Turtle Back Zoo sits on 20 acres inside South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, New Jersey, part of the Essex County Park System, the oldest county park system in the United States. What began in 1963 as a modest storybook-themed animal park with just 140 animals has grown into an AZA-accredited zoo housing roughly 1,400 animals representing more than 150 species from every continent except Antarctica.
The zoo nearly closed its gates in 1995 before a wave of investment starting in the early 2000s transformed it into one of New Jersey’s most popular family attractions. Today Turtle Back Zoo regularly tops 900,000 visitors a year, with attendance hitting an all-time high of 979,056 in 2023, making it a cornerstone of the South Mountain Recreation Complex alongside the Richard J. Codey Arena.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: West Orange, New Jersey
- Opened: 1963
- Size: 20 acres
- Species: 150+
- Animal count: About 1,400
- Annual visitors: Nearly 1 million (979,056 in 2023)
- Famous for: African Adventure exhibit and free-flight aviary
What to See
Turtle Back Zoo’s exhibits reflect decades of expansion, including the $7 million African Adventure habitat that opened in 2016, the Reptile Center that debuted in 2006, and Big Cat Country, home to the zoo’s large predators since 2011. The Amazing Asia gibbon habitat, Stingray Touch Tank, and a 2023 addition called Island Giants round out a collection built for close-up wildlife encounters across every continent but Antarctica.
Beyond the animal habitats, the zoo runs a 2-foot narrow-gauge railroad that has operated since it opened in 1963, along with an Endangered Species Carousel added in 2008 and an on-site veterinary hospital that treats the zoo’s residents. A 19-hole miniature golf course, Essex County Safari MiniGolf, opened in 2010 next door for visitors who want to extend their trip.
A Comeback Story
Turtle Back Zoo’s history is a case study in municipal reinvestment: after nearly shutting down in 1995, Essex County poured roughly $20 million into renovations between 2003 and 2006, laying the groundwork for AZA accreditation in 2006 and a string of new exhibits over the following two decades. That turnaround is credited with pushing annual attendance from a struggling facility toward the nearly 1 million visitors it now welcomes each year.
The zoo operates rain or shine at 560 Northfield Ave, offers free parking throughout South Mountain Recreation Complex, and typically sees visits running two to two-and-a-half hours as families work through its habitats, train ride, and carousel.
Explore more: Explore more Zoos & Aquariums.
Turtle Back Zoo FAQs
Where is Turtle Back Zoo located?
Turtle Back Zoo is at 560 Northfield Ave in West Orange, New Jersey, within the South Mountain Reservation.
How many animals live at Turtle Back Zoo?
The zoo houses roughly 1,400 animals representing more than 150 species from every continent except Antarctica.
How many people visit Turtle Back Zoo each year?
Attendance regularly tops 900,000 visitors annually, with a record 979,056 visitors recorded in 2023.
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Photo: Davidng913 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.