I was visiting the Paso Robles area and wanted to see some animals. I came upon this small & cute zoo. There were a variety of animals and they all appeared well taken care of from what I can see. They all had heaters being offered, I saw they all had plenty of food/water and plenty of room to move around in. The birds were chirping and flapping around, while the Meerkats were very curious and kept running to each corner (super cute)! I loved taking my time to talk and observe every animal individually and was there for a good hour or so. I loved the experience and loved seeing how happy & well taken care all animals appeared. Valerie, who was at the gift shop was very knowledgeable about all the animals there. She was the sweetest thing ever and enjoyed my conversation with her. This zoo is very lucky to have such a caring & kind person. 10/10 recommend this zoo. read more

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I have been to this zoo once a long time ago when it was formally called the Charles Paddock Zoo. I remember enjoying this zoo and felt it was a hidden gem. We were celebrating my dad's birthday in the Central Coast area over the weekend so I decided to bring the whole family to check out this zoo. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon recently. The Central Coast Zoo is located in a nice area in the beautiful town of Atascadero. Free parking is accessible in the large parking lot. The zoo is small but there are still quite a good amount of animals. A lot of the animals are from the Madagascar region. You can probably finish the zoo in about 1 hour to 1 and a half hours. Nonetheless it's still a great afternoon out at the zoo. As soon as you enter the zoo, there is a big flock of beautiful flamingos in their lagoon greeting guests with their honks and grunts. An amazing sight to see as you begin your tour of the zoo. Some of the other animals that stood out were the red pandas, Mexican spider monkeys, and giant tortoises. The Mexican spider monkeys were energetic, jumpy, and climbing everywhere in their unique habitat. The tortoises were so huge and were actively crawling to their salad food. Overall we enjoyed our experience at the Central Coast Zoo. The staff were friendly and accommodating. The price point was such a great value. There are military and senior citizen discounts. A park with a playground and picnic tables is next to the zoo which could make for a wonderful afternoon as well. I was glad to be back and share this experience with the rest of my family. My brothers, dad, and the kids enjoyed it very much. read more

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What a cute little zoo! It's perfect for the littles. While it's on the smaller side--you can probably walk through it in about 30-45 minutes--you feel incredibly close and connected to the animals, which makes the experience really special. They have the cutest red panda, lots of birds, some primates, and plenty of turtles. Unfortunately, the tiger recently passed away, but it looks like they're planning to renovate the enclosure and are working toward bringing in a new one. I truly hope they're able to do so. After the visit, the kids receive a coloring book, and there's also a small art area just for the littles, which is such a thoughtful touch. If you're looking for a massive zoo experience, this isn't that--but if you're in the area with toddlers (or even older kids) and want a more intimate, relaxed experience with the animals, this place is absolutely worth checking out. read more

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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. read more

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This is our favorite little zoo, the animals are so cute and it feels very intimate. We were sad the tiger passed and miss seeing it BUT are hopefully they will be able to have a new one at some point. It is in such a a beautiful location with amazing pricing. read more

The Central Coast Zoo is a beautiful smaller zoo located in a giant park. We were warmly greeted by the zoo staff and they were very helpful answering all our questions. The zoo was clean, peaceful, not crowded and entry tickets were reasonably priced. We enjoyed everything, including the new red panda exhibit, rescued spider monkeys (they were very active & playful) and all the beautiful birds. If you're ever in central CA , I recommend visiting Central Coast Zoo. read more

We came we saw a couple animals and left in less than 30 minutes. Not really worth it to us. From other reviews they said they were there a good 45min go an hour and enjoyed it. Idk how unfortunately. It was cute ish and small and we saw a couple cute monkeys and some birds but it's was pretty unremarkable. Maybe they are renovating a lot and it will be better soon? Don't know. read more

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. read more

Central Coast Zoo - Ticket booth - Zoos Near Me - Atascadero, California

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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! :) read more

Central Coast Zoo - The flamingos - Zoos Near Me - Atascadero, California

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. read more

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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. read more

Central Coast Zoo - Watching the meerkats- they were very active - Zoos Near Me - Atascadero, California

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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* read more

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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. read more

Central Coast Zoo - Entrance - Zoos Near Me - Atascadero, California

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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. read more

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On our first ever visit to this zoo, we were pleasantly surprised to discover the great variety of animals that they house and care for in what we expected to be a small local zoo - and were very impressed with several of the enclosures. Yes, some of them were small, but it was obvious that the zookeepers are trying to make the most of the spaces and give the animals the environment and enrichment that they need. We learned that the Charles Paddock Zoo was just AZA-accredited (and has a new name: Central Coast Zoo), and there were indications that several of the animals were getting new enclosures, so that was good to discover too. As for the animals themselves, like I said, there was an unexpected variety, some of which my children (animal-lovers both) were thrilled to see in person and quite close-up, such as the beautiful Malaysian tiger, active spider monkeys, and ancient, awesome Aldabra Giant tortoises... to say nothing of the fossa and red pandas! The entrance fee was affordable, and the zoo itself is located within a lovely park near a lake, with a playground too, so it really is a fun place to take the family. read more

I love supporting this place. Yes it's small but it's a great place for young children and I love how convenient it is next to the park so that we can make a full morning out of it. They are always investing in enrichment and new habitats for the animals and it's nice to see such a wider rate exotics that we normally wouldn't get to see at a larger zoo. Really appreciate having this in our town. read more

The way we were kicked out at closing time yesterday was disappointing. Having such a good time we didn't realize it was 2 minutes until 4. Being nicer would have been so easy. read more

We've been members of Charles Paddock Zoo since moving to Atascadero in 2020. This zoo is wonderful for families with children. They've been working on exhibits and adding fun events for the entire family. Its location is great with Lake Park right next to it. It's a super easy walk. We lived in South County since 95 until moving to North County in 2020. Basically coming to this zoo since 95 . Miss the sun bear ... looking forward to seeing what is added next. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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I've been going to the Charles Paddock Zoo since I was a kid. I am so grateful we have this little gem in our "backyard". We have had a membership for few years now. It's a great little zoo that offers many different animals. My daughter absolutely loves going here. We try to go once a month. It's a great activity to get the family out and give something for my two year old to do. She loves every exhibit and I love that my daughter can walk the whole thing. We usually go to the zoo and then go to the park right after. The zoo holds several events throughout the year. They are highly attended and the kids love it. If you are a member, you get a member discount. If you live close by or in SLO county, the membership is definitely worth it. You can also get discounts at other Zoo's. read more

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

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

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

We went on a Saturday, and there were only about a dozen other people there. Lots of birds and tortoises, there are small mammals throughout as well. The tiger tried to spray us, so that was an unexpected addition to our day. Not as flashy as big city zoos, no large savannah filled with giraffes or camels, you can still enjoy a pleasant morning and a leisurely stroll through a darling little zoo. read more

Loved this small zoo. Our local zoo pass gives us a 50% to this one so decided to give it a try . Staff we encountered were friendly. Loved the variety of animals for the size. Saw the whole zoo in about 90 mins. read more

This is a very small zoo. You can walk the entirety of it slowly in about 10 to 15 minutes. If you're enjoying it, you could make a nice 30 to 45 minute stroll out of it. The prices ($10/adult, $8/kid) are a little steep for such a small zoo, but there are some cool exhibits that make it worth it. My favorites are the tiger, the red pandas, the giant tortoise, the meerkats, and the lemurs. The flamingo exhibit is cool, too, with an awesome tiger statue, and the flamingos are very close. The gift shop is quiet but has some cool stuff. The zoo is next to Lake Side Park, making it convenient for those with kids to get a two-in-one trip. read more

Central Coast Zoo - Flamingos! - Zoos Near Me - Atascadero, California

First time to the zoo in a long time. Tiger was sleeping but we could still see him behind the trees. Bird aviary was closed I think for covid. Must wear a mask into the gift store. But not around the zoo. read more

Central Coast Zoo - Aunt Kelly visiting from Indiana. Finns first time to the zoo!. Great times! - Zoos Near Me - Atascadero, California

Loved this sweet little zoo. It is a little run down but the right size to hold the attention of toddlers. Afterwards we went to the park next door for a picnic and play time. Highly recommend both to families with young children. read more

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

Great little zoo with unique animals (red panda, fossa, patagonian cavy, spider monkeys, prehensile tailed porcupine) who seem to be well taken care of. Make sure you catch their aviary as it's next to the bathrooms and easy to miss. Really reasonable entrance fee as well, be prepared that this is a very small zoo and will take probably less than an hour to walk around once (but it's easy to take your time here). Afterwards you can head out to the park it's in and just sit for a bit! read more

FYI they close the gift shop at least 30 minutes before the zoo closes. No posted hours or warnings so if you want a souvenir, don't wait until you're leaving to buy. I am used to gift stores staying open until closing, or even a little past closing, I told my three year old to wait to buy a stuffed animal until we were leaving and then the store closed before we came back over around 3:35. read more

Everything' was fine. It's all about the animals. Good experience but smaller zoo than others in the state like San Diego. Don't expect the same experience as a huge zoo. read more

For a zoo this size to be AZA accredited says a lot about the commitment of its keepers to ensure the animals have a clean, safe, and enriched environment in which to thrive. Despite being owned by the city, which in this case means additional guest ticket income does not translate into increased zoo budget, the staff does a great job. I have no connection with this zoo other than i am associated with a larger AZA zoo. What I found on a recent visit was a treasure for Atascadero and everyone who visits. read more

DON'T WASTE your money or time visiting if you think you'll see any red pandas lounging. We were extremely disappointed when we arrived and saw an EMPTY unkept red panda enclosure. We found it strange that there is a deer and turtle inside but no red pandas to be seen. How can a zoo spend millions of dollars for this project and have absolutely NOTHING to show for? We literally walked up and down the bamboo stairway until we saw one depressed looking red panda HIDING under a little tree. I'm not sure if the zoo keepers know how to take care of red pandas by making sure they flourish in their new habitat cause the enclosure was definitely not worthy of a million dollars. It was depressing to see! I felt real bad for the few people there hoping to see a glimpse of them to but NADA. We dipped in and out literally in 15 minutes. A true disappointment. Don't waste your money!! read more

Central Coast Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Atascadero, California

I wish I could give this zoo more stars, but truthfully I can't. It's such a small area and they do not use the land efficiently. The tiger is at the front of the zoo in, personally, too small of an exhibit. There was room in the back where they could expand and provide the tiger with more room. It was moaning the whole visit and you could hear it everywhere you walked, truly sad. I have mixed emotions because it's a great attraction for littles and I know that there isn't a closer one in the area, but the space is just too small and underutilized. I would love to see the tigers space grow in the future. read more

Quaint little zoo in Atascadero. It you have an hour to spare check out the red panda exhibit. read more

I love animals and never pass up a zoo! I heard that there were red pandas here, and wanted to take my nephew for a day of fun. The zoo is easy to find, right off Route 41, and if you have kids on the long ride from Southern to Northern CA, this would be a good run around stop. Children under three are free, and we seniors only paid $6 each. There was plenty fo free parking, and clean bathrooms near the entrance. Flamingos right away! I once saw one of these guys flapping around in Morro Bay, and wondered where it came from. They look right at home here, and are a very bright and lovely orange color. The enclosures are as open air as they can be made, and are fence wire or railings, so you can get a much better view of the animals. One of my good friends from college works at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, so I visit there when ever I am in DC. Some of these enclosures are modeled on the cutting edge ones in DC, for example, the avian enclosure that allows the birds to fly around, and observers to walk through. One of the new goals of zoos in to protect endangered species, and while it is sad that the Malayan Tiger is in a cage, it is one of only 250 in the world, since they have been illegally hunted almost to extinction. We did get to see the Red Pandas, and there are three of them. My nephew had a great time leading us grown-ups around, and spotting the animals, His favorite was the aligator, and we returned to view it a couple of times. This was two hours of great fun and exercise with a very happily engaged young boy! We stopped in the gift store on the way out, and spotted cute colorful toy animals of all kinds! read more

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What a sad zoo, poorly maintained, weedy, with scummy sources of water. Worse, the cages are old and small. The good thing is that it's next to a very nice park and playground. read more