The largest zoo in the world isn’t in Africa or California — it’s in Cumberland, Ohio. The Wilds covers 9,154 acres of reclaimed strip-mine land turned rolling savanna, where rhinos, giraffes, wild horses, and dozens of other species roam pastures measured in square miles.
Operated in partnership with the Columbus Zoo, The Wilds is equal parts safari park and working conservation center, with some of North America’s most successful breeding programs for threatened species.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Cumberland, Ohio
- Size: 9,154 acres
- Claim: Largest zoo in the world by land area
- Opened to the public: 1994
- Partner: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
What Makes It Different
You tour The Wilds the way you’d tour a game reserve: open-air safari trucks wind through vast fenced ranges where the animals hold the right of way. The land itself is the story — strip-mined for coal, donated in 1984, and regrown into lakes and grassland that now host everything from Przewalski’s horses to southern white rhinos.
Beyond the standard tour there are zipline canopy routes, horseback safaris, and overnight yurts at Nomad Ridge for a full safari-lodge experience in Appalachian Ohio.
Visiting Tips
The Wilds is seasonal, with open-air safari tours running roughly May through October, and it’s about 90 minutes east of Columbus. Book the earliest tour you can — the animals are most active before the midday heat.
Explore more: the largest zoos in the world, our Columbus Zoo guide.
The Wilds FAQs
What is the largest zoo in the world?
The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio is the largest zoo in the world at 9,154 acres — a safari-style conservation center on reclaimed mine land, run in partnership with the Columbus Zoo.
How do you tour The Wilds?
By open-air safari truck on guided tours, with upgrades like zipline tours, horseback safaris, and overnight stays in yurts at Nomad Ridge.
Is The Wilds part of the Columbus Zoo?
The Wilds is a separate 501(c)(3) conservation center managed in partnership with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, about 90 minutes east of Columbus.
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Photo: Bikingshaun / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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