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 million. The gift shop generated roughly $351,000 in gross sales in 2024; concessions and event catering grossed roughly $350,000. February 2025 attendance (about 5,500 visitors) and early-year revenue trailed 2024 levels, staff said.

- Staffing: The zoo has multiple open positions, including facility manager, at least one maintenance technician vacancy, one zookeeper opening and the director of animals and conservation position. The executive director said the animal-and-conservation director role requires zoo and aquarium experience and accreditation knowledge and remains open while staff recruit nationally.

- Animal updates: Staff reported several recent births. A penguin chick, nicknamed Polo, hatched in February and was confirmed via blood sexing; staff said the chick’s parents are Marco and Marcona. The zoo also reported a calf born in January and two new primate births: a colobus monkey born Dec. 25, 2024, and a howler monkey born in October (staff noted the troop is now four individuals). Staff said weight checks and routine care are ongoing.

- Capital and facility projects: The board was told about ongoing and planned work funded in 2024–25. Concrete repairs completed last year include Amazonia exterior paths, the giraffe visitor area and an African stock/service area. The zoo anticipates roughly $1 million in capital improvements in 2025, drawn from the city’s capital improvement list. Planned work includes Amazonia controls upgrades, multiple roof replacements across roughly 30 structures, additional visitor barriers at the giraffe viewing area, tree removals for hazard mitigation, and paving packages. The Amazonia building opened in February 2008; staff said many of its control systems are past their lifespans and bidding is underway for replacements.

- Equipment and veterinary updates: The veterinary team plans to acquire a modern portable ultrasound and probe to replace aging equipment. Staff also noted an increase in springtime animal shipments and related quarantine planning.

- Events and fundraising: The zoo operates as both a city department and a nonprofit partner. The executive director said Boo at the Zoo (a city-run event) attracted about 10,000 visitors during October and remains the zoo’s highest-attended single event; Vintage Vines (an off-site, black-tie fundraiser at Evansville Country Club) is the zoo’s largest fundraiser. Staff also referenced Zoo Brew and a planned summer event (details to come).

Board discussion and questions

Board members asked about federal grant funding; staff said the zoo currently has no direct federal grants (for example from the National Endowment for the Arts, IMLS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or forestry programs). Members asked about staffing and contract hourly pay for custodial personnel; staff estimated roughly $15 per hour but said they would confirm exact pay rates.

Staff responded to questions about summer camp outreach and said the zoo uses the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) newsletter and other community channels to publicize scholarship opportunities.

What’s next

Staff said the list of 2025 capital projects will return to future agendas for quote requests and contract approvals as bids are solicited and vendors selected. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, at the same time and place.