North Carolina Zoo — Zoo in Asheboro

North Carolina Zoo and its collection

North Carolina Zoo, opened in 1974, is a zoo in Asheboro, United States.

The zoo covers 500 developed acres, is billed as the biggest natural habitat zoo anywhere, and sits under the state department of natural and cultural resources. It is laid out in three sections, covering Africa, North America and a desert region, and is one of only two state-funded zoos in the country, alongside the Minnesota Zoo. It also holds a substantial art collection, mostly sculpture but including murals, mosaics and paintings.

History

State legislators set up a commission in 1967 to study the idea of a state zoo, and a zoological society formed the following year to raise money and public backing.

Exhibits

Cypress Swamp holds alligators, alligator snapping turtles, cougars and assorted amphibians and reptiles, while desert life is shown under a glass dome called the Mangum Desert. The Reynolds Forest Aviary reproduced the conditions of hot, humid tropical forest. Forest Edge is a 3.5-acre wooded grassland holding zebras, ostriches and reticulated giraffes.

Things to do

Things to do include Meet the Keeper, Snorin Safari (Overnight programs), Butterfly Garden and Carousel.

What the venue says

• The parking area provides nearby restroom facilities and accepts card payments (credit and debit cards) for zoo-related services.
• Foodies take note! We serve up a variety of sustainably-sourced dining options.
• Features a free parking lot area with plenty of space available for visitors, ensuring straightforward access to the zoo entrances.
• Includes designated wheelchair-accessible parking spaces close to the entrance for guests requiring mobility assistance.