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    Central Coast Zoo

    3.6 (169 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Central Coast Zoo Photos

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    Tracy A.

    The Central Coast Zoo is so cute! It is small but I saw all the animals twice. The animals were very active! It was very peaceful and I was able to just sit/stand and watch the animals for as long as I wanted too. The staff was out and about feeding and checking on the very well cared for animals. Worth the $15 I spent on admission.

    Ticket booth
    Vanessa S.

    This place was a hidden gem. My 3 year old loved it. Pluses: Easy FREE parking. Amazing animals. Entered the zoo as the park opened and saw the animals active and eating. Inexpensive Walkable for a 3 year old and no stroller.

    The flamingos
    Beth H.

    Had a really good time visiting with the family and getting to see so many different exhibits. Just the flamingos at the front are super fun to see when visiting the park! :)

    Charles Paddock Zoo
    John D.

    Mountain Zoo Small five-acre zoo located in Atascadero that's been open since 1955. Originally called "Atascadero Children's Zoo," it was later changed to its current moniker in 1980 to honor its founder. The Good: *AZA Accredited since 1991 *Free parking w/ large lot *Adjacent to city park *Inexpensive to visit at $13/adults, $11/seniors, & $5-8/kids *45 species and 100+ animals, but it feels like much more than that. *The endangered Malayan Tiger, Menderu, is spectacular and was worth the price of admission alone. *The animals all appeared healthy and happy The Meh: *Not the biggest zoo, as you can easily see the whole thing in ±1-hr if you rush right thru it, or maybe 2-4hrs depending on how long you like to observe. The Ugly: *Low staffing level at the gift shop, as we were gonna buy some swag on the way out, but they were on break, and the store was closed. :( Conclusion: Fun little zoo that's a great way to kill a few hours and give the kids something cool to look at.

    Watching the meerkats- they were very active
    Lexi M.

    The sweetest little zoo for your child! I love that this zoo is small, inexpensive, and easily accessible. When we were there they were feeding the animals and we got to watch all the animals eat their breakfast and play in their enclosures. They were doing some repair work on many of the animal enclosures and it looked like they were putting a lot of care into making the zoo better for people and animals. I would definitely recommend this zoo since it's the perfect size for a small family outing, and it's not too overwhelming for kids. The animals are easy to see and experience.

    Bryce S.

    Located on the 46, on the West side of Atascadero, is the Charles Paddock Zoo. This zoo is awesome and very walkable for younger kids and older adults. Awesome family outing. They also have memberships and events. It's right next to the Atascadero Park and Lake. Always a lot of fun. *I agree that the enclosure can be bigger/better and the grounds could be more maintained*

    Entrance
    Dina T.

    Care of the animals and their enclosures need better care. The poor tiger just howled and paced back and forth. I was told "he is lonely and does it most of the time. They do have some interesting species. The zoo is in a park. $11 for a Senior ticket.

    Beautiful flamingos 4/4/2024
    Nancy W.

    I went with my little grandson's and daughter on a rainy morning. When the sun broke out the animals came out to play and eat. We went to the zoo, it opens at 10 after a walk around the lake. Lake walk is 1 mile circle. Free zoo parking. I've had a membership here in the past when my son was little and I'm thinking of buying that again. The zoo is just big enough to add to a lake walk and not be overwhelmed. Smaller well maintained zoo but they really need to work on signage at the enclosures. Some are missing signs to know what animal is there. Others are incorrect. One sign said exhibit closed and the animal was in it. Perhaps partner with a community group or a sign company and give them credit on a sign at the zoo. It would be tax deductible for them.

    Evie D.

    We have visited the LA zoo frequently, so Knowing in advance that it was a smaller zoo was helpful. When we went, it was cold and pretty much all the animals were active. My favorite was the red panda! The tiger was also a lot of fun!

    Park and zoo driveway
    Kathleen C.

    This is a very small zoo but an enjoyable walk. Distance is long me going around the block. Animals came close to vist. Wish cages were a bit better kept. Staff was friendly. Zoo is attached to a shady park. Looks great for family with small kids.

    Zoo Entrance...
    Phillip L.

    After living on the Central Coast for over 12 years...FINALLY, my adult daughter took me to visit the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero, California. We walked from exhibit to exhibit and I must say...I enjoyed every minute! No, it's wasn't the size of the last Zoo we visited (San Francisco) but...this isn't San Francisco! From the first exhibit to the last, simply delightful! Took a lot of great pics, was with wonderful company, great Central Coast weather, and spent a good 1-2 leisurely hours enjoying observing the animals. I was truly amazed at the good time to be had here and in this Yelper's opinion, on this occasion, the "small" Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero, truly earned this "highly recommend" 5 Star (temper your expectations) review.

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    9 months ago

    Affordable and small but packed with tons of fun animals. Great for young kids who can't do a whole big zoo day.

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    9 months ago

    Friendly staff and amazing little zoo for small town atascadero! Especially love the red pandas.

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    10 months ago

    The animals don't look well. The zoo is a mess and for the price I wouldn't recommend this zoo.

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    1 year ago

    So sad ....tiger is so sad and paces around crying all day. It sucks to go to the park and hear animals suffering.

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    Ask the Community - Central Coast Zoo

    Review Highlights - Central Coast Zoo

    Some of the other animals that stood out were the red pandas, Mexican spider monkeys, and giant tortoises.

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    Conservation Ambassadors - Zoo to You

    Conservation Ambassadors - Zoo to You

    5.0(45 reviews)
    15.1 mi

    I brought my fiancée to Paso Robles for the animals (not the wine) to celebrate her 30th birthday…read more This was 100% the best animal experience we've ever had. Spoiler-wise - I was very happy that I did not read too many reviews prior to our visit. The surprise of meeting each animal was a delight, and probably would not have been as joyful if I knew what to expect or was expecting to meet a specific animal that was not part of the tour. Don't read further if you'd like to have a similar experience as us! *** We arrived early and were immediately greeted by Lisa, an animal caretaker veteran who runs the rescue with her husband. I obviously did not do enough research because I expected more guests, but quickly realized that it was just our small group of 2. Lisa purposely keep tours to a smaller group to reduce stress to the animals. Lisa was incredibly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and clearly passionate about her work. She made us feel comfortable right away, and tailors the tour based off her observations of us, the guests. We interacted with owls, a hawk, river otters, a talking raven, teenage capybaras, an elder spider monkey, a sloth, a laughing kookaburra, an armadillo, a ruffled lemur, and many more critters! Each animal interacted with us on their own accord. She never forced an animal to do something they did not want to. After the tour, she welcomed us to explore the facilities and we saw some warthogs, eagles, and a fennec fox. All I can say is that the price was worth it! My childhood dreams of being a zookeeper fulfilled.

    The Best Birthday Gift Ever (Sorry, Wrapped Presents!)…read more Forget fancy dinners or gift cards -- my daughter wanted a trip to Conservation Ambassadors - Zoo to You, rather than traditional presents and wow... best birthday idea ever! From the start, Lisa welcomed us like old friends. She's warm, funny, and clearly in love with every creature there -- and by the end, we were too. We hand-fed a two-toed sloth, played ball with an armadillo, fed and snuggled capybaras, hung out with a lemur who could've starred in a movie, and met kangaroos, otters, and birds of prey. Each one had its own personality -- and honestly, they all stole our hearts. The best part? No crowds, no long lines, no "hurry up and move along." Just real moments with amazing animals who seemed to enjoy meeting us as much as we loved meeting them. And knowing that our visit helps fund their care and future rescues makes it even better. If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind, feel-good, unforgettable experience -- this is it. Worth every penny and then some!

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    Conservation Ambassadors - Zoo to You
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    Central Coast Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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