Santa Ana Zoo

About Santa Ana Zoo

Santa Ana Zoo sits on 20 acres at Prentice Park in Santa Ana, California, and has been open since 1952. It's part of the City of Santa Ana's Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department and is supported by the nonprofit Friends of Santa Ana Zoo. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The zoo describes its mission as empowering its community to save wildlife and wild spaces through fun, adventure, and learning. Beyond its animal exhibits, the grounds include a botanical garden, ride and play areas, and a café, and the zoo hosts seasonal programming such as a live butterfly exhibit.

History

Santa Ana Zoo has been a fixture of the City of Santa Ana's park system since it opened in 1952, and it continues to operate as part of the city's Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, with additional support from the nonprofit Friends of Santa Ana Zoo.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo includes a botanical garden alongside its animal exhibits, plus rides and play areas for younger visitors. Its seasonal live butterfly experience, called Flight!, is scheduled to run from June 1 through October 15, 2026, weather and staffing permitting. The ECO Center connects visitors to Santiago Creek through free guided and passive nature programs, and the zoo periodically hosts storytelling events for families.

Animal highlights

Santa Ana Zoo's website does not publish a species count or total animal figure. The zoo does note that it funds primate conservation work, and it partners with an electronics recycling program specifically to support gorilla habitat protection, both of which point to primates being part of its collection or conservation focus. Beyond that, the zoo's seasonal Flight! exhibit features live butterflies.

Conservation and programs

Santa Ana Zoo funds primate conservation work and partners with a recycling program that accepts old electronics — including phones, tablets, and other devices — in exchange for free same-day admission, with proceeds supporting gorilla habitat protection. The zoo's ECO Center also runs free guided and passive programs connecting the community to nearby Santiago Creek, and the zoo offers ongoing volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, and corporate teams.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, Santa Ana Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday hours listed separately as 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can be bought in person at the ticket booth or online in advance; online general admission tickets are valid any day during operating hours but are non-refundable and expire after a year. Payment in person is accepted by Visa, MasterCard, or cash. The zoo also sells non-expiring paper "Zoo Passports" at the ticket booth that can be used for future visits.

The third Sunday of every month is free admission for Santa Ana residents, who must show a current photo ID per adult. Parking is accessed only from Chestnut Avenue — not from Zoo Lane — and has been limited during ongoing lot improvements; Zoo Lane between 1st Street and Chestnut Avenue is closed to through traffic for utility work, with Lyon Street offered as a detour route to reach Chestnut Avenue from 1st Street. On site, Bean Sprouts Café serves food for children and adults, including alcoholic beverages for guests 21 and older, and Treetops Toys is the zoo's gift shop. Confirm current hours, ticket prices, and parking access on the zoo's official website before visiting.