Chahinkapa Zoo

About Chahinkapa Zoo

Chahinkapa Zoo sits inside Chahinkapa Park in Wahpeton, North Dakota, on land the city purchased from the federal government in 1903. It opened in 1933, making it the first zoo built in North Dakota, and today covers 29 acres. The zoo is not currently accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is normally open May through October, with winter visits available by appointment.

Sources differ slightly on the size of the collection: the zoo's own materials describe it as home to over 70 species from six continents, while an earlier account puts the total closer to 200 animals representing about 100 species, ranging, as the zoo puts it, "from gibbons to Bengal tigers and white rhinos." Either way, the zoo presents itself as a way to encounter animals from around the world without leaving Wahpeton.

Chahinkapa Zoo is also home to the Prairie Rose Carousel, a restored 1926 wooden carousel that operates as a paid attraction alongside the animal exhibits, and the Rodger Ehnstrom Nature Center, which has served as the zoo's hub for educational activity since it opened in 1989.

History

The city of Wahpeton bought the land that became Chahinkapa Park from the federal government in 1903. In 1933, the town established a Park Board, with R.J. Hughes as its director, and started the zoo with just a handful of animals, including local species such as deer and bison. In the 1960s, the zoo moved to its current spot at the north end of the park, then occupying 18 acres. The Chahinkapa Zoo Association formed in 1974 to help plan and raise money for the zoo, and by 1984 the association had developed a master plan for its future.

The Rodger Ehnstrom Nature Center opened in 1989 as the zoo's center for educational activity. The zoo hired its first director in 1994 and, according to its history, was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums the following year. In April 1997, floodwaters overtook the zoo, though all of its animals were safely evacuated before it reopened at the end of May; a levee was later built to protect the north side of Wahpeton, including the zoo, from 500-year flood levels, and the zoo used the opportunity to renovate its exhibits, paths, and petting zoo.

Exhibits and habitats

Chahinkapa Zoo's collection spans primates, grazing mammals, other mammals, birds, and reptiles, without a single unifying regional theme described in the sources. Primate habitats include orangutans, white-handed gibbons, black-handed spider monkeys, and ring-tailed lemurs. Grazing species on site include Bactrian camels, plains zebras, southern white rhinos, llamas, alpacas, American bison, and elk.

Separate from the main animal collection, the Prairie Rose Carousel is a restored 1926 wooden carousel originally built by Spillman Engineering for Lee Funland in upstate New York. It has 20 hand-carved jumping horses arranged in two rows, plus two chariots, and plays music from a Johnson Organ Co. band organ, itself a well-preserved example of a 20th-century calliope. The carousel is housed in a climate-controlled pavilion and is available for group rentals; rides cost $3 each, with multi-ride punch tickets available.

Animal highlights

The zoo's own materials describe its collection as over 70 species from six continents, while other zoo-published figures put the total nearer 200 animals representing about 100 species; no single current species count is confirmed across sources. Notable mammals include orangutans, white-handed gibbons, black-handed spider monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, Bactrian camels, plains zebras, southern white rhinos, American bison, Bengal tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, fossas, grizzly bears, cougars, bobcats, river otters, and red kangaroos.

Bird species at the zoo include bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks, turkey vultures, black vultures, great horned owls, eastern screech owls, peregrine falcons, Indian peafowl, pheasants, ducks, and Australian black swans. Reptiles include American alligators, blue-tongued skinks, red-tailed boas, Burmese star tortoises, sulcata tortoises, radiated tortoises, and leopard tortoises.

Conservation and programs

Chahinkapa Zoo describes its work as centered on protecting wildlife and their habitats through conservation programs, partnerships, and education, alongside hands-on learning and animal-care demonstrations for the public. Its stated programs include educational visits and field trips that bring classroom lessons to life, behind-the-scenes looks at how the zoo's team cares for its animals day to day, and animal-training demonstrations open to visitors. The zoo also hosts birthday parties and private events, along with recurring seasonal events and community programming through the year, which it frames as part of building connections between people and wildlife.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, Chahinkapa Zoo is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours can vary by season, so confirm current days and times on the official site before visiting.

• Daily tickets are sold at the zoo entrance; the zoo accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, cash, and checks. Memberships are also available, offering unlimited admission, free parking, discounts, and reciprocal admission at other participating zoos and aquariums.
• Wheelchairs are available in limited numbers at the admissions booth at no additional charge, and the zoo describes itself as handicap accessible.
• The Prairie Rose Carousel operates as a separate paid attraction at $3 per ride, with multi-ride punch tickets available, and can be rented for large groups.
• A grab-and-go snack stand and gift shop are on site, but outside food and drinks are not permitted; a nursing station is available near the rhino exhibit, and restrooms with changing tables are located behind the gift shop and near the campground.
• Pets are not allowed on zoo grounds, though service animals are permitted; guests are asked to alert staff at the admissions window if they are visiting with one. Skateboards, scooters, and similar wheeled items are not allowed for guest safety, and visitors under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Same-day re-entry is allowed with a hand stamp from the admissions booth.

Confirm current hours, ticket prices, and any seasonal closures on Chahinkapa Zoo's official website before your visit.