org for the current schedule
- Famous for: Operation Oryx Arabian oryx conservation program
Phoenix Zoo Hours
The Phoenix Zoo runs on a seasonal hours schedule built around the desert climate. In the hottest stretch of summer, the zoo opens very early and closes by early afternoon so guests can beat the heat; as temperatures cool into fall and winter, hours shift later and extend well into the afternoon, with the longest daily hours typically running through the cooler winter and spring months. The zoo is open every day of the year except for the daytime hours of Christmas Day.
Because the schedule changes month to month — and can shift without notice — it’s best to confirm the exact opening and closing times for your visit date on phoenixzoo.org before heading out, especially if you’re planning an early-morning summer trip.
The Zoo Experience
Visitors explore four themed trails showcasing habitats from the Sonoran Desert to the African savanna and tropical rainforests. The zoo is the only AZA-accredited zoo in metro Phoenix and participates in Species Survival Plans for numerous endangered species, blending entertainment with active conservation work.
A longtime fan favorite was Ruby, an Asian elephant whose paintings became internationally known and raised significant funds for the zoo through art sales, helping support ongoing habitat and conservation projects.
Conservation Legacy
The zoo’s Operation Oryx program remains one of the most celebrated species-recovery efforts in zoo history, taking the Arabian oryx from near-extinction in the wild to thousands reestablished across the Arabian Peninsula. Today the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, which operates the zoo, also runs field conservation programs across Arizona, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, focused on protecting native and imperiled species.
Explore more: Explore more Zoos & Aquariums.
Phoenix Zoo FAQs
When did the Phoenix Zoo open?
The Phoenix Zoo opened on November 21, 1962, after Robert Maytag donated the founding land and animals in Papago Park.
What are the Phoenix Zoo’s hours?
The zoo is open daily year-round except Christmas Day (daytime), with hours that shift by season — early-morning-only during the hottest summer months, and extending well into the afternoon during the cooler fall, winter, and spring months. Because the schedule changes throughout the year, check phoenixzoo.org for the current hours before you visit.
Is the Phoenix Zoo a nonprofit?
Yes, it is the largest privately owned, nonprofit zoo in the United States, operated by the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation.
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Photo: Jedijoe82 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.