Zoo New York

About Zoo New York

Zoo New York is a zoo inside Thompson Park in Watertown, in Jefferson County, New York. Its address is 1 Thompson Park, Watertown, NY 13601. A Thousand Islands tourism listing describes it as the world's only zoo dedicated to New York's wild animals and wild places, and Wikipedia describes the zoo as featuring native Northern New York wildlife.

Its mission statement reads that the zoo, by example and action, provides knowledge and motivation to conserve nature in New York State through science-based natural and cultural experiences. The zoo's FAQ says it is managed and operated for the City of Watertown by the Thompson Park Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its history page says it attracts nearly 50,000 visitors per year, reaches nearly 10,000 people through educational programs and is supported by more than 800 member households, and describes it as the second most visited attraction in the Thousand Islands region; the FAQ gives a figure of approximately 38,000 visitors in a past year. The zoo's pages do not mention accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

History

The zoo's website gives 1920 as its starting point: the Northern New York Trust Company donated two whitetail deer to Thompson Park and the City of Watertown. The history page says the zoo bought its first animals with funds raised by the Children's Park Zoo Club, a support group led by a twelve-year-old boy, which also paid to feed animals and to build small habitats for porcupines, raccoons and other small carnivores. The site says the collection has at various times included both exotic and indigenous animals.

The park around it has its own history. Wikipedia says Thompson Park was created in 1899 and established in 1900, and that industrialist John C. Thompson donated it to the city of Watertown in 1916. It credits the design to John C. Olmsted, described as a nephew and adopted son of Frederick Law Olmsted. Wikipedia lists the zoo among the park's amenities, alongside an 18-hole golf club, a monument to 10th Mountain Division soldiers unveiled on July 1, 2016, and playgrounds, including a zoo playground unveiled on October 3, 2019.

In 1992 the former Thompson Park Zoo became a federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The zoo's website describes that change as leading to an expansion and what it calls the new zoo era, and describes the zoo as incorporating naturalistic animal care methods.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo's Meet the Animals page lists exhibits by habitat. These include bald eagle, mountain lion, river otter, elk, bobcat, snowy owl, Canada lynx, wolverine, American black bear, opossum, porcupine, raven, turkey vulture and reptile habitats, along with a Gray Wolf Trail, a Children's Farm, a Butterfly House and the Stephens Media Conservation Center. Many of these are named for sponsors.

The Butterfly House opens each spring and closes in late August or early September, according to the zoo's website. It is described as home to more than 10 butterfly species during spring and summer, with host and nectar plants, and as a home and hatchery for many native butterfly species. The Butterfly House is sponsored by SeaComm Federal Credit Union. The website says staff and volunteers restore the habitat before it opens, and that visitors can observe caterpillars and eggs among the vegetation.

A Watertown Daily Times report on NNY360 announced that a wolverine named Abisko had joined the zoo, and the Meet the Animals page lists a wolverine habitat. The zoo's homepage welcomes two animals, Clover and Rain. The zoo's Things to Do page names Ninja as its mountain lion.

Conservation and programs

The zoo's website lists onsite programs, outreach programs, field trips, a summer reading program and birthday parties, plus events including Brew at the Zoo and Winter Wonderlights. It also lists an Adopt a Monarch program, an annual membership with reciprocal admission benefits at other zoos, volunteer opportunities and sponsorship and donation options.

The zoo's Things to Do page lists daily keeper talks between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., a daily elk feeding at 1 p.m., and bookable experiences including Otters Up Close, a private encounter with Ninja the mountain lion, and keeper-guided tours for groups. Its education page describes classroom programs designed to meet Next Generation Science Standards and summer Discovery Days wildlife camps. At the Butterfly House, the zoo invites visitors to ask staff about its work with MonarchWatch and pollinators. The 2026 events calendar lists Symphony in the Park, Sweet End of Summer, Brew at the Zoo, Boo at the Zoo in October and Winter Wonderlights in late November and December.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's homepage in September 2026, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m. Admission details are listed on the website; senior and military discounts must be purchased at the front desk.

The zoo's phone number is 315-782-6180, and its email is info@zoonewyork.org. The website also links a Zoo Rules and Policies page.