Potawatomi Zoo sits inside Potawatomi Park on the east side of South Bend, Indiana, tucked between the St. Joseph River and the Grand Trunk railroad line. Founded in 1921 after Studebaker Corporation president Albert Russell Erskine donated a single deer to the city park board, it has grown into the oldest zoo in Indiana.
Today the 23-acre zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and home to more than 400 animals representing roughly 135 species. Since 2014 it has been run by the nonprofit Potawatomi Zoological Society while the City of South Bend retains ownership, drawing around 300,000 visitors each year.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: South Bend, Indiana
- Opened: 1921
- Size: 23 acres
- Species: about 135 species, 400+ animals
- Annual visitors: about 300,000
- Famous for: Indiana’s oldest zoo
A Century of Growth
The zoo’s roots trace to a duck pond started in Leeper Park in 1902, but it took its current form in 1921 when the donated deer led the city to set aside land in Potawatomi Park. During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration built the zoo’s Cat House, which still stands today as its oldest structure and now houses snow leopards and Amur leopards.
Over the decades the zoo expanded well beyond its original footprint, adding new habitats while holding onto landmarks from its WPA-era past. That mix of historic buildings and modern enclosures gives the zoo a layered feel that reflects its long run as a South Bend institution.
Conservation and Animal Care
Potawatomi Zoo participates in more than 56 Species Survival Plan programs coordinated through the AZA, contributing to breeding efforts for species such as Amur leopards, Chacoan peccaries, and Sichuan takins. Its accreditation requires meeting strict standards for animal welfare, veterinary care, and conservation engagement.
The zoo’s compact 23-acre layout keeps the visit manageable for families, with habitats arranged around the park’s river and rail-line setting. Its small-city scale hasn’t stopped it from punching above its weight in species diversity and breeding program participation.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Little hands reach in, snacks stay in — a lifesaver on long zoo days.
Easier on your back than carrying in arms all day at the zoo.
Cheap insurance for splash zones, water rides and surprise showers.
Potawatomi Zoo FAQs
Where is Potawatomi Zoo located?
It’s located in Potawatomi Park on the east side of South Bend, Indiana, between the St. Joseph River and the Grand Trunk railroad.
How big is Potawatomi Zoo?
The zoo covers about 23 acres and is home to more than 400 animals representing roughly 135 species.
Who operates Potawatomi Zoo?
Since January 1, 2014, the nonprofit Potawatomi Zoological Society has operated and maintained the zoo, while the City of South Bend still owns it.
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Photo: Skadiseven / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.