- Attraction: Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
- Location: 301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404
- Industry: Zoo
- Website: https://www.chattzoo.org/
The Chattanooga Zoo packs over 500 animals representing more than 200 species into its walkable 13-acre layout.
Since earning its first AZA accreditation back in 1998, this Tennessee gem has been proving that bigger isn’t always better when it comes to creating meaningful wildlife encounters.
Located just two miles from downtown Chattanooga in Warner Park, this zoo has been delighting visitors since 1937. What started with simple monkey cages has transformed into a thoughtfully designed facility that actively participates in global conservation efforts.
You’ll find endangered species conservation programs, Species Survival Plans, and partnerships with organizations protecting habitats across the globe. Plus, with free parking and admission prices that won’t drain your wallet, you can focus on what really matters—connecting with the animals.
Animal Encounters & Exhibits
The Red Panda Experience: This is hands-down one of the zoo’s crown jewels. The Himalayan Passage houses red pandas in the world’s largest indoor red panda exhibit, despite this being one of the smaller AZA-accredited zoos in the country.
Related
More in Tennessee
This Murfreesboro Restaurant’s Drunken Noodles Are A Must-Try For Spice Lovers
Keep Exploring →You’ll watch these adorable creatures climb with their thumb-like wrist bones and munch on bamboo that the zoo collects throughout the community.
If you’re willing to splurge, the Wild Encounter program lets you get even closer—feeding them grapes and biscuits right from your hand and possibly even touching them if the animal allows it.
It’s pricey at around $200 per person, but you’re one of only a handful of places in North America where this experience exists.
Giraffe Feeding Platform: For just $5, you can hand-feed the zoo’s three male reticulated giraffes—George, Porter, and Hardee Star. These gentle giants arrived in 2020 as part of the Makazi Ya Twiga exhibit, and they’ve quickly become crowd favorites.
You’ll get to see their incredible purple tongues up close as they delicately take treats from your palm. The experience is weather-dependent, so the platform closes when temperatures drop below 55 degrees to keep the giraffes comfortable.
More in Tennessee
From Smoked Ribs To Breakfast Pizza, This Hole-In-The-Wall Shack Delivers Top-Shelf Eats
Discover MoreGombe Forest Chimpanzee Exhibit: This $2.1 million indoor-outdoor habitat gives you a front-row seat to watch chimpanzee behavior. You might catch them responding to sign language cues during enrichment sessions or watch them get their teeth brushed and ears checked.
The Donovan Interpretive Center provides excellent indoor viewing, so you won’t miss a moment of their fascinating social interactions. The exhibit opened in 2001 and has been a highlight ever since.
Corcovado Jungle & Latin American Animals: Here’s where you’ll come face-to-face with sleek jaguars prowling their habitat, spider monkeys swinging overhead, and vibrant macaws showing off their colors.
The zoo participates in the Argentine Jaguar Conservation Project, so your visit directly supports these magnificent cats in the wild. You’ll also spot capybaras, kinkajous, and prehensile-tailed porcupines throughout this South American-themed area.
Himalayan Passage: Beyond the red pandas, this expanded exhibit showcases snow leopards in all their spotted glory.
Related
More in Tennessee
Where Tulips, Art, And History Collide: Inside Nashville’s Most Breathtaking Estate
Keep Exploring →These elusive mountain cats are absolutely mesmerizing to watch as they navigate their rocky terrain. You’ll also find white-cheeked gibbons swinging through their space with impressive acrobatic skills.
Small But Mighty Creatures: The meerkats steal hearts as they stand sentinel and dig through their habitat.
Those fennec foxes with their oversized ears? Absolutely precious.
You’ll encounter rare reptiles including Mexican Lance-headed rattlesnakes, Gaboon vipers, and critically endangered Chinese alligators. There’s even a Komodo dragon that commands respect with its prehistoric presence.
Warner Park Ranch: This section lets you meet dromedary camels, pot-bellied pigs, miniature horses, alpacas, and a shaggy Highland cattle.
More in Tennessee
Head Inside The 1840s Blacksmith Shop That’s Now An Incredible Jackson Restaurant
Discover MoreThe camel rides are a huge hit with kids, though note that the camels take Mondays and Tuesdays off. The petting zoo area features friendly goats that love attention from visitors.
Interactive Features & Special Activities
Wild Encounter Programs: Beyond red pandas, you can book intimate 30-minute experiences with meerkats, giant anteaters, Komodo dragons, and prehensile-tailed porcupines.
These encounters range from $75 to $250 per person, must be booked at least two weeks ahead, and only accommodate two people at a time.
Ten percent of proceeds support conservation partners like the Red Panda Network and Proyecto Titi. Zoo members get 20% off these experiences.
Keeper Chats: Free with admission, these 15-minute talks happen throughout the day at different exhibits. You’ll learn fascinating facts about the animals’ behaviors, diets, and conservation status from knowledgeable keepers who clearly love what they do.
Related
More in Tennessee
This Countryside Restaurant In Chuckey Is Recreating The Magic Of Sunday Supper With Family-Style Dining
Keep Exploring →Zoo Choo Train & Carousel: The trackless train takes you on a gentle ride around the park for $4-5, while the endangered species carousel offers another fun diversion. These rides cost extra but add to the experience, especially for younger visitors.
Nature Play Area: Kids can burn off energy at this naturalistic playground featuring a honeycomb jungle gym, giant insects to climb, a dig pit, musical components, a gazebo hut, crawl-through tunnels, and boulders. It’s thoughtfully designed to connect children with nature through play.
Atmosphere & Layout
Walkable & Family-Friendly: At 13 acres, you’ll see everything in about two hours, though many visitors happily spend longer.
The compact size means little legs won’t get tired, and stroller navigation is refreshingly easy compared to sprawling mega-zoos. You can take your time without feeling like you’re missing half the park.
Shade & Seasonal Decor: The zoo provides plenty of shaded areas to escape Tennessee heat. During special events like “Boo at the Zoo,” the entire facility gets decorated, creating a festive atmosphere that delights visitors of all ages.
Clean & Well-Maintained: You’ll notice immediately how clean and organized everything feels. The animal habitats appear well-cared-for, and the grounds are kept tidy. Free-roaming peacocks add an unexpected touch of beauty as they strut around displaying their magnificent tail feathers.
Close-Up Viewing: The exhibit design prioritizes proximity. You’re not squinting at distant enclosures through multiple fences—you’re getting genuinely close views that let you see details like individual whiskers, feather patterns, and expressive eyes.
Planning Your Visit
Pricing That Makes Sense: Online tickets run about $15 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children. That’s remarkably reasonable, especially when you factor in free parking.
Military members and veterans get free admission plus one half-price companion ticket. Students with valid IDs get $2 off. SNAP participants can access reduced rates of just $5 for adults and $2 for kids.
Operating Hours: The zoo opens daily at 9:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. Pro tip: arrive by 2 PM if you want to see everything comfortably before closing time.
School groups typically visit between March-May and September-November, so late mornings or afternoons during these periods offer quieter experiences.
Food Options: Wild Burger serves gourmet burgers, hand-breaded chicken tenders, and crisp salads from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, weather permitting.
Several snack carts are scattered throughout the grounds. Outside food isn’t allowed inside the zoo, but Warner Park has picnic areas right outside if you prefer to bring your own.
Best Times to Visit: Weekdays offer smaller crowds and a more relaxed pace. Special conservation awareness days throughout the year feature extra demonstrations and educational displays at no additional cost beyond regular admission.
Beyond the Zoo: Warner Park includes a splash pad and playground just outside the zoo entrance, making it easy to extend your visit. The free parking lot is shared with a softball complex but rarely presents problems.
Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
📍 301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404
