Bramble Park Zoo

About Bramble Park Zoo

Bramble Park Zoo sits along South Dakota Highway 20 in northwest Watertown, South Dakota, with directional signage posted along Interstate 29, US Highway 212, and Highway 20. The zoo dates to 1912 and covers about 15 acres, with roughly 500 animals across around 130 species, as published by the zoo. It is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The nonprofit Lake Area Zoological Society (LAZS) supports the zoo through memberships, which start at $70 a year, and through volunteer programs open to all ages.

The zoo's facilities include the Terry Redlin Environmental Center and the Big Red Barn, both of which house classroom and multi-purpose rooms available for rental, and the AWC Family Foundation's KidZoo, home to the Prairie Porch Picnic Shelter.

In September 2026, the zoo closed for a day to honor Dan Miller, who served as its director from 1988 to 2023 and dedicated more than 35 years to the zoo before his death that August.

Exhibits and habitats

No named exhibit areas at Bramble Park Zoo are described beyond the KidZoo section within the AWC Family Foundation's grounds, which includes the Prairie Porch Picnic Shelter available for rental. The zoo's contact-animal offerings, referenced through its birthday party packages, include goats, a pony, alpaca, pigs, and waterfowl available for feeding.

Animal highlights

Bramble Park Zoo's own published figures put its collection at about 500 animals across roughly 130 species, though a specific list of species names is not available. What the zoo's materials do describe are contact animals available to feed during visits and birthday events, including goats, a pony, alpaca, pigs, and waterfowl.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, 2026 extended summer hours run 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, with hours extended to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The zoo closes for several winter holidays, including Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, December 24–25, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Presidents' Day, and it also closes during its regular hours on Zoo Boo to prepare for that afternoon's event.

Listed admission is free for children two and under, $11.00 plus tax ($11.96) for ages 3 to 12, and $13.50 plus tax ($14.67) for ages 13 and older; children 12 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult. Prices and fees may differ during special events, and the zoo's website advises calling ahead to confirm. Group rates apply for parties of more than 100 people, and guided group tours can be booked by phone. Concessions, picnic areas, and a children's playground are available on the grounds, and Keeper Talks and Training Demonstrations are held on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. As listed on the zoo's website, all facilities are handicapped accessible.

The zoo offers several birthday party packages, ranging from an unstaffed package for younger children with a gift-shop credit and animal feed to a staffed traditional zoo birthday including a private party room and an animal encounter; room rentals in the Terry Redlin Environmental Center, Big Red Barn, or the KidZoo's Prairie Porch Picnic Shelter are also available by the hour. Always confirm current hours, prices, and event schedules on the official Bramble Park Zoo website before visiting.