The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach is a fun and interesting place for those who live in South Florida to visit, especially now that it’s starting to get a little cooler outside. The zoo houses more than 550 animals, many of them endangered, within 23-acres of lush tropical habitat.
While The Dreher Park Zoo (which was eventually to become “The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society”) was technically founded in 1951, it didn’t come up on most people’s radars until at least 1964, when a locally famous animal known as Joey the kangaroo became a resident of the zoo. Joey was a pet that was infamous for escaping from his home and wandering around the city. Joey was featured in two issues of Life Magazine in October 1961 and April 1964 and was declared an honorary member of the Boy Scouts of America. A frequent visitor to Joey's home was President Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy. Joey was later the victim of a ban that did not allow for him to stay as a house pet and was moved to the Dreher Park Zoo.
Today The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society house several tigers, including the three cubs which were born there in 2011, as well as countless other popular animals, giant exhibits, and a 10,000 square foot facility, is a five-million-dollar animal hospital.
Location: 1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society is open every day from 9am to 5pm.
