Zoo Knoxville sits just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, tracing its roots back to a small municipal zoo that opened in 1951 before being reorganized and expanded into the modern nonprofit zoo in 1971. Today the AZA-accredited facility covers 53 acres and is home to between 800 and 1,500 animals representing roughly 200 species, making it one of the largest zoos in the region.
The zoo built its national reputation on conservation science rather than size alone. In 1978, it became the site of the first African elephant births in the Western Hemisphere, and it has since bred more red pandas than any other zoo in the world, with well over 100 cubs born through its long-running program. Zoo Knoxville now welcomes more than 585,000 visitors a year to habitats like Gorilla Valley, Grasslands Africa, and the Boyd Family Asian Trek.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Opened: 1951 (as Municipal Zoo); reorganized 1971
- Size: 53 acres
- Species: About 200 species, 800-1,500 animals
- Annual visitors: 585,000+
- Hours: Daily, 9am-5pm (last ticket one hour before close); closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
- Famous for: World’s most prolific red panda breeding program
A History Rooted in Conservation
Zoo Knoxville began in 1951 as a small municipal zoo before being reorganized into a nonprofit institution in 1971, setting it on a path toward accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo earned early national attention in 1978 when it produced the first African elephant births recorded anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, a milestone that helped establish its reputation in species propagation programs. The zoo underwent a major rebranding in 2016, dropping ‘Knoxville Zoo’ in favor of ‘Zoo Knoxville’ as part of a broader push to modernize its exhibits and conservation messaging.
Visiting: Hours, Exhibits and Animal Programs
Zoo Knoxville is open daily from 9am to 5pm, with last tickets sold one hour before closing; the zoo closes for the year only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Visitors explore themed habitats including Gorilla Valley and Chimp Ridge, Grasslands Africa with its giraffes and African wild dogs, the Boyd Family Asian Trek and Red Panda Village, and the Clayton Family Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus. The red panda program is the zoo’s signature achievement, having bred well over 100 cubs since the 1970s, more than any other zoo worldwide, as part of the AZA Red Panda Species Survival Plan. The zoo also runs respected breeding efforts for endangered tortoises and, following the 2022-2024 relocation of its elephants to a sanctuary, is developing a new southern white rhinoceros program.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Zoo Knoxville FAQs
What are Zoo Knoxville’s hours?
Zoo Knoxville is open daily from 9am to 5pm, with the last ticket sold one hour before closing. It is closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
What is Zoo Knoxville known for?
It is best known for its red panda breeding program, which has produced more red panda cubs than any other zoo in the world, and for being the site of the first African elephant births in the Western Hemisphere in 1978.
How many people visit Zoo Knoxville each year?
Zoo Knoxville draws more than 585,000 visitors annually, making it one of the more popular family attractions in East Tennessee.
Get More from Zoo Knoxville
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Zoo Knoxville, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Michael Neel from Knoxville, TN, USA / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.