Mesker Park Zoo reports winter attendance dip, $1 million in 2025 capital projects and recent animal births

The Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Advisory Board heard an update on attendance, revenue, staffing and projects at its March 4 meeting.

Executive director (name not specified) told the board the zoo finished 2024 with about 196,000 visitors and roughly $1,500,000 in earned revenue from ticketing, the gift shop and attractions. February 2025 attendance was down — about 5,500 visitors — which staff attributed to severe winter weather that reduced gate counts.

The director said the zoo’s annual orchid show, held inside the Amazonia building from mid-February through mid-March, continues to draw visitors. “It’s fantastic. It’s one of the best orchid shows I’ve seen, that our horticulture team puts on,” the executive director said.

Why it matters: the zoo’s earned revenue helps offset operating costs and supports on-site programming; year-to-year attendance shifts can affect staffing and concession revenues and feed into the city’s budgeting process.

Most important details

- Attendance and revenue: Staff said 2024 attendance was roughly 196,000 visitors and total earned revenue at the gate was about $1.5…