Seneca Park Zoo has been a fixture of Rochester, New York, since 1894, tucked into the Olmsted-designed Seneca Park along the Genesee River gorge. Operated by Monroe County with support from the Seneca Park Zoo Society, the zoo has grown from a small collection of local wildlife into an AZA-accredited facility recognized for its conservation work and immersive exhibits.
Spread across about 20 acres, the zoo is home to over 90 species of mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, and arachnids. Signature exhibits like A Step Into Africa, Cold Asia, and Animals of the Savanna have reshaped the zoo over the past decade, while longtime favorites like the polar bear habitat, funded in the 1970s in part by pennies collected by local schoolchildren, keep the zoo’s community roots visible.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Rochester, New York
- Opened: 1894
- Size: About 20 acres
- Species: Over 90
- Annual Visitors: About 335,000
- Famous for: First African bush elephants in New York State
What to See at the Zoo
Seneca Park Zoo’s exhibits are organized around distinct global regions. A Step Into Africa and the newer Animals of the Savanna area showcase the zoo’s African bush elephants, among the first ever kept in New York State, alongside other savanna species. Cold Asia brings cold-climate animals into a northern-themed habitat, while Rocky Coasts focuses on polar and coastal wildlife, including the zoo’s well-known polar bears.
The Genesee Trail winds along the park’s dramatic gorge setting overlooking the Genesee River, giving the zoo one of the more scenic backdrops of any zoo in the Northeast. Because the zoo sits within the larger Seneca Park, a Frederick Law Olmsted design, visitors often combine a zoo visit with a walk through the surrounding parkland.
Hours and Visiting Tips
Seneca Park Zoo typically runs on a seasonal schedule: spring and summer hours (late March through October) generally run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, while fall and winter hours shift to roughly 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last admission about an hour before closing. Zoo members are usually admitted earlier, around 9:30 a.m. Because hours shift with the seasons, checking the official zoo website before a visit is recommended.
Admission is tiered for adults, seniors, and youth, with children under 3 admitted free, and discounted online tickets and group or membership programs available. Much of the zoo’s growth has come through community support: the original 1975 polar bear exhibit was funded in part by pennies and nickels collected by Rochester-area schoolchildren, and the zoo has pursued a multi-phase Master Plan since 2018 to modernize habitats and expand conservation programming.
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Seneca Park Zoo FAQs
When did Seneca Park Zoo open?
Seneca Park Zoo opened in 1894 in Rochester, New York.
What are Seneca Park Zoo’s hours?
The zoo generally operates 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in spring and summer and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in fall and winter, with last admission about an hour before closing; exact hours can shift seasonally, so checking the zoo’s official site before visiting is a good idea.
How big is Seneca Park Zoo?
The zoo covers about 20 acres within the larger Seneca Park along the Genesee River and is home to over 90 species of animals.
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Photo: Mzq9821 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.