The Utica Zoo has anchored Roscoe Conkling Park in Utica, New York, since 1914, when it opened with a modest collection of three fallow deer. More than a century later, it has grown into an AZA-accredited zoo caring for roughly 200 animals representing about 99 species, drawing an estimated 100,000 visitors a year to central New York.
The zoo sits on an 80-acre property donated to the city in 1909 by philanthropist Thomas R. Proctor, with landscaping influenced by the Olmsted firm. After losing its accreditation in 2004 due to financial strain, the Utica Zoo rebuilt and regained AZA accreditation in 2018, a turnaround that reflects the strong community support behind this regional attraction.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Utica, New York
- Opened: 1914
- Size: About 40 developed acres (80-acre property)
- Species: About 99 species
- Animal count: Around 200 animals
- Annual visitors: About 100,000
- Famous for: World’s largest watering can sculpture (Guinness World Record) and red panda conservation
A Century of Growth
The Utica Zoo traces its roots to a trio of fallow deer donated to Roscoe Conkling Park in 1914. The Utica Zoological Society took over management in 1964, and the zoo was chartered as an educational institution by New York State in 1968, setting the stage for decades of expansion that included its Children’s Zoo in 1967 and a California sea lion exhibit in 1986.
More recent additions reflect a push toward global conservation, including an outdoor Living Rainforest habitat for white-handed gibbons that opened in 2018, plus striped hyena and Mexican spider monkey exhibits added in 2020. The zoo also participates in the Species Survival Plan for endangered red pandas.
A Quirky Landmark
Beyond its animal collection, the Utica Zoo is home to an unexpected landmark: a 15.5-foot-tall metal watering can sculpture recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest. It’s a lighthearted touchpoint that has made the zoo a local point of pride well beyond its animal exhibits.
The zoo operates 363 days a year and continues to pursue a long-term master plan with goals for new exhibits featuring species such as giraffes, otters, and tigers in the years ahead.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Easier on your back than carrying in arms all day at the zoo.
Cheap insurance for splash zones, water rides and surprise showers.
Rubber-armored for small hands, so kids can find the snow leopard before the adults do.
Utica Zoo FAQs
When did the Utica Zoo open?
The Utica Zoo opened in 1914 in Roscoe Conkling Park, starting with just three fallow deer.
How many animals live at the Utica Zoo?
The zoo cares for around 200 animals representing about 99 species.
Is the Utica Zoo accredited?
Yes, the Utica Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), having regained that status in 2018 after losing it in 2004.
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Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.