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Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: A Wild Adventure

Discover wildlife encounters and family fun at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, home to over 600 animals and interactive experiences!

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The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, initially known as Zooland Animal Park, offers an intimate encounter with over 600 animals. Featured on Animal Planet's 'The Little Zoo That Could,' it's a story of resilience and conservation, providing a memorable experience for all ages.

A brief summary to Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

  • Monday 9 am-4 pm
  • Tuesday 9 am-4 pm
  • Wednesday 9 am-4 pm
  • Thursday 9 am-4 pm
  • Friday 9 am-4 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-4 pm
  • Sunday 9 am-4 pm

Local tips

  • Check the zoo's daily schedule for keeper presentations and animal feeding times to enhance your visit [3].
  • Consider purchasing an All-in-One ticket for access to multiple Gulf Shores and Orange Beach attractions [12].
  • Arrive early to avoid crowds, especially during peak tourist season [15].
  • Take advantage of the free parking available at the zoo [13, 15].
  • Wear comfortable shoes and bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, as the Alabama Gulf Coast can get quite sunny and hot [15].
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Getting There

  • Driving

    From Gulf Shores Parkway (Highway 59), turn east onto Oak Road East (County Road 6) [13, 17]. The zoo is located approximately 1/4 mile on the left [13]. Parking is free [13, 15].

  • Ride-Sharing Service

    Use a ride-sharing app such as Uber or Lyft for direct transport to the zoo [8, 20]. The destination address is 20499 Oak Rd E, Gulf Shores, AL 36542. A ride from The Hangout in Gulf Shores typically costs around $15-$25, depending on demand and traffic [18, 19].

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Discover more about Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, a Gulf Shores gem, began its journey as Zooland Animal Park in 1989 [2, 6, 10]. Founded by Joey Ward, it quickly became a beloved community attraction [5, 6, 11]. In 2000, it was renamed the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo [5]. The Zoo Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, has operated the zoo since 1991 [2, 6, 9, 11]. The zoo gained widespread recognition through Animal Planet's show, 'The Little Zoo That Could,' which documented its recovery from several devastating hurricanes [2, 5, 9, 11]. In 2020, the zoo moved to a new, larger 25-acre location further inland to mitigate flooding risks [2, 9]. Today, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is home to over 600 animals, including lions, tigers, bears, primates, and reptiles [4, 5, 10, 11]. Visitors can enjoy interactive experiences such as animal encounters with lemurs and sloths, giraffe feedings, and keeper chats [3, 4, 10, 17]. Rides, including a zip line, carousel, and safari cars, add to the family fun [3, 14]. The zoo is dedicated to conservation efforts and provides educational opportunities for visitors of all ages [5, 9, 10, 17]. It's open daily from 9 am to 4 pm, offering a wild adventure for everyone [5, 7, 10].

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