Central Coast Zoo

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Central Coast Zoo AZA accredited zoo and wildlife conservation organization connecting people and animals in California’s beautiful Central Coast! We hope to see you soon!
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The Central Coast Zoo (formerly Charles Paddock 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 Atascadero Lake Park with play equipment, lawns, walking pathways, and seasonal paddleboat rentals.

We are excited to announce baby meerkat Bowie born August 31 to mom Bumble! Baby Bowie is coming out more and more so ...
09/26/2026

We are excited to announce baby meerkat Bowie born August 31 to mom Bumble! Baby Bowie is coming out more and more so if you are lucky you might see them out and about! Meerkats have very complicated social dynamics and this is the first offspring for Bumble and this group so we are not intervening to determine the s*x. Please join us in welcoming Bowie to our Central Coast meerkat mob!

Tomorrow is International Red Panda Day!Help us celebrate the red pandas of the Central Coast Zoo and learn how we can w...
09/18/2026

Tomorrow is International Red Panda Day!

Help us celebrate the red pandas of the Central Coast Zoo and learn how we can work together to protect wild red pandas.
• Meet our Burmese Star Tortoises
• Learn how to draw a Red Panda
• Discover the Red Panda Network and how they help protect red pandas in the wild
• Red Panda Keeper Talks – 11a.m. and 2 p.m.

Explore the Wild Side With Your Toddler!Registration is now OPEN for Zoo Toddler Thursdays. Join the Central Coast Zoo t...
09/15/2026

Explore the Wild Side With Your Toddler!

Registration is now OPEN for Zoo Toddler Thursdays. Join the Central Coast Zoo team for engaging stories, hand-on-crafts, and exciting visits from the animal ambassadors, which are sure to ignite your child's wonder for wildlife!

🦡Where? Central Coast Zoo
⏰When? Sept. 17th, Oct. 1st, Oct. 15th, Oct. 29th, & Nov. 12th
👥Ages: 2-4.5 yrs.

Are you a Zoo Member? Receive a $10 discount by registering in person at the Colony Park Community Center!

Register now @ atascadero.org/recreation. Registration includes admission to the Central Coast Zoo for 1 child and 2 adults each day after class!

We are getting ready for Brew at the Zoo! The zoo will close at 3 p.m. Saturday Sept. 12 but you can buy tickets at the...
09/11/2026

We are getting ready for Brew at the Zoo! The zoo will close at 3 p.m. Saturday Sept. 12 but you can buy tickets at the zoo starting at 4 p.m.. The Gift Shop will be open 5-6:30. We hope to see you then!

Whew, anyone else feeling the heat? The temperatures are coming down this weekend thankfully. We have many ways of hel...
08/28/2026

Whew, anyone else feeling the heat? The temperatures are coming down this weekend thankfully. We have many ways of helping our animals cool off, like giving a shower to our giant Aldabra tortoises!

Shelby our fossa sure is photogenic isn't she? Fossas are the top mammal predator in Madgascar and they spend a lot of t...
08/22/2026

Shelby our fossa sure is photogenic isn't she? Fossas are the top mammal predator in Madgascar and they spend a lot of time in the trees - you can see how they would blend right in for a sneak attack!

Central Coast Zoo Ambassador Reptiles will be at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden for Scaly Safari on August 9th fro...
08/07/2026

Central Coast Zoo Ambassador Reptiles will be at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden for Scaly Safari on August 9th from 10am to 2 pm! This is a FREE event!
Tell your families, tell your friends, your friends’ friends: Garden admission is waived so pack a picnic and stay for the day! This is an all ages event. Dogs on leash are welcome.
There will be crafts and educational activities in the Children’s Garden. The retail nursery, home to a selection of self-propagated native plants well suited for the Central Coast’s Mediterranean climate, will be open for business. After visiting the ambassador animals stroll through the Fire Safe garden and hike the hill up to the Human Sundial or simply meander through the main Display Garden.
Please note: There is a $5 fee to enter El Chorro park.

We hope to see you there!

JOIN US FOR AN EVENING AT SENSORIO TO BENEFIT THE ZOO!August 9th at 6:30 pm🐾We are excited to partner with Sensorio on a...
08/02/2026

JOIN US FOR AN EVENING AT SENSORIO TO BENEFIT THE ZOO!
August 9th at 6:30 pm🐾

We are excited to partner with Sensorio on an evening you won't want to miss! Sensorio has invited The Central Coast Zoo Foundation to participate in "Sensorio Gives Back", a program that offers non-profit organizations the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful evening at Sensorio where a portion of the proceeds goes to support them. Enjoy the Field of Lights and many other exhibits that make Sensorio spectacular - this is a great way to experience Sensorio and support the Central Coast Zoo Foundation in one magical evening!
Sensorio is located at 4380 Highway 46 East in Paso Robles.

CLICK HERE for more information: https://www.tixr.com/groups/sensoriopaso/events/sensorio-sunday-august-9th-163232?ecr_cid=J7KltyJvheB-jPjfRlgE31RU241IwYmznQ%3D%3D&utm_campaign=cymbal_campaign-6952188_073126&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cymbal

Sensorio Visit Atascadero

Don't let the heat keep you from saving a life! On August 2nd the Bloodmobile will be parked in the zoo parking lot!Make...
07/30/2026

Don't let the heat keep you from saving a life!
On August 2nd the Bloodmobile will be parked in the zoo parking lot!
Make an appointment to give blood at the zoo by visiting vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL! Use Code AUGUST15-2026-V when you schedule to receive a $15 Rewards gift card. All donors will receive a coupon for $1 off zoo admission tickets.

Thank you for helping local patients in need!

With National Zookeeper Week wrapping up, we could not finish it without meeting Crystal. Crystal is our Zoo Supervisor...
07/26/2026

With National Zookeeper Week wrapping up, we could not finish it without meeting Crystal. Crystal is our Zoo Supervisor, and has been a keeper for over 20 years, from manatees to venomous snakes, Crystal has done it all. Her passion now is Monarch butterfly conservation, and here she is on the right as an invited panel speaker. Keepers not only love and care for individual animals, but they are conservationists trying to save entire species. Thank you Crystal for all you do!

Address

9100 Morro Road
Atascadero, CA
93422

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(805) 461-5080

Website

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