Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
A nonprofit zoo and aquarium in Liberty Township, Ohio, known for geographically themed habitats, conservation programs, and major visitor attractions.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a nonprofit zoological institution located north of Columbus in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, along the eastern shore of the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir on the Scioto River. The institution combines a traditional zoological park, substantial aquarium facilities, conservation programs, education operations, and family-oriented attractions. It is one of the largest zoos in the United States by land area and animal collection, housing more than 7,000 animals representing more than 800 species according to reference descriptions. The present zoo began as Riverside Park in 1927 on approximately 21 acres. Its development was associated with Harry P. Wolfe, publisher of the Columbus Dispatch, and Columbus civic leadership. Wolfe helped acquire exotic animals and temporarily housed them at the Franklin Park Conservatory while the new park was being prepared. The first major animal building, for lions and tigers, was completed in 1932. The institution adopted the name Columbus Municipal Zoo in 1937 and experienced financial difficulties by the middle of the twentieth century. Columbus assumed management in 1951, while ownership was later transferred to the nonprofit Zoological Park Association, Inc. in 1970. The zoo's national profile grew especially rapidly during Jack Hanna's tenure as director from 1978 to 1993. Hanna promoted more naturalistic habitats, improved visitor appeal, and used television appearances to bring broad public attention to the institution. Annual attendance increased from roughly 360,000 before his arrival to more than 1.4 million by 1992. He became director emeritus in 1993 and remained a prominent public representative in marketing and media work until 2020. The park is organized into geographically themed regions, including Adventure Cove, North America Trek, Polar Frontier, Heart of Africa, Asia Quest, Shores and Aquarium, Australia and the Islands, Islands of Southeast Asia, and Congo Expedition. Attractions include the Discovery Reef saltwater aquarium, the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, polar-bear habitats, a walk-through kangaroo area, a lorikeet aviary, gorilla and bonobo exhibits, and a rotating savanna-style enclosure in Heart of Africa. Zoombezi Bay water park and the Safari Golf Club are also associated with the zoo's broader visitor-attraction portfolio. A 2004 voter-approved measure supported an estimated $180 million, ten-year expansion program. The program included expanded parking, new habitats, roadway changes, a new entrance, Polar Frontier, and Heart of Africa. The zoo also supports international conservation, reporting contributions of more than $3.3 million to over 70 projects in 30 countries over a five-year period in the cited material. It maintains a close relationship with The Wilds, a large conservation center in southeastern Ohio. The zoo and The Wilds have been featured in the Nat Geo Wild series Secrets of the Zoo. The institution faced a serious governance and accreditation crisis in 2021 after reports alleged that executives had used zoo resources for personal purposes and engaged in inappropriate business practices. The zoo acknowledged mistakes and ended relationships with institutions connected to the allegations, although public explanations did not resolve every detail. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums moved to revoke accreditation over financial-management and animal-welfare concerns. The zoo appealed, retained accreditation provisionally, and lost the appeal in December 2021. Tom Schmid became president and chief executive officer that month and led an effort to rebuild the institution's reputation and regain accreditation. The zoo recovered AZA accreditation in March 2023 and remains active as a public-facing conservation, education, and recreation organization.
History
The first Columbus zoo opened in May 1905 in the Clintonville area, operated by the Columbus Zoological Company. It closed after approximately five months, and remnants of its entrance and monkey house survive in the Old Beechwold area. The institution described by the modern Columbus Zoo and Aquarium traces its origins to Riverside Park, which opened in 1927 beside the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir. Harry P. Wolfe, publisher of the Columbus Dispatch, helped promote the project after visiting a zoo in St. Louis with Columbus's mayor. Wolfe acquired exotic animals for the planned park, keeping them temporarily at the Franklin Park Conservatory. The first major animal building, housing lions and tigers, was completed in 1932. The park changed its name to Columbus Municipal Zoo in 1937 and relied partly on membership revenue, but financial difficulties became pronounced by 1950. The city of Columbus took over management in 1951. In 1970, ownership passed to the nonprofit Zoological Park Association, Inc., although the city continued to provide general-fund support until 1986. A major institutional transformation occurred under Jack Hanna, who became director in 1978. He replaced or advocated replacing conventional cages with more naturalistic habitats, improved the grounds, and became a highly visible media ambassador. Attendance rose substantially during his tenure, and the zoo developed a national reputation. Hanna became director emeritus in 1993 and continued promotional work for many years. The modern campus expanded through a long-term capital program approved by voters in 2004. The measure was expected to raise approximately $180 million over ten years. Construction and site work produced new parking, a relocated Powell Road, a new entrance, Polar Frontier, and Heart of Africa. These projects complemented earlier developments such as the aquarium, Congo Expedition, Australia and the Islands, and Islands of Southeast Asia. The zoo also developed or operated related attractions including Zoombezi Bay and Safari Golf Club. The collection is arranged into regions intended to evoke different parts of the world. Congo Expedition emphasizes Central African rainforest species, including gorillas and bonobos. Asia Quest and Islands of Southeast Asia use integrated scenery, waterways, and habitat design to create a more immersive experience. Shores and Aquarium contains Discovery Reef and a manatee rescue and rehabilitation facility. Polar Frontier focuses on cold-climate species, while Heart of Africa presents African plains animals in a large, rotational landscape. Adventure Cove combines marine mammals, ambassador animals, and stingrays. North America Trek, Australia and the Islands, and the renovated North America area complete the geographic structure. Conservation is a central part of the institution's public identity. The zoo funds external conservation projects, conducts breeding and animal-care work, and collaborates with The Wilds in southeastern Ohio. Its animal-care operations and daily work became the subject of the television series Secrets of the Zoo. The institution entered a period of intense scrutiny in 2021. News reports alleged that senior executives had engaged in inappropriate business practices and used zoo resources for personal benefit. The zoo acknowledged errors and ended certain relationships, but the episode generated questions about governance, finances, and animal welfare. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums moved to remove accreditation. The zoo appealed and remained provisionally accredited during the process, but the appeal was denied in December 2021. Tom Schmid became president and CEO that month and pursued organizational reforms and reputational recovery. AZA accreditation was restored in March 2023. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium continues to operate as a nonprofit zoological, aquarium, conservation, education, and recreation institution.
- 2025
North America Trek renovation reopens
[1]The first phase of a major renovation of North America Trek reopens.
- 2023
AZA accreditation restored
[1]The institution regains accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
- 2021
Accreditation and governance crisis
[1]The zoo faces allegations concerning business practices and loses its appeal against an AZA accreditation action.
- 2020
Adventure Cove opens
[1]Adventure Cove opens with sea lions, harbor seals, ambassador animals, and the earlier Stingray Bay attraction.
- 2019
Tasmanian devil exhibit opens
[1]A Tasmanian devil exhibit is added to the Australia and Islands area.
- 2015
Polar bear Nora is born
[1]Nora becomes the first polar bear born and raised at the zoo since Polar Frontier opened.
- 2014
Heart of Africa opens
[1]The 43-acre African plains region opens with lions, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, antelope, and a rotational watering-hole habitat.
- 2012
Stingray Bay opens
[1]Stingray Bay becomes part of the zoo's marine and visitor-interaction offerings.
- 2010
Polar Frontier opens
[1]A cold-climate region opens with polar bears, Arctic foxes, brown bears, and a large underwater viewing pool.
- 2009
Leadership transition after Swanagan's death
[1]Executive director Jeff Swanagan dies suddenly, and Dale Schmidt becomes executive director later that year.
Products and positioning
A large nonprofit zoo and aquarium positioned around immersive geographic habitats, family recreation, animal care, conservation, and public education.
Zoo exhibits · 1927
Geographic animal regions
The zoo's principal visitor experience is organized into regions representing areas such as North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Central African rainforest. The habitats combine animal collections with regional landscaping, architecture, interpretive material, and, in newer areas, larger mixed or rotational spaces.
Aquarium · 1993
Discovery Reef
Discovery Reef is an approximately 88,000-gallon saltwater aquarium featuring fish, seahorses, sharks, garden eels, and coral displays. It forms part of the Shores and Aquarium region and supports the zoo's marine-life education program.
Aquarium and conservation facility · 1999
Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
This indoor facility provides a large habitat for Florida manatees and other aquatic species, including fish, stingrays, a sea turtle, and pelicans. Its retractable roof allows the habitat to function as an outdoor environment during warm weather.
Animal habitat · 2010
Polar Frontier
Polar Frontier presents animals associated with cold climates, including polar bears, Arctic foxes, and brown bears. Its polar-bear habitat includes a large pool, underwater viewing, a conservation and education building, and visitor play space.
Animal habitat · 2014
Heart of Africa
Heart of Africa is a large African plains region with lions, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, antelope, and vervet monkeys. Its central Watering Hole is a rotational enclosure that allows different species to use a shared landscape at different times.
Rainforest habitat · 2000
Congo Expedition
Congo Expedition focuses on Central African rainforest wildlife. It includes a major primate area with western lowland gorillas and bonobos, as well as other primates, hoofed mammals, large cats, and birds.
Marine and family attraction · 2020
Adventure Cove
Adventure Cove combines pools for California sea lions and harbor seals with Jack Hanna's Animal Encounter Village, which presents a rotating group of ambassador animals. Stingray Bay, an earlier interactive marine attraction, is incorporated into the broader area.
Water park
Zoombezi Bay
Zoombezi Bay is an outdoor water-amusement park associated with the Columbus Zoo's visitor-attraction portfolio. It broadens the site from a zoological destination into a combined wildlife, recreation, and seasonal tourism complex.
Controversies
2021
Executive business-practice and resource-use allegations
Reports alleged that zoo executives engaged in inappropriate business practices and used zoo resources for personal purposes. Officials acknowledged mistakes and ended relationships with institutions connected to the allegations, though the available account does not specify every disputed transaction.
2021
Loss of Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums acted against the zoo's accreditation over concerns involving financial management and animal endangerment. The zoo's appeal was denied in December 2021, with a later reapplication permitted.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Secrets of the Zoo
International
The Columbus Zoo and The Wilds were prominently featured in the Nat Geo Wild series Secrets of the Zoo, which presented animal care and daily institutional activities to a television audience.
Outcome. The series extended the zoo's visibility beyond on-site visitors and traditional promotional channels.
- 2004Voter-approved expansion program
United States
A local ballot measure supported a ten-year expansion plan involving new habitats, parking, access roads, and visitor infrastructure.
Outcome. The program enabled developments including Polar Frontier, Heart of Africa, and a new entrance.
- 1978Jack Hanna public visibility program
United States
Under director Jack Hanna, the zoo emphasized naturalistic habitats, public promotion, and media appearances. Hanna's television profile helped turn the institution into a nationally recognized zoo and contributed to substantial attendance growth.
Outcome. The zoo's attendance and national profile increased significantly during Hanna's tenure.
Brand decisions
2021
Rebuild governance and pursue accreditation recoveryStrategyBackground
The zoo faced allegations concerning executive conduct and had lost its appeal of an AZA accreditation action.
Action taken
Tom Schmid became president and CEO and was charged with improving the institution's image and restoring accreditation.
Aftermath
The zoo regained AZA accreditation in March 2023.
2004
Approve a large-scale campus expansionStrategyBackground
The zoo sought to expand its land, habitats, parking, and visitor infrastructure.
Action taken
Voters approved a measure expected to raise approximately $180 million over ten years for expansion and related improvements.
Aftermath
The plan supported new regions including Polar Frontier and Heart of Africa, along with a new entrance and relocated roadway.
Estimated expansion funding. $180 million estimated over ten years (2004 approval)
1970
Transfer ownership to a nonprofit associationStrategyBackground
The zoo had previously been managed by the city of Columbus after the city assumed management in 1951.
Action taken
Ownership was transferred to the nonprofit Zoological Park Association, Inc., while municipal financial support continued for a period.
Aftermath
The arrangement established the nonprofit ownership structure under which the zoo subsequently operated.
Recent events
- 2023
Columbus Zoo regains AZA accreditation[1]
Regulation
The zoo restored accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums after the governance and accreditation crisis.
- 2021
Tom Schmid becomes president and CEO[1]
Leadership change
Tom Schmid joined the institution from the Texas State Aquarium and was tasked with improving its public image and restoring AZA accreditation.
- 2009
Jeff Swanagan dies suddenly[1]
Leadership change
Executive director Jeff Swanagan died suddenly at age 51. Dale Schmidt was subsequently named executive director.
Sources2 sources
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