Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

About Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is a combined children's amusement park and zoo in San Jose, California. The zoo's website describes a 16-acre location at the north end of Kelley Park, with an entry plaza reached from 748 Story Road across the Bent Bridge and a connection to the Leininger Center at 1300 Senter Road. Wikipedia describes it the same way, as a 16-acre zoo and amusement park that originally opened in 1961.

The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and its website refers to its AZA-accredited zoo. Wikipedia adds that Happy Hollow is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. On its animals page, the zoo says it houses more than 150 exotic, endangered and rescued ambassador animals.

According to the FAQ, all tickets provide unlimited rides, access to two zoo areas, playgrounds and picnic tables, and scheduled entertainment such as zookeeper talks. The park page describes landscaping that includes redwood, oak and pine trees along with drought-tolerant and pollinator friendly plants.

History

The zoo's history page says the park's concept emerged in the years after Disneyland opened in 1955. Alden Campen and former San Jose mayor Ernie Renzel led efforts to create a children's park, and 7.5 acres were acquired from the Kelley family for the city. Wikipedia identifies Campen and Renzel as members of the Jaycees who began planning the park in 1956. A naming contest in 1957 was won with the name Happy Hollow.

Designer Daryle O. Chapman oversaw development beginning in 1958, and the park opened on March 27, 1961. The Danny the Dragon train ride was built by Arrow Development. The history page lists the Happy-Go-Round, a carousel with horses and chariots, as debuting in summer 1964. Zoo animals were introduced in 1967, and the zoo and the park areas were connected in 1972. The Crooked House opened in 1976, and the 1980s brought the Kelley Park Express Train and a Mine Ride coaster.

The history page states that zoo accreditation came in 1993. It also lists a master plan in 1994 and a comprehensive renovation in 2008. The park was closed in 2008 for the renovation, according to Wikipedia, and reopened its gates on March 20, 2010. The conservation page says that in 2010 it became the first amusement park and zoo to earn LEED Gold certification, through features such as green roofs, water recapture and porous pavement.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo is divided into two named areas. Zoo on the Hill, also called Double-H Ranch, is across from the Keep-Around Carousel and, according to the website, holds giant anteaters, red ruffed lemurs, chickens and domesticated animals. Zoo in the Hollow is reached by a crooked bamboo pathway and is home to jaguars, lemurs, meerkats and American alligators. The website also lists rosy boas among the animals named on its zoo page.

Education ambassador animals are not on regular exhibit. The website says they appear at daily meet-and-greets, classes or public presentations designed to connect visitors with wildlife conservation. Wikipedia mentions an animal hospital with indoor and outdoor quarantine, surgery and radiology facilities, and an education center built of hay bales; the conservation page also lists hay bale building construction among the park's LEED features.

The park side includes several play areas and attractions listed on the website: the Leaping Lemur Trail, Redwood Lookout, Miner's Maze, Dino Dig, the Crooked House and the Backyard Habitat, along with Story Stations that place animal and nature themed books throughout the park. The Crooked Meadow hosts an entertainment stage, and the Puppet Castle Theater is described on the site as one of California's oldest puppet theaters, presenting classic fairy tales and original shows with puppets and sets made by park staff.

The website's rides page lists nine rides with height requirements. Danny the Dragon is a storytelling train ride with a 42 inch minimum, and the Keep-Around Carousel, a 42 inch minimum ride, features fantasy creatures and real endangered animals. Granny Bugs and Mini Putt-Putt have no minimum height. Pacific Fruit Express is a fruit-cart ride inspired by the Valley of Heart's Delight, with a 40 inch minimum, or 36 inches with an adult escort. Frog Hopper has a 36 inch minimum, Dragon Flyers a 48 inch minimum, or 36 inches with an adult escort, and Kiddie Swings a 36 inch minimum and a 54 inch maximum. Team Kids is a self-powered kart ride. Danny the Dragon and the carousel are listed as ADA accessible.

Conservation and programs

The website's conservation page lists several programs. The Quarters for Conservation grant program funds field research and conservation projects outside the United States. The zoo runs electronic device recycling drop-off sites, which it says reduce demand for materials such as coltan that threaten African wildlife. It takes part in AZA Species Survival Plans, which it describes as breeding programs for threatened and critically endangered species.

Closer to home, the zoo maintains a Backyard Habitat pollinator garden for native bees, butterflies and birds, and Progress for Pollinators, a partnership grant program with the Happy Hollow Foundation that supports pollinator-friendly areas across Santa Clara County. An on-site apiary produces Honey from the Hollow, sold at park venues, with proceeds supporting conservation partners working with jaguars, gorillas, monarch butterflies and red pandas. The page also says all of the park's food options are locally and sustainably sourced and antibiotic-free, with a Seafood Watch partnership for fish.

The zoo's website mentions educational programs including summer camps and school assemblies, along with birthday and celebration packages. Weekend character experiences feature Danny the Dragon and fairy meet-and-greets, according to the entertainment page.

Planning your visit

The zoo's website posts the day's hours, which were listed as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in late September 2026. Admissions and membership sales end 30 minutes before closing. Hours can change seasonally or for events, so the current schedule on the official site is the one to use.

The visit page lists two parking areas, one at 748 Story Road and another at 1300 Senter Road, with annual parking passes and daily rates. It also notes that public transportation via the VTA is an alternative. The FAQ says reservations are no longer required but are highly recommended for quick park entry. Discounted admission for military, seniors and reciprocal zoo members requires in-person purchase with valid identification, and the visit page lists free admission for children under two. Ticket details are on the zoo's website.

Guests may bring their own snacks and beverages, while coolers and commercially prepared food are prohibited inside the park, according to the FAQ, which notes picnic tables directly outside the park. A PDF park map is available on the website.

Pets, comfort animals and emotional support animals are not permitted, the FAQ says, because of quarantine regulations; service animals are welcome if leashed or harnessed and kept at least six feet from zoo animals. Stroller and wheelchair rentals are available at the Explore & More store on a first-come, first-served basis. The park is smoke and vape free, and the FAQ lists the phone number as 408-794-6400. The FAQ says the park closes temporarily for inclement weather, including rain, poor air quality and high winds, and that there is no spot saving or line cutting. The website also mentions an Access for All program.