Lords Park Zoo
Elgin, IL
- Admission
- —
- Accreditation
- None listed
not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Everything below is directory information drawn from public sources and the zoo's own site.
Animals at Lords Park Zoo
8 confirmed
Feathers & Fangs from visitors
What people who've been to Lords Park Zoo say
A Feather is something this zoo does well; a Fang is something it gets wrong. Left by people who've been, and read by us before they appear.
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About Lords Park Zoo
Lords Park Zoo is a zoo in Lords Park in Elgin, Illinois, at the corner of Franklin and Grand Boulevards. The nonprofit Friends of Lords Park Zoo supports it and also calls the site Tefft Farm Zoo, using the name Lords Park Zoo/Tefft Farm on its home page. The zoo is not AZA accredited.
According to the Friends group, the north entrance, at Grand Avenue and Hiawatha Drive, and the west entrance, at Franklin and Grand Boulevards, both lead to parking for the zoo.
History
The Friends of Lords Park Zoo website shows a real photo postcard, copyrighted 1909 by the Leland Art Company, that it describes as showing the crating of the very first bison shipped to the Lords Park Zoo from the Dakotas.
The current bison have their own history on the Friends site. Takoda was bought by Friends of Lords Park Zoo at Fermilab's annual bison auction in 2016, and her name, a Dakota name the group translates as "friend to everyone," was chosen in a community vote from a list of five names. She joined two older female bison, Becky and Drew, which had been donated by Chicago's Brookfield Zoo; both died of age-related issues in 2023. In 2024 a Colorado family whose herd had rejected a young female bison, which the family hand-fed, offered to donate her to the City of Elgin if the city paid for transport. The city accepted, and Buffy arrived in Elgin in 2024.
Exhibits and habitats
The Friends group's animal page lists the following animals at the zoo: bison, elk, alpacas, pigs, miniature horses, cows, sheep, and donkeys.
The zoo has two female bison, Takoda and Buffy. The Friends site describes the elk as a herd. It describes alpacas as members of the camelid family, with soft, padded feet that do not damage the terrain. The site says miniature horses can be trained for showing, therapy work, and driving small carts, and describes donkeys as known for their hardiness, endurance, and calm temperament.
According to the Friends site, both domestic and endangered animals can be seen during special programs in the summer, and its animal listings are divided into resident and summer animals.
Conservation and programs
Friends of Lords Park Zoo describes itself as a nonprofit committed to the preservation and enhancement of the Tefft Farm Zoo through educational events and activities. The group supports the zoo through educational outreach programs, partnerships, volunteering, and work with local Elgin organizations, and it posts a calendar of 2026 Tefft Farm programs. Its website also lists the trees and plants found at Tefft Farm. Its mailing address is PO Box 1187, Elgin, Illinois 60121-1187.
Monthly bison feedings, which also include the elk and deer, are booked through the Elgin Public Museum, according to the Friends site. Space is limited, and children under 5 may not take part. A summer reading challenge, Bison's Bookshelf, is also run on the site.
Planning your visit
The zoo is at the corner of Franklin and Grand Boulevards in Elgin, with parking reached from the north and west entrances to Lords Park. Program dates are posted on the Friends of Lords Park Zoo events page, and bison feeding registration is handled by the Elgin Public Museum.
What we haven't confirmed
Everything above came from public sources. These specifics we haven't stood behind yet:
- Current hours and seasonal schedule
- Admission policy
- Phone number
- Opening year of the zoo
Lords Park Zoo compared with nearby zoos
How Lords Park Zoo lines up against the closest zoos we have details for — useful if you're deciding between them for the same day out.
| Zoo | Distance | Admission | Hours | Size | AZA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lords Park ZooThis zooElgin, IL | — | — | — | — | No |
| Santa's Village AZoosment ParkEast Dundee, IL | 3 mi | $42.99 | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM | — | No |
| Randall Oaks ZooWest Dundee, IL | 6 mi | $7 | Daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM through Nov 1, 2026; Nov 2–Dec 30 daily 10 AM – 3 PM. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day. | — | No |
| Cosley ZooWheaton, IL | 13 mi | $12 | April 1 – October 31: daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last admission 4:15 PM). Closed January 1, Thanksgiving Day, December 25. | 5 acres | Yes |
Distances are straight-line. A dash means we haven't confirmed that detail yet, not that the zoo lacks it.
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Lords Park Zoo: common questions
Is Lords Park Zoo AZA accredited?
No. The zoo is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Where is Lords Park Zoo?
It is at the corner of Franklin and Grand Boulevards in Lords Park, Elgin, Illinois.
What animals live at the zoo?
The Friends group lists bison, elk, alpacas, pigs, miniature horses, cows, sheep, and donkeys.
Can visitors help feed the bison?
The Friends site says monthly bison feedings, which also include the elk and deer, are booked through the Elgin Public Museum, with limited space and no children under 5.
Who supports the zoo?
Friends of Lords Park Zoo, a nonprofit group, supports it through educational events, outreach, partnerships, and volunteers.
Something wrong here? Tell us — we correct in place, with a dated note.