Rolling Hills Zoo sits in rural Saline County, Kansas, just west of Salina off the I-70 and I-135 interchange. What began in the early 1980s as a ranch for Belgian draft horses grew into an accredited wildlife conservation center, officially opening its gates to the public in the fall of 1999.
Today the zoo is run by a private, non-profit foundation dedicated to conserving rare and endangered species, and it holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a distinction earned by only a fraction of U.S. animal facilities.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Salina, Kansas
- Opened: 1999
- Size: About 65 acres
- Species: Over 100 animal species
- Annual Visitors: Around 100,000
- Famous for: 64,000-square-foot wildlife museum and AZA accreditation
From Horse Ranch to Accredited Zoo
Salina businessman Charlie Walker purchased the land in the early 1980s to raise Belgian horses on what became Rolling Hills Ranch. By the late 1980s he had added black bear cubs, llamas, and a lioness, and in 1995 the exotic-animal collection split off to form the Rolling Hills Refuge Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit focused on species conservation.
Five years of construction followed before the park welcomed its first visitors in fall 1999. In 2009 it took on the official name Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, though most visitors and locals still simply call it Rolling Hills Zoo.
Exhibits and the Wildlife Museum
Beyond its animal habitats, the park’s centerpiece is a 64,000-square-foot wildlife museum that opened in March 2005, featuring taxidermy dioramas and natural history displays alongside the living collection. The grounds also include the Helen L. Graves Hideaway Hollow children’s play area, the Earl Bane gallery for traveling exhibits, and a domed ADM Theater for nature films and presentations.
A conference center added in 2002 lets the zoo host events and education programs year-round, reinforcing its role as both a tourist attraction and a conservation and research hub for the region.
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Rubber-armored for small hands, so kids can find the snow leopard before the adults do.
Rolling Hills Zoo FAQs
Where is Rolling Hills Zoo located?
It sits in rural Saline County, Kansas, about 6 miles west of Salina near the I-70 and I-135 interchange.
When did Rolling Hills Zoo open?
It opened to the public in the fall of 1999, after growing out of a horse ranch founded in the early 1980s.
Is Rolling Hills Zoo accredited?
Yes, it is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a mark of high animal-care standards.
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