Learning and Conservation at Every Turn
The Central Coast Zoo is home to about a hundred species of animals found around the world, where they live in our beautiful wooded Lake Park in Atascadero, California. We are the only zoo in the Central Coast accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the gold standard for zoos ensuring the highest level of animal welfare. As part of AZA, our animals are part of globally managed conservation programs to preserve species and their wild habitats. We hope you will come and relax, learn, and enjoy our animals in a safe and respectful environment, and have fun in our beautiful park with play equipment, lawns, walking pathways and a lake with paddleboats. We hope to see you soon!
Our pair of burrowing owls is very prolific. In 2018, they produced 8 chicks! This was the first time this pair bred at the Central Coast Zoo (formerly Charles Paddock Zoo) - talk about awesome parenting skills!
No matter the size, your gift makes a difference! With your help the Central Coast Zoo will continue to flourish and provide the valuable cultural asset the Zoo is to our community. Your contribution goes directly to our all volunteer non-profit support organization, funding improvements at the Zoo so we can continue to provide the highest level of animal care and expand our conservation programs.
Volunteers are the heart of our Zoo and have always played dominant roles throughout its history. Volunteers help in the day-to-day care of our animals and beautiful Zoo.