The Santa Barbara Zoo opened in August 1963 on the former Child Estate, a Mediterranean-style property along the Santa Barbara coastline that had been donated to the city for public use. Built on the site of a mansion destroyed by a 1959 fire, the zoo grew into one of the most scenic animal parks in the country, with ocean views framing many of its exhibits.
Spread across 30 compact but densely developed acres, the zoo is home to several hundred animals representing roughly 110 species, from western lowland gorillas to Humboldt penguins, according to the zoo’s own figures. Its small footprint and oceanfront setting have made it a favorite for families, and it draws close to half a million visitors annually.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Santa Barbara, California
- Opened: August 1963
- Size: About 30 acres (12 hectares)
- Animals/Species: Several hundred animals representing about 110 species
- Annual Visitors: About 500,000
- Famous for: Oceanfront setting and vintage narrow-gauge Zoo Train
From Private Estate to Public Zoo
The land the zoo sits on was once the Child Estate, a private property donated to the city in the early 1950s. After the original mansion burned down in 1959, parks officials envisioned turning the grounds into an animal park for children. That idea became the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, which opened to the public in August 1963.
Over the following decades the zoo expanded its exhibits while keeping its relatively small, walkable footprint, favoring quality and immersive design over sheer size.
Animals and Exhibits
Despite its modest 30 acres, the zoo packs in a wide range of exhibits, including the African Plains area with giraffes and meerkats, an Australian Walkabout with kangaroos and wallabies, a habitat called The Forest’s Edge for western lowland gorillas, and the Crawford Family Penguin House. Its California Trails area focuses on native species like condors and island foxes.
A narrow-gauge train still loops through the grounds, a longtime feature that has delighted visitors for generations and remains one of the zoo’s signature draws alongside its ocean-view setting.
Explore more: More Zoos & Aquariums.
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.
Hauls kids, coolers and souvenirs across a big zoo or park, folds flat for the trunk.
Santa Barbara Zoo FAQs
When did the Santa Barbara Zoo open?
The Santa Barbara Zoo opened to the public in August 1963 on the site of the former Child Estate.
How big is the Santa Barbara Zoo?
The zoo covers about 30 acres (12 hectares) along the Santa Barbara coastline.
How many animals live at the Santa Barbara Zoo?
The zoo’s own figures put the collection at several hundred animals representing roughly 110 species.
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Photo: User:Darwin’s Bulldog / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.