Southwick's Zoo
Sign within Southwick's Zoo
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| Date opened | 1963 |
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| Location | Mendon, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°03′53″N 71°35′05″W / 42.064643°N 71.5848541°WCoordinates: 42°03′53″N 71°35′05″W / 42.064643°N 71.5848541°W |
| Land area | 300 acres (120 ha) |
| No. of animals | ~500 |
| No. of species | 100+ |
| Website | www |
Southwick's Zoo is a 300-acre (120 ha), privately owned and operated, zoological park located in Mendon, Massachusetts, United States. It was opened in 1963, and remains family-operated to date.
The Southwick homestead (which the zoo now occupies) dates back to 1803 when it was a working dairy farm. In the 1930s, Justin F. Southwick started collecting exotic poultry. His son, Justin A. Southwick, shared his father's love of birds, and became a leading authority on migratory waterfowl. In 1953, he sold the dairy herd to concentrate on birds. In 1956, he placed a donation box at the barn where he kept his birds, which let him purchase more for his collection.
The family opened the zoo in 1963. In 1965, they formed two companies: Southwick's Wild Animal Farm Inc. and Southwick's Birds and Animals Inc., with Justin A. Southwick as president of both, his son Dan as vice-president of "Birds and Animals" (which traded, sold, and leased animals), and his son in law Robert Brewer as vice-president of the "Wild Animal Farm". The Brewer family moved away for a while to other opportunities, and Dan Southwick took over the businesses in 1971. With his death in 1977, the zoo suffered for a while until the Brewer family moved back and took over the operations.
Many changes have been made to the zoo within the last 20 years including updating many exhibits to larger naturalistic habitats including chimpanzees, lions, tigers, giraffes to bring Southwick's Zoo to a new level of tourist attraction. The zoo currently sits on over 250 acres with over 750 animals and includes the largest zoological experience in New England. In 2008 a Skyfari Skyride was introduced to the facility and is the only triangular chair lift ride in North America. The Woodland Train ride takes guests through the native wetlands habitat and Elk Forest. In the past few years, new shows have been introduced for family entertainment and education, Bird Shows and Training have been a very popular interactive experience and Earth Educational presentations are always a favorite. The Elkhorn mining company was established in 2012 and features a walk in mine and panning for children and adults. Next to the Elkhorn mine, you will find the Elkhorn Livery Stables and pony rides. The zoo features numerous food venues for all appetites and many retail locations to not only find the essentials but amazing souvenirs and gifts. The Parakeet Aviary is a walk through experience where guests can feed the free flying parakeets. Kiddie rides are always popular at the zoo and the zoo features six mechanical rides for children. One staple at Southwick's Zoo over the last 50 years is the petting zoo where guests can interact with African pygmy goats and sheep. Southwick's Zoo also offers giraffe and rhinoceros encounters. Proceeds from rhinoceros encounters are donated to the International Rhino Foundation to support rhinoceros conservation. There is a children's playpark provides a break for the adults and children alike. It takes approximately 4 to 5 hours to see in season, minimum. In 2017 Southwick's Zoo will open a new restaurant and event building. To this day, the zoo does not have an elephant exhibit or owns elephants for public display: they have been relocated.
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