Your Zoo

Visit fascinating animals from around the world at the Lake Superior Zoo. Situated in Fairmont Park in West Duluth, the zoo sits on over 16½ acres at the base of Spirit Mountain. The rocky hillside, majestic pines and the picturesque Kingsbury Creek, which winds down the hillside through the center of the zoo grounds, makes for an ideal setting for this attraction. The Lake Superior Zoo was started in 1923 by Bert Onsgard, with support from the city of Duluth and the community.  The first resident of the zoo was a white-tailed deer named Billy. By late-1920's, the zoo's collection had grown to over 220 animals, birds and reptiles.

Today, this cultural resource is home to hundreds of native animals and exotic species. African Lions, Siberian tigers, polar bear, snow leopards, cougars, Alaskan grizzly bear, Kodiak bear, and a wide variety of hoof stock are among the larger animals you will see at our zoo. The main building, built in 1927, features the Tiger's Paw Gift Shop, the Safari Café, the Siberian tiger viewing deck, a two-story red-ruffed lemur exhibit and our Griggs Learning Center, which houses outreach animals for educational programs.

Every day there is something new and exciting happening; animal feedings, trainings and enrichment activities are part of our daily schedule. Children love to feed and interact with our barnyard friends, especially the llama, donkey and pigmy goat. Don't miss the Primate Conservation Center, where the Angolan colobus monkeys, cotton-topped tamarins, goeldi's monkeys and other endangered primates make their home. A Nocturnal Wing within the Primate Center houses a variety of bats, two-toed sloths, South American porcupines, pallas cats, kinkajou and more!

Polar Shores is another popular place to stop. Play ball with our polar bears Bubba and Berlin and watch seal training shows. Why not walk up the hill to the Northern Territory to see Trouble, the Alaskan Grizzly bear, and along Kingsbury Creek to see the nearly-extinct Pere David Deer? Continue along the creek to the African lion den and up the hill to the Australian Connection to see the kangaroos, kookaburras, exotic birds and the large salt-water aquarium filled with an interesting selection of barrier-reef fish.

While visiting our zoo, pay close attention to the endangered and threatened animals that we care for. Snow leopards, ring-tailed lemurs, peregrine falcons, white-napped cranes, bald eagles (and more) reside here.

The Tiger's Paw Gift Shop is open daily year round. The Safari Café is open daily during the summer months.

Summer Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Winter Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Open seven days a week; 362 days a year; Handicap accessible; Stroller and wagon rentals available; FREE parking.

Call (218) 730-4900 for rate information and upcoming events.
Call (218) 730-4500 for all other inquiries.

Arrowhead Zoological Society, Inc., d.b.a., Lake Superior Zoological Society is a 501(c)3 private, non profit organization that was formally established in 1959 to assist with the operation, growth, and improvement of the Lake Superior Zoo (formerly known as the Duluth Zoo). The society is governed by a Board of Directors made up of volunteers from the Duluth community.

The Society, under an agreement with the City of Duluth, operates the gift shop and concessions at the Lake Superior Zoo. The Society, at the November 16, 2005 Board of Directors meeting, adopted the following new mission statement: "To facilitate understanding between people and the Earth." To that end, the Society provides education and outreach programs, promotes memberships, organizes special events, and handles the marketing, admissions, office administration and finances for the society and affiliated organizations. The Society has been successful with raising funds for capital projects through various means to help support the zoo's mission. Some of these funds were used to build the Primate Conservation Center and to help renovate the Grigg's Learning Center into a multi-purpose room that will bring together animals, people, education, and fun.