Open Daily 9 am – 4 pm

Education • Conservation • Adventure • Community

Open Daily 9 am to 4 pm

Mission Statement

The mission of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is to create compelling experiences that connect people and community with wildlife, and inspire personal responsibility for conservation of the natural world. Education. Conservation. Adventure. Community.

About The Zoo

The zoo is about 6 miles from the beach. Tucked just off the main highway, visitors feel like they have entered a tropical urban oasis filled with intriguing sounds from our rich diversity of exotic animals. Whether it’s the distinctive call from our peacocks or chatter from our monkeys you are instantly transported out of life’s hustle and bustle into our peaceful kingdom.

Voted the “#1 Zoo in Alabama” for two years running!

If you really want something extra unforgettable, stop in for a one-on-one, up-close experience with a few of our friendliest friends at our Animal Encounters!

Our Team

Joel M. Hamilton

Executive Director

Patti Hall

Director Emeritus

Board of Directors

Board Chairman

Zach Estes

Vice Chair

Ginny Barnas

Treasurer

Rosie Stallworth

Board Members

Michele Finn

Kim Gordon

OG Greene

Andrew Hart

Allyson Pearce

Dr. Julie Taylor

Cheryl Robinson- Secretary

Senior Staff

Curator of Animal Care and Welfare

Cyndi Johnson

Director of Development

Paula White

Executive Assistant and PR/Social Media Manager

Marcale Sisk

Guest Services Manager

Lauren Crochet

Assistant Curator of Animal Welfare and Education

Rachel Gulley

Facilities Manager

Tim Closson

Director of Human Resources

Ruthie Taylor

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is operated by The Zoo Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, governed by a Board of Directors.

Safety First

The safety of every zoo visitor, our staff, and our animals have precedence over everything at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. We follow every safety protocol as required by law, and receive 100% compliance by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the federal agency that annually inspects our facility. We maintain ongoing safety training procedures in the handling of our animals by our keepers, and stay vigilant in keeping our facility structures secure. We take great pride in our constant efforts to provide the safest and most secure environment we can for your family when you come to visit ours.

Sources of Revenue

As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo relies solely on admissions, memberships, and contributions to remain in business.

Construction of the new Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is an on going project and our Philanthropy Partnership Program plays an extremely significant role.

It ensures that the zoo becomes a prominent member of an ever-growing business and civic community in its new Gulf Shores location, while offering education, entertainment, and cultural activities, especially for families.

By participating in one of the zoo’s many partnership programs, you, your company, organization, or institution can contribute to the zoo’s vibrant, secure standing far into the future.

For more about the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Philanthropy Partnership Program,
CONTACT:

Director of Development – Paula White
251.256.7008 | [email protected]

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is operated by The Zoo Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a board of directors. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Please consult with your tax advisor.

Get Social With Us

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

1 hours ago

As we gear up for New Year's Eve celebrations, let's not forget our furry friends, who might not be as excited about the fireworks as we are. Remember, a little preparation can go a long way in making sure everyone has a happy and stress-free New Year's Eve! Here are some tips to help keep your pet calm and safe:

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

21 hours ago

121

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

2 days ago

Family in Town? Here's the Perfect Day Out!
Looking for something fun to do with the family this holiday season? Bring everyone to the zoo! 🐒🦁 Open Daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Experience the wonders of the animal kingdom, from playful lemurs to majestic lions. 🌿 Plus, make memorable moments by participating in our interactive exhibits. Lemurs: Destination Madagascar; Sloths: South American Adventure; and Tortoises: Sulcata Tortoise Feeding. Even stop by and visit Benjamin during one of the giraffe feeding times, offered twice daily, 10am-11am and 2pm-3pm (weather permitting).

🐊 Plan your visit now to create lasting memories with your loved ones!

#FamilyFun #ZooDay #HolidayActivities #MakingMemories #alabamabeaches

310

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

4 days ago

270

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

4 days ago

993

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

5 days ago

Happy Holidays from our family to yours! We wish you a season filled with joy, love, and wild adventures!

425

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

6 days ago

The animals are loving their Angel Tree gifts. Special thanks to everyone who donated. You still have time through the New Year to pick up a wish list tag from our community partners or shop the Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2BW8DF91OQVH7

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

7 days ago

The zoo will close early at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve to allow our staff to spend quality time with their loved ones. 🎄 We will be closed all day on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Thank you for understanding. Happy Holidays from all of us at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo!

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

1 weeks ago

Lemur on a Beemer may have a bit of a crush.🦒 #ilovegiraffes

180

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

1 weeks ago

Lemur on a Beemer is #ridin. #naughtornice

471

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

1 weeks ago

The mayhem continues as Lemur on a Beemer is now racing the Sulcata tortoises.

1046

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

1 weeks ago

Still looking for that perfect Christmas experience gift? What's better than behind-the-scenes, one-on-one experiences for the whole family. Learn more at https://www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.com/alabama-gulf-coast-zoo-announces-new-winter-premium-experiences/

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

1 weeks ago

We are almost there! We found a utility vehicle but need another $3,845 to help us cover the cost. Consider making a year-end donation at https://ZooWishes24.givesmart.com.

120

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

2 weeks ago

Cheetahs are very unique: they have semi-retractable claws, they are incredibly fast, and they are large in size but still considered “small” cats; male cheetahs routinely form coalitions with other males, and yet females spend most of their lives alone, except for when she has cubs, which is usually a litter consisting of 2-8 cubs. Cheetahs are also very selective breeders; between 1,970-2011, 70% of female cheetahs and 80% of male cheetahs in captive populations died without producing viable offspring. But now? After spending more time really studying cheetahs and what they need, captive populations in America are breeding very well! The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo’s two female cheetahs, Taj and Shani, came from Metro Richmond Zoo, which has one of the best cheetah breeding programs in the world.
As the holiday season approaches, please help us #ProtectWhatsLeft by donating now at https://ZooConservation.givesmart.com. No gift is too small, and your. Donate now at https://ZooConservation.givesmart.com. No gift is too small. Your support is greatly appreciated.

240

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

2 weeks ago

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

2 weeks ago

424

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

2 weeks ago

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

2 weeks ago

Selfies with Santa today from 11 am-2 pm. Included with zoo admission. Zoo members are free. #selfieswithsanta

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

3 weeks ago

Did you know that less than 7,500 cheetahs are left in the world? Cheetahs are faced with many challenges in the wild: they’re rather frail in comparison to their cousins (lions and leopards), human-wildlife conflict, the exotic pet trade, and habitat loss. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) works to mitigate human-wildlife conflict by helping locals practice more predator-friendly livestock and wildlife management techniques and utilizing livestock guarding dogs. CCF breeds Anatolian shepherds and Kangal dogs to place with farmers that will grow and use their impressive size and loud bark to scare off would-be predators. The presence of the dogs alone has cut livestock predation down significantly.

261

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

3 weeks ago

Grab your cameras and take your holiday photo with Santa in the giraffe pavilion. This Saturday, December 14, from 11am-2pm. Included with regular zoo admission. Zoo members are free. #selfieswithsanta

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

3 weeks ago

Our Zoo Angel Trees are up in the following locations or you can view our wish list at https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2BW8DF91OQVH7. Thank you to all who help make the holidays special for our animals and keepers with these extra needed treats.

130

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

3 weeks ago

✨Thank You for Joining Us at the Zoo's First Wild Lights: Holiday Jeeps Event! ✨

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out and made this event a sparkling success! Your presence and enthusiasm lit up the night and made it truly magical.

A special thanks go to all the amazing jeep owners who showcased their stunning vehicles and added an extra layer of wonder to the evening. We couldn't have done it without you!

Here's to more unforgettable nights together! We plan to make it an annual event.

#WildLightsHolidayJeeps #ZooEvent #thankyou

7418

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

3 weeks ago

474

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

3 weeks ago

Tiny Sneak Peak of the Zoo's transformation for Wild Lights: Holiday Jeeps. Come see us Saturday (12/7), 5 pm- 8 pm.

959

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

3 weeks ago

Read Our Recent Reviews:

Reviews

5 Over 6 Reviews

Write a Review

Chad Riehle 7 months ago

Always a must when in Gulf Shores!

…

brittny92 7 months ago

We have never been to this zoo, and it sure is the “Little Zoo that Could!” We are on a family vacation with 4 children 5 and under. They all had fun and were so excited to see all the animals. We arrived right at 9am and all the animals were ready to show off!

We even got to watch the keepers interacting and providing enrichment which was such a cool experience. You can tell the workers loved the animals and are really dedicated to the care and treatment of the animals.

It took us around 2-2.5 hours to go around the whole zoo so it won’t be a full day trip, but it will definitely be a wonderful stop to make on your trip to Gulf Shores!

…

Thomas Crowley 8 months ago

While visiting Orange Beach decided to visit the local zoo. What a great place, helpful employees who did a lot of explaining of animals feeding. It was a great walk. A great day. All the animals are very interesting and especially loved the herb garden..

…

Lynette Keith 8 months ago

I’ve been bringing my children here since they were little and now I’m bringing my grandchildren. I love our little zoo. It’s not too big and by the time the kiddos are wore out, we are all done. Everyone is so hospitable and kind. Cute gift shop and love feeding Ben the giraffe.

…

bethany Barlow 9 months ago

We loved our visit! Such an affordable option for a zoo. Plenty of animals to see. Loved how close you get to all of them. Very clean and tidy. Disappointed the tigers weren’t out though. But overall a fantastic experience! Our kids loved it.

…

Julia Anne 10 months ago

Such a beautiful zoo! Very clean with ample restrooms and benches. There were so many animals to see which was very unexpected. We saw tigers, lyons, monkeys, giraffes, lemurs, many types of local birds, etc. For an extra fee, you can feed the giraffes and have an opportunity to get up close and personal with several different zoo animals.

There is a great little enclosed bird area with turtles where you can sit and watch the birds. They also have a great gift shop with wonderful gift items.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience. We had a great time watching the animals and will definitely be back!

…