Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Gainesville’s community zoo and the training facility for the Zoo Animal Technology program at Santa Fe College.
(1933)

Open daily, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., with last entry at 2:30 p.m. The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is Gainesville’s community zoo and the training facility for the Zoo Animal Technology program. Situated on 10 forested acres we house rare and endangered species including Matschie's tree kangaroos and ocelots.

🦖 Thank You for Making Our First-Ever Prehistoric Palooza a Roaring Success! 🦖What an incredible day! A huge thank you t...
06/06/2026

🦖 Thank You for Making Our First-Ever Prehistoric Palooza a Roaring Success! 🦖

What an incredible day! A huge thank you to the 897 guests who joined us for our inaugural Prehistoric Palooza. Seeing so many families, future scientists, dinosaur enthusiasts, and animal lovers exploring the zoo made this event truly special.

We are incredibly grateful to our amazing partners and presenters who helped bring the prehistoric world to life:

🌭 Hot Diggity Dogs, Red Line Kitchen Co., Cosmic Snow Cones, and Kona Ice of Hawthorne for keeping everyone fed, cooled off, and refreshed throughout the day.

💧 The Museum of Earth Sciences for providing the interactive stream table.

🦴 The Florida Museum of Natural History for supplying incredible fossils and helping guests connect with Florida's ancient past.

🎤 Our outstanding guest speakers for sharing their knowledge and passion for paleontology, evolution, and conservation.

🦖 The Dino Wranglers for bringing prehistoric creatures to life and delighting guests of all ages.

🎨 Fabulous Face Painting for helping transform visitors into dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.

🌌 James Albury and the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium team for the incredible planetarium shows that took guests on a journey through time and space.

And, of course, thank you to our dedicated student zookeepers, staff, volunteers, and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this event possible.

For a first-year event, today exceeded our expectations, and we are already excited about what Prehistoric Palooza can become in the future.

Thank you for helping us make history while exploring prehistory. We can't wait to do it again! 🦕💚

🦖 The countdown is on... Prehistoric Palooza is TOMORROW! 🦖Travel back in time with us for a day packed with fossils, sc...
06/05/2026

🦖 The countdown is on... Prehistoric Palooza is TOMORROW! 🦖

Travel back in time with us for a day packed with fossils, science, and prehistoric fun for the whole family!

🔍 Dig for real fossils
🦴 Meet paleontologists and scientists
🐊 Discover how modern animals connect to their ancient relatives
🎤 Enjoy special presentations throughout the day
🌎 Learn about Florida's prehistoric past
🌟 Catch a dinosaur-themed planetarium show (additional purchase required)
🐾 Meet animal ambassadors and hear from our zookeepers

From giant ancient creatures to the animals you see at the zoo today, you'll uncover how millions of years of adaptation and evolution have shaped life on Earth.

📅 Saturday, June 6
⏰ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
📍 Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
🎟 Included with regular zoo admission

Whether you have a future paleontologist in the family or just love dinosaurs, fossils, and wildlife, this is one adventure you won't want to miss.

🦕 See you tomorrow for a blast from the past! 🦕
https://t.ly/PrehistoricPalooza

Sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County
📸 Fl Museum of Natural History

06/03/2026

Side by side, soaking up the peaceful moments. 🐍🤎

Florida pine snakes are among the largest snakes in eastern North America, reaching lengths of more than 7 feet. Native to much of Florida, they spend much of their time in sandy pine habitats, often tucked away underground in burrows.

Like many native species, Florida pine snakes benefit from the protection and restoration of Florida's natural habitats. Every healthy pine forest helps ensure these remarkable reptiles remain part of our state's wild heritage for generations to come.

Today, though, these two are focused on enjoying a cozy afternoon together. ✨

06/02/2026

📚🦖 Seatbelts, everyone!
Miss Frizzle has loaded up the zoo students for a prehistoric field trip, and this time, we're traveling millions of years into the past! Along the way, we encountered some incredible prehistoric creatures... or at least their modern-day descendants. 👀

Want to join the adventure? Head to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo this Saturday, June 6th for Prehistoric Palooza!

🦴 Meet real paleontologists and scientists
🦖 Enjoy presentations about ancient life and living fossils 🔍 Explore fossils up close at interactive discovery tables ⛏️ Participate in a hands-on fossil dig using real specimens
🌎 Learn how modern animals connect to prehistoric ancestors
🚀 Catch planetarium shows throughout the day
🎨 Enjoy activities and surprises for aspiring paleontologists of all ages

The field trip of a lifetime is waiting. Just remember what Miss Frizzle always says:
"Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" 🚌✨
📅 Saturday, June 6
⏰ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
📍 Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

Funded in part by

🦖 “Life finds a way…” and apparently so do enrichment ideas. 🦜Our keepers went full Jurassic Park for Prehistoric Palooz...
05/30/2026

🦖 “Life finds a way…” and apparently so do enrichment ideas. 🦜

Our keepers went full Jurassic Park for Prehistoric Palooza and created some dino-mite enrichment for our golden conures! From a towering T-Rex to the iconic Jurassic Park gates and even a safari jeep, these curious birds got to explore their very own prehistoric adventure.

While our golden conures may not be genetically engineered dinosaurs, birds are the closest living relatives to many prehistoric species, making them the perfect stars for this Jurassic-inspired setup! 🦕✨

Get ready to step back in time at Prehistoric Palooza and discover the connections between ancient giants and the amazing animals we care for today.

📅 June 6
🕙 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
📍 Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
Funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County

Our social media manager is out for the day so I'm taking over! Please tell them I did a good job... Anyway, come visit ...
05/28/2026

Our social media manager is out for the day so I'm taking over! Please tell them I did a good job...

Anyway, come visit the SF Teaching Zoo!

Our playground will be closed today, May 27, for maintenance as we work to keep it safe and enjoyable for all guests. We...
05/27/2026

Our playground will be closed today, May 27, for maintenance as we work to keep it safe and enjoyable for all guests. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding!

At this time, we anticipate the playground reopening tomorrow, May 28.

Bring your family to meet our family! The SF Teaching Zoo will be open on Memorial Day, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., with the l...
05/25/2026

Bring your family to meet our family! The SF Teaching Zoo will be open on Memorial Day, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., with the last entry at 2:30 p.m. Veterans and Active Military members, plus one guest will receive free admission on Monday.

Thank you to all who have served and to the service members and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

🦖 Step into a world millions of years in the making at Prehistoric Palooza! 🦴✨Travel back in time for a full day of foss...
05/24/2026

🦖 Step into a world millions of years in the making at Prehistoric Palooza! 🦴✨

Travel back in time for a full day of fossils, dinosaurs, science, and prehistoric adventure at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo! Meet real paleontologists, explore ancient fossils, dig for treasures, and discover the incredible connection between prehistoric creatures and the animals we care for today.

🔬 Special Paleontologist Presentations:
🕚 11 AM – Florida Alligators: Living Fossils with Mitchell Riegler
🕛 12 PM – Montbrook Fossil Site with Dr. Jon Bloch from the Florida Museum of Natural History
🕐 1 PM – Xenarthran/Glyptodont Presentation featuring Dillon the three-banded armadillo with Arod Polanco

🌎 Planetarium Shows:
🦕 Dinosaurs: A Story of Survival
Shows at 12 PM & 1 PM
🎟 $5 cash or $6.16 online/person

🦖 Zoo Activities Include:
• Dinosaur photo ops & chats with the Gainesville Dino Wranglers
• Hands-on fossil digs, including a stream table from the Museum of Earth Sciences
• Interactive fossil tables with real scientists
• Prehistoric-themed keeper talks
• Fun activities designed to inspire future paleontologists
• And more surprises throughout the day!

🦴 Fossils provided by the Santa Fe College Museum of Earth Sciences & Florida Museum of Natural History.

🍧 Food & Fun:
🌈 Cosmic Snowcones & Hot Diggity Dogs
🍧 Kona Ice of Hawthorne
🍴 Red Line Kitchen Co.

Sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County

05/23/2026

Happy World Turtle & Tortoise Day! 🐢🌎

What better way to celebrate than announcing the return of our Galapagos tortoises to the zoo trail after years behind the scenes!

Previously, spotting Larry, Curly, and Moe meant booking a VIP tour or Galapagos tortoise feeding experience, but now guests can visit these three giants during regular zoo hours near the Visayan warty pig habitat.

So… how does a team of zookeepers move three 300 pound tortoises across the zoo? With teamwork, communication, strength, enrichment, and plenty of breaks along the way.

Our keeper team carefully air-lifted Larry, Curly, and Moe to their new home alongside the African crowned cranes, while Galapagos trainers used enrichment to encourage the tortoises to explore their new grassy habitat at their own pace.

Modern zoos and aquariums play an important role in protecting turtles and tortoises through conservation breeding, research, education, and support for field programs around the world.

To learn more about how accredited zoos are helping protect these incredible species, read this article from the Turtle Survival Alliance: https://t.ly/lMde1

Be sure to stop by the back of the zoo and welcome these slow-moving superstars back to the trail! 💚

Address

3000 NW 83rd Street
Gainesville, FL
32606

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 3pm - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm
Sunday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

+13523955633

Website

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