Tucked inside Pueblo City Park in southern Colorado, the Pueblo Zoo has welcomed animal lovers since the early 1900s, when the city’s first scattered animal exhibits began drawing local crowds. The zoo’s historic core, built between 1933 and 1940 by Depression-era relief programs including the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Pueblo City Park Zoo.
Today the Pueblo Zoological Society operates the 25-acre, AZA-accredited facility as a year-round destination featuring more than 400 animals representing over 125 species. From Serengeti Safari to the Australian Outback, the zoo blends New Deal-era architecture with modern habitats, drawing roughly 90,000 visitors annually while supporting conservation work for endangered species both locally and around the world.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Pueblo, Colorado
- Opened: Early 1900s; historic core built 1933–1940
- Size: 25 acres
- Species: 125+ species, 400+ animals
- Annual visitors: About 90,000
- Hours: Daily 9am–5pm (May–Sept); 9am–4pm (Oct–April)
- Famous for: Colorado’s only red pandas
A New Deal Landmark
Much of what gives the Pueblo Zoo its distinct character dates back to the Great Depression. Public Works Administration and Works Progress Administration crews constructed several of the zoo’s original buildings, including what are now the Islands of Life and World of Color exhibits along with the historic eagle enclosures. That stonework and craftsmanship earned the site a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, making a visit as much a walk through regional history as a day with the animals.
The zoo grew out of informal animal collections kept in Pueblo’s city parks in the early 1900s, eventually consolidating into the single City Park site it occupies today.
Zoo Hours and Admission
The Pueblo Zoo is open daily year-round, except on major holidays. Summer hours (May through September) run 9am to 5pm, while fall and winter hours (October through April) run 9am to 4pm, with last paid admission one hour before closing. It’s worth checking the zoo’s official site before visiting, since hours can shift around holidays and special events.
Admission is charged by age bracket, with discounted rates for seniors, military, and children, plus group rates for larger parties; children under three generally get in free. Free on-site parking is available at the zoo’s address, 3455 Nuckolls Avenue.
Exhibits and Conservation
Exhibit areas include Serengeti Safari, North American Grasslands, Colorado Wetlands, the Australian Outback, Asian Adventure, and the Pioneer Ranch, giving visitors a tour of ecosystems from across the globe within a compact footprint. The zoo is the only one in Colorado to house red pandas and partners with organizations such as the Laramie Foothills Bison Foundation on bison conservation, alongside AZA Species Survival Plan work for African penguins and African painted dogs.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Zoo days are long and the shade isn't always where the animals are.
Clips to a stroller, wagon or backpack strap. Quiet enough that it won't wake a napping toddler.
Cold water for the whole loop around the zoo, with a straw lid that doesn't leak in the bag.
Pueblo Zoo FAQs
Where is the Pueblo Zoo located?
The Pueblo Zoo is located inside Pueblo City Park at 3455 Nuckolls Avenue in Pueblo, Colorado.
What are the Pueblo Zoo’s hours?
The zoo is open daily (except major holidays) from 9am to 5pm from May through September and 9am to 4pm from October through April, with last paid admission one hour before closing.
How many animals live at the Pueblo Zoo?
The zoo is home to more than 400 animals representing over 125 species, including red pandas, bison, and a variety of exhibits spanning multiple continents.
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Photo: Jeffrey / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.