Your Zoo

Visit fascinating animals from around the world at the Lake Superior Zoo. Situated in Fairmont Park in West Duluth, the zoo sits on over 16½ acres at the base of Spirit Mountain. The rocky hillside, majestic pines and the picturesque Kingsbury Creek, which winds down the hillside through the center of the zoo grounds, makes for an ideal setting for this attraction. The Lake Superior Zoo was started in 1923 by Bert Onsgard, with support from the city of Duluth and the community.  The first resident of the zoo was a white-tailed deer named Billy. By late-1920's, the zoo's collection had grown to over 220 animals, birds and reptiles.

Today, this cultural resource is home to hundreds of native animals and exotic species. African Lions, Siberian tigers, polar bear, snow leopards, cougars, Alaskan grizzly bear, Kodiak bear, and a wide variety of hoof stock are among the larger animals you will see at our zoo. The main building, built in 1927, features the Tiger's Paw Gift Shop, the Safari Café, the Siberian tiger viewing deck, a two-story Reeve's muntjac and Asian pheasant exhibit and our Griggs Learning Center, which houses outreach animals for educational programs.

Every day there is something new and exciting happening; animal feedings, trainings and enrichment activities are part of our daily schedule. Children love to feed and interact with our barnyard friends, especially the llama, donkey and pigmy goat. Don't miss the Primate Conservation Center, where the Angolan colobus monkeys, cotton-topped tamarins, goeldi's monkeys and other endangered primates make their home. A Nocturnal Wing within the Primate Center houses a variety of bats, two-toed sloths, South American porcupines, pallas cats, kinkajou and more!

Polar Shores is another popular place to stop. Play ball with our polar bear Berlin and watch seal training shows. Why not walk up the hill to the Northern Territory to see Trouble, the Alaskan Grizzly bear, and along Kingsbury Creek to see the nearly-extinct Pere David Deer? Continue along the creek to the African lion den and up the hill to the Australian Connection to see the kangaroos, kookaburras, exotic birds and the large salt-water aquarium filled with an interesting selection of barrier-reef fish.

While visiting our zoo, pay close attention to the endangered and threatened animals that we care for. Snow leopards, ring-tailed lemurs, peregrine falcons, white-napped cranes, bald eagles (and more) reside here.

The Tiger's Paw Gift Shop is open daily year round. The Safari Café is open daily during the summer months.

History

Zoo History Project - Zoo Photos, Artifacts & Stories The Zoological Society is looking for great photographic images, plus interesting artifacts and stories to help tell the story of the zoo's history. Erin Evans and Sarah Glesner are collecting and compiling this information, so please share your treasures with them! We are looking for any and all historical artifacts; pictures, tickets, t-shirts, trinkets, and (of course) stories about our zoo. Read more...

Mission

The Lake Superior Zoo is dedicated to the responsible stewardship of our natural environment through exhibition of living animals and plants and programs in conservation and wildlife education. Read more...

Board

The Arrowhead Zoological Society, Inc.in a private, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that operates under the name Lake Superior Zoological Society. The Society is made up of people who subscribe to the organization by way of an annual membership. The Society is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Day to day operations, such as animal management, veterinary services, administration, marketing, membership, education and guest services, are executed by dedicated staff, who are supervised by management level staff, who report to the Chief Executive Officer. Read more...

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