Central Coast Zoo

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!

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 animal

s 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're closing early today to get ready for one of our favorite events of the year, Brew at the Zoo!The zoo will close at...
09/06/2025

We're closing early today to get ready for one of our favorite events of the year, Brew at the Zoo!

The zoo will close at 3:30 PM so our team can prepare for an evening of wild fun, brews, wines, ciders and live music.
Tickets are still available online until noon today and at the door!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Brew at the Zoo is TODAY from 5-8pm! See you there!
09/06/2025

Brew at the Zoo is TODAY from 5-8pm! See you there!

Did you know that flamingos have comb-like structures inside their mouths that help them filter food from the water!Join...
09/06/2025

Did you know that flamingos have comb-like structures inside their mouths that help them filter food from the water!
Join us this Saturday for Flamingo Keeper Talks to meet our flamingo keeper, learn all about these fascinating birds, and discover how we care for them here at the zoo.
📅 Saturday
🕚 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM
📍 At the Flamingo Habitat

HAVE YOU SNAGGED YOUR BREW AT THE ZOO TICKETS YET?! 🍻🎶The 12th Annual Brew at the Zoo is back at the Central Coast Zoo t...
09/05/2025

HAVE YOU SNAGGED YOUR BREW AT THE ZOO TICKETS YET?! 🍻🎶

The 12th Annual Brew at the Zoo is back at the Central Coast Zoo this Saturday, September 6th from 5–8 PM! 🎉

Enjoy unlimited tastings of craft beer, cider, seltzer, distilled spirits, wine, and more while taking in live music, fun contests, and the incredible animals that call the Zoo home. 🐒🦜

🎟️ Tickets are $40 in advance online (plus service fee). Don’t wait! If the event doesn’t sell out, tickets will be $50 at the gate. Proceeds benefit the Zoo!

For more details and to get your tickets: www.visitatascadero.com/events

SLO CAL Visit Atascadero

Brew at the Zoo 2025

Four days away!
09/03/2025

Four days away!

Enjoy an exciting lineup of Live Music and fun contests, including a Hula Hoop Contest, Costume Contest, and Dance Contest—plus, take home a commemorative glass!

Planning a Visit to the Zoo? Know before you go - New Fall Hours are here! Click here for more information: https://www....
09/02/2025

Planning a Visit to the Zoo? Know before you go - New Fall Hours are here! Click here for more information: https://www.centralcoastzoo.org/visit
We hope Shelby the fossa is a highlight of your visit!

Good news!We are OPEN this Labor Day!📅 Monday, September 1🕙 10 AM – 4 PM
08/31/2025

Good news!
We are OPEN this Labor Day!
📅 Monday, September 1
🕙 10 AM – 4 PM

08/29/2025

Meet Koba – The Newest Member of the Central Coast Zoo Family!
Come to the zoo this weekend and say hello to Koba, a baby mongoose lemur who joined our family on July 4th! Koba is already winning hearts as he begins to explore more each day—always under the watchful eyes of his mom, dad, and big brother Ravi, who was born last year.
Koba is named after a traditional sweet from Madagascar made with peanuts and rice flour—a perfect name for this little treat!
Mongoose lemurs like Koba and Ravi typically stay with their family groups for 2–3 years before setting out to start their own. These brothers are especially important: they’re two of only a handful of mongoose lemurs born in the U.S. in recent years and play a vital role in the Mongoose Lemur Species Survival Plan (SSP), coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Mongoose lemurs are listed as Critically Endangered, with fewer than 2,000 remaining in the wild due to habitat loss and hunting. Every birth is a big step forward for their conservation.
Come celebrate this special addition and learn how you can help protect lemurs in the wild!

Are you a Registered Veterinary Technician? Come work with us!
08/29/2025

Are you a Registered Veterinary Technician? Come work with us!

📣 The City of Atascadero is recruiting for a part-time Veterinary Technician position to support the exceptional care of animals at the Central Coast Zoo. Please click the link below for a detailed description of the position and related information.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/atascadero/jobs/5056191/veterinary-technician-part-time

🗓 Deadline to apply: 9/21/2025 by 5:00 PM PT.

For information on other job opportunities with the City, visit www.atascadero.org/jobs.

Central Coast Zoo

08/22/2025

From red pandas to tortoises to spider monkeys, zoo director Dr. Cynthia Stringfield walked through how they keep animals cool as temperatures rise.

Keepers make sure every animal has options to stay cool - ice treats, misters, fans, pools or access to air-conditioning...
08/22/2025

Keepers make sure every animal has options to stay cool - ice treats, misters, fans, pools or access to air-conditioning. During hot afternoons some of our animals may choose to be is a cooler part of their habitat out of view, while others might be enjoying a special ice treat while you watch!

Address

9100 Morro Rd
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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Our Story

The Charles Paddock Zoo is the ONLY Zoo on the Central Coast and is home to hundreds of species from all over the world. We have numerous animals that are part of globally managed programs to preserve animals and their habitats. If you want to engage with some of the rarest animals in the world in a safe and respectful environment then visit us often!

Zoo admission prices are $7.00 for adults 12 and over, $6.00 for seniors 65 and older, $5.00 for children 3-11 years old. Children 2 and under are free.

The Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Atascadero and is located 1 mile west of Hwy 101 on Hwy 41(Morro Road) nestled in the Atascadero Lake Park.