The Red River Zoo sits on the edge of Fargo, North Dakota, a 33-acre park built on land once farmed by the Anderson family along the Red River Ranch. Since opening its first 8 acres in the spring of 1999, the zoo has grown into an AZA-accredited facility focused on a distinctive niche: animals adapted to cold climates similar to North Dakota’s own harsh winters.
Rather than chasing the typical zoo lineup of tropical megafauna, Red River Zoo built its reputation on species from North America, Northern Asia, and Northern Europe, including an internationally recognized breeding program for red pandas. The nonprofit Red River Zoological Society, formed in 1993, operates the zoo entirely on memberships, admissions, donations, and grants rather than public tax funding.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Fargo, North Dakota
- Opened: May 1999
- Size: About 33 acres
- Species: About 89 species, 600+ animals
- Annual Visitors: About 125,000
- Famous For: Red panda breeding program
A Zoo Built for Cold Climates
Red River Zoo’s collection plan centers on species that thrive in climates resembling North Dakota’s, which lets animals spend much of the year outdoors rather than confined to climate-controlled buildings. Highlights include a gray wolf pack viewable from a trapper’s-cabin-style structure, Sichuan takin, Pallas’s cats, and a North American river otter exhibit that opened in 2013.
The zoo earned Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation in 2006 and has since been recognized for its conservation work, including a 2013 AZA Outstanding Achievement award for its red panda program, which recorded multiple successful litters including two sets of triplets.
History on the Red River Ranch
The Red River Zoological Society formed in 1993 with the goal of building a zoo on land donated and sold by the Anderson family to the Fargo Park District. The zoo secured a 99-year lease on the property and opened its first developed acreage in 1999, growing in phases to include a veterinary center (2015) and a Children’s Zoo Farm with Nature’s Playland (2016).
A restored 1928 carousel, donated by the Diederich family, remains one of the park’s most popular attractions alongside its cold-climate animal exhibits.
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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.
Red River Zoo FAQs
Where is the Red River Zoo located?
The Red River Zoo is in Fargo, North Dakota, on land that was once part of the Anderson family’s Red River Ranch farm.
What animals is the Red River Zoo known for?
The zoo is best known for its red panda breeding program, along with gray wolves, Sichuan takin, Pallas’s cats, and other species adapted to cold climates.
How big is the Red River Zoo?
The zoo occupies about 33 acres and is home to roughly 89 species and more than 600 animals.
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Photo: BrielleMary / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.