The Gulf Shores Zoo

Many people who visit the beaches don't realize that the Alabama Gulf Coast has a zoo. Back in the early 90s, when we first began spending a lot of time at the beach, I remember passing the zoo. Back then it was called Zooland Animal Park. It wasn't until we moved to Gulf Shores that we learned that the animal park was a real zoo with real live animals. Sitting far back from Gulf Shores Parkway on a dusty road with plastic animals scattered about, I thought it was a goofy golf course. Later, after we moved to the beach, I began reading and hearing of a zoo. Zoo? What zoo? Oh yeah.

Our little girl has graduated college, and she is living in another state. Our trips with her to the Gulf Shores Zoo are among our pleasant memories.

The zoo has the usual collection of animals-- monkeys, bears, tigers, lions and just about every other animal that a small zoo could have. It has an aviary with a wide variety of colorful birds. There's a reptile exhibit with some mean looking snakes.

If you have kids, the petting zoo alone is worth the price of admission. I wouldn't doubt that many younger children will remember petting the animals more than anything else they did during the entire beach vacation.

For families with children, the zoo is really just the right size. The entire zoo can be covered in less than two hours.

Most visitors are impressed with how well cared for the animals appear. It is obvious that the people in charge love the animals and care about their welfare.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo drew national attention in 2006 with the Animal Planet 13-part series, "The Little Zoo That Could." The series chronicled the the animal evacuations for Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina.

Some of the animals had to be left behind during Hurricane Ivan, the worst of the hurricanes to hit Gulf Shores. The flooding was so massive at the zoo that the remaining animals just swam away. Not long after we got back on the island, my wife and I saw a group of confused deer by Wal-Mart. Chucky, a 12-foot 1000 pound alligator, and one of the zoo's favorite animals, was on the loose for several days before being captured. In the midst of all of the chaos and destruction in Ivan's wake, island residents were keeping up with "Chucky sightings."

Hurricane Ivan hit the zoo hard economically, but it wasn't all bad. The series made the attraction one of the most famous little zoos in the world. Pick up some "Little Zoo That Could" souvenirs while at the zoo.

The Gulf Shores Zoo is located less than a mile from the beach, on Gulf Shores Parkway (right side of the road, leaving the beach). If visiting during the warm months, try to plan your trip so that you avoid the mid-day heat. There is some shade at the zoo, but the heat at mid-day can still be brutal. A nice time to visit is one of those days that the weather isn't good for the beach, but is pleasant for walking and sightseeing.

Return to Gulf Shores Things to Do


Return to Gulf Shores Travel Guide Home Page from Gulf Shores Zoo