Exploring The Ruins of The Old Los Angeles Zoo
In the middle of Los Angeles, the ruins of a once-great cultural site sit in stony silence. Like so many other archaeological sites, this place tells a story. It was a gathering spot for the people of the era. It was a place for families, a place for children.
But unlike most ruins, these ones aren’t ancient.
They’re the remnants of the old Los Angeles Zoo, and they’re open free everyday for visitors to explore.
The History of the Old Los Angeles Zoo
The zoo was built by the city of Los Angeles and entertained residents and visitors alike during its 51 year run. But by the 1960′s, the zoo was obsolete. Zoological science had come a long way and naturalistic spaces that provided the animals room to roam were becoming the norm. Rather than renovate and expand at the current site, the Los Angeles Zoo decided to start all over again, abandoning the site for brand new facilities to the north.
Instead of demolishing the site of the old Los Angeles Zoo, the city kept it intact and repurposed it as a public park and picnic ground. Now, visitors can roam the grounds of the zoo for free and even dine in the former enclosures.
The Zoo Today
The zoo actually draws a decent crowd today considering it has no animals. A large grassy knoll surrounded by former enclosures anchors the zoo, and iswas abuzz with families, couples, and groups of friends enjoying the California sun. It is a popular picnic spot for visitors to Griffith Park, and while it looks like a great place to spread out a blanket, crack open the cooler, and unpack some sandwiches, I was there to explore.
The enclosures surrounding the picnic grounds actual look fairly modern – the faux rock decor wouldn’t look out of place in any modern zoo I’ve visited, though the space is a bit small.
A service road (that was likely closed off to visitors in the zoo’s former life) leads to the back side of these exhibits, and it is here that the differences between the old Los Angeles Zoo and modern zoos become more stark. It is in these small concrete cells that the animals spent their time out of the public eye.
An old chain link fence keeps visitors out of these portions of the exhibits. But in one section, there is an opening where some curious visitor had cut the chain link away from the fence posts, peeling it back to create a point of access to the enclosures within.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one wanting to see the animal quarters up close. The path through the hole in the fence was well trodden. Taking that as a sign, I slid through the opening and into the animal enclosure. 50 years ago, this would have been an incredibly foolish exercise as the enclosure likely contained an animal with teeth, claws, and strength all superior to my own.
Although it wasn’t being used for its intended purpose anymore, there was clearly plenty of activity in this small space. Graffiti marked the walls, broken glass littered the floor, and the room smelled of urine – though I don’t think it was from the animals that called it home 50 years ago.
As I sat staring into the now-vacant quarters, I couldn’t help but wonder what animal (or animals) spent their lives here. The zoo leaves no clues to indicate who its occupants were, but judging by the size of the hatch I had crawled through, they weren’t small.
These holding quarters represented the reality of the lives of the animals who lived here. Though I’m sure the enclosures were in much better condition in the 1960′s than they are today, they were still cramped and uncomfortable. It was this side of the zoo that further underscored why the move to the new site was necessary.
I crawled out of the enclosure and back through the hole in the fence, once again tasting sweet, sweet freedom and savoring the open space after being in such cramped quarters. After spending just a few minutes inside, it was obvious to see how far animal habitats have come.
Beyond this central core of the old Los Angeles Zoo, hiking paths wind out into other enclosures. A row of small, rusted cages sits with their doors unlocked, allowing the curious visitor inside.
A small wooden structure shows signs of neglect. Without regular maintenance, it has fallen on hard times. Chipping paint, missing beams, and an interior that has been completely destroyed by destructive visitors leaves no clues as to what its purpose was during the zoo’s heyday.
A New Life for the Old Los Angeles Zoo?
Recently, the zoo has also found a new life as a stand-in for other zoos in movies. With its close proximity to the major movie studios, the zoo has been a favorite for location scouts. Most famously, it was featured in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy for the scene at the bear pits.
Unfortunately, Baxter was not there on my visit
Final Thoughts
The Old Los Angeles Zoo gives visitors a sense of what it’s like to be on the other side of the fence – inside the enclosures. It is a fascinating peek not only into the lives of the animals, but also the history behind how we as a society have kept and presented animals to the public.
General Info:
Similar posts:
- Malibu, California – Escape from Los Angeles
- The Santa Barbara Zoo – Lions and Tigers and Ocean Views, Oh My!
- The Tide Pool Animals of Malibu, California in Photos
- Stepping Off the Boardwalk in Venice Beach, California
22 Responses to Exploring The Ruins of The Old Los Angeles Zoo
Leave a reply
Fields marked with * are required
John, I would have never thought to go the former site of a zoo. Also, what a great idea for the city to keep it and offer it as a park. Reminds me of an old structure in the outskirts of my alma mater (Georgia Tech) that had been built around but kept intact. It has probably been there since the 1800s and now I wonder if it is still there. Maybe on my next drive to Antico Pizza, I will drive the extra quarter mile to see if it is still there! By the way, great photography, especially the close up of the cage entrance.
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted..Getting Good Cuban Food in Tampa
That sounds interesting. Hopefully I can visit it on my next trip to Atlanta.
I bet there is a Jumanji board hiding in those ruins somewhere … very cool post:)
Britany recently posted..A Confession, a Plan, and a Promise: SOTC Moves Forward
bahaha jumanji reference. you just became our new favorite person.
the lazy travelers recently posted..no travel required
Pingback: no travel required « the lazy travelers
Never knew this was there! Sweet!! Nice photos.
Christina M recently posted..The Road to Hana – Part One
I have to say all zoos make me really sad, there is never enough room for the animals. We like to think we’re saving them but for the most part they are caught or raised to be our entertainment.
Ayngelina recently posted..My mother the assassin
I love this! I’m not a huge fan of ancient ruins, but definitely like the more modern variety. I visited an old, decrepit theme park in a small town in South Korea and it was great.
Amanda @ Farsickness recently posted..Yonggungsa: Busan’s Oceanfront Temple
I’ve always wanted to visit the ruins of the Six Flags New Orleans. The whole park was abandoned after Katrina.
The Los Angeles Zoo really looks old and it seems also destroyed. Well, I hope there will be a kind hearted person who will fully support to renovate the zoo.
Ashleen Moreen recently posted..Main Website
So I think the idea is that because these are ruins, they will not renovate them. There is a new Los Angeles zoo just a couple of miles away.
Wow, this is awesome. Never knew this even existed. Reminds me of a site I came across not long ago devoted to abandoned buildings…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..The Reunion Golf Resort and Club – Orlando
Thanks D.J. There is a surprisingly big community of people who like to explore abandoned places like this. I wouldn’t say I’m an enthusiast (yet) but I do enjoy coming across these kinds of sites.
I would absolutely have to have a picnic in the tiger enclosure!
Annette | Bucket List Journey recently posted..The Mirror Hotel in Barcelona. Too Trendy?
Yeah – it’s a very cool concept for a picnic grounds.
so cool! Great pics–Love the one with the window and stairs!
Thanks Steve. It was really neat to have all that access to places in zoos you’d never see otherwise.
Wow, what a neat place to explore! I like the shot with the graffiti. It would pretty cool to enjoy a picnic in a place where wild animals once roamed.
Audrey | That Backpacker recently posted..A Date in Daejeon
Thanks Audrey. It’s a very different and unique place to spend an afternoon.
I never knew you coul visit the old zoo in LA. It’s really chilling to think animals had to hang out in such small confining spaces.
Suzy recently posted..Sóller, Mallorca Wishes You Were Here
Thankfully things are a little better now. I know some folks are against zoos altogether, but at least they’re making an effort to provide better conditions now.
Pingback: Confronting the Ethics of Zoos at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita