It's a FREE zoo! Automatic 5 stars... but it's more than that. This zoo is full of well-loved animals that are happy, spunky, and very playful! From the pea fowl roaming free all over the grounds (and the males will get in your face if you go near the females to say "hi" or get a picture lol), to the bear sleeping in his water trough on a hot day, to the lazy porcupine napping on a perch, all of these guys were healthy and content! As others mentioned, it's not a huge zoo, but there is an impressive assortment of animals (35 exhibits), and all animals I saw were total extroverts and very fun to watch. My kindergartener was entertained for a full hour, and it was a hot day, so a few animals were hiding out in the shade and not visible, or just unavailable in their indoor enclosures. We heard one talk, at the tiger exhibit, but on a more fairweather day, with a schedule to catch more talks, we could've stayed a lot longer. The (also free) animal talks at different exhibits throughout the day (11am, 2pm and 3pm), are very informative and interesting. The zoo is mostly shaded, outdoor paths in a loop. A small river runs through the zoo, with benches and places to lounge. They do have a picnic grove. Outdoor food is allowed because the concession stand is only open on certain occasions, but feeding animals is prohibited. The staff was super friendly and relaxed, but very qualified, caring, and attentive to the animals. I got a really good vibe here! Only negative was the parking lot is way too small for the zoo and I had to wait for a parking spot to open up. Not only is there not enough parking for the zoo, but it shares the lot with the Splash Park nextdoor, which is nuts in summer months. Do combine your summer zoo visit with a $4 (2024 price) visit to the Splash Park, but arrive early or be ready to battle for parking! Will visit again! They have summer ZOO CAMP, do birthday parties, animal education visits, and private tours! They have a wish list on Amazon if you want to support them in a direct and meaningful way: HTTPS://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/OCW4AERZAC1 read more

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Very nice free zoo that has quite a variety of animals and birds . Animals are well cared for and the zoo is clean . It takes about 45 minutes to walk around and see everything, perfect for small children and also senior citizens. We've been coming here a long time , please leave a donation when visiting if you can . read more

The zoo is the perfect size for a nice outing with my grandkids, but also for anyone wanting to take a leisurely stroll while seeing interesting displays. The animals were entertaining! Also chatted briefly with several other visitors! It was a great outing!!! read more

Perfect day to stroll at the zoo. Free admission. Don't feed the peacocks, plenty of benches to sit with the kiddos. read more

Cohanzick Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bridgeton, New Jersey

The Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton is an excellent place to enjoy a quiet day strolling through its grounds and viewing a wide variety of well kept wildlife. There is even an albino peacock to see if you're lucky. They also run a variety of special events. The zoo lies within Bridgeton City Park where there is a splash park, mini golf, basketball courts, dog park and walking trails. A great place to visit. read more

Who would ever imagine a small town like Bridgeton would have a zoo, and it's free! Great for the littles.

I brought my 12-year-old here and was pleasantly surprised. Quite a variety of animals for a small zoo and there are peacocks roaming freely. It's free but donations are encouraged. The only downside is make sure of the hours if going in the afternoon. It closed an hour earlier than what is posted online. read more

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While this isn't a large zoo (it's more like a small exhibit). I would love to have a zoo/park like this in my town. It's personable, well maintained, and it's free!! There are scheduled times where a zookeeper will be at one of the animal cages giving and educational rundown about the animal, it's habitat, and background. Its a pleasant way to spend an hour or two. Plus there's a water play area at the entrance for kids to play in. Once again, this is a public park that I wish I had in my town... read more

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New Jersey's first zoo is in Bridgeton, NJ. And it's really in the heart of "downtown" Bridgeton. I was surprised when we turned off of route 77 (right onto Commerce St) and there it was! Tip: don't use the directions from your Yelp app or you will not end up at park, but just down the street in opposite direction. At any rate, once you find it there is a free parking lot, picnic tables, bathrooms and the zoo itself. They have a donation box there if you want to contribute, but the park is free otherwise. It's the perfect size for lil kids, say age 6 and younger? It's a tiny zoo, but if you have to chase after youngsters going in opposite directions, this can be a blessing. There were still enough animals to make the kids happy like wandering (screeching) peacocks, a black bear, red foxes, a porcupine and even a wallaby. The baby was obsessed with the wallaby for some reason! There are other animals too, but you get the drift. It's a wee bit of a hike into the country, although Bridgeton itself is somewhat urban ghetto in the middle of all that farmland. Say a 50 minute drive from the Woodbury/Dept area down Rt 45 to Rt 77. We got to stop by a farmstand on the way home and saw some cows & horses. It was a nice half day trip all told. We packed a lunch and ate when we got there. A little water park is just across from the zoo also. If I had brought the kids' swim suits, we would have stopped over. I think it's just a few bucks for the kids to jump around in the spray. Again, nothing fancy, but it could be a nice addition to your zoo trip on a hot summer day. read more

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Stumbled across this zoo while I was looking for something not too far away to do today. This zoo is free and you can leave a donation. It isn't a very big zoo but it's really cute and peaceful. They have picnic tables that you can sit at and make the day last a little longer. They have certain times where they feed the animals for you to watch. It's definitely a place If your looking for something to do and you like animals and don't have a lot of cash you can pack yourself a little lunch, go for a walk around the zoo where all your gonna hear are the variety of birds who live there and you get to see some bears or some Tigers or some cute little foxes. It's just a nice place to spend a peaceful maybe two hours and relax read more

What is it about South Jersey and free zoos? Between this place and the zoo in Cape May County it's pretty awesome that the tax payers of the respective cities/counties foot the bill for things like this. Now with that out of the way let's be really, really honest about this place. As much as the few others who have reviewed the zoo speak in glowing terms about it, what's here is not by any means five or even four star material. Don't let sentimentality trump reality. You pay at Philly because you get far more for the experience. Most of the cages/enclosures are in less than ideal shape and mix of animals currently at the zoo is well to put it mildly...interesting. There are some owls, coatis, a donkey, cranes, a small fox, a gibbon, lots of birds/ducks, lemurs and some New Guinea Signing Dogs which is very odd to see dogs in a zoo. Aside of that everything else during our visit was either hiding, off display or sadly in the case of their white tiger recently deceased. On a sidebar, parking can be a challenge as when we got to the zoo it was around Noon and had no trouble finding a space. By the time we left an hour or so later there were several cars all sharking for spaces. Look, this place is basic no doubt. This isn't like Philly or even Cape May in that there is no food here, there is no gift shop here, there is one set of restrooms here which are on the dirtier side of dirty and aside of one woman who brought out a giant tortoise in a wheel barrow to the water wheel area I didn't even see any staff here. Now with said, the zoo has been going since 1934 and while not the most interesting it does have a certain charm to it and it is worth a visit + a donation to keep it going. The route to the zoo depending on the direction you're coming from is also neat as once you get off of 55 there is nothing around for miles in every direction except produce farm after produce farm. If you go: The zoo is open daily year round except for Thanksgiving & Christmas. Hours are 9-5 in the spring/summer and 9-4 in the fall/winter. read more

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This place really is a treasure. I know it doesn't seem like much but if you consider the area that it's located, it's a historic gem. There are several Pokémon spots and a gun near by. Take a stroll through the park. It's really beautiful. read more

Cohanzick Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bridgeton, New Jersey

It's nice to have a local zoo in town, though small this place packs its own little punch. The Cohanzick Zoo opened its gates as New Jersey's first zoo in 1934. Home to nearly 100 animals representing more than 45 different species from around the world, the zoo has been a regional destination attraction for generations. It's about 15 acres so it's a good size to house small animals like peacocks and bobcats but big enough to house a big black bear and some tigers. It's connected to the city park so there's lots of room to take a walk or play catch, you know park stuff. We had my son's birthday party here which was pretty cool. You get a private room and get to select different animals from snakes lizards too turtles and tarantulas. An animals handler will take one out at a time and give the children a chance to touch the animal and check it out. A nice option in a small town to have a different experience for parties. read more

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Great little place for a nice afternoon out. For a free zoo - this place has a lot to offer. Peacocks galore, fennec Fox, a few different types of big cats, red river hogs, interesting birds, tortoises, monkeys, etc. Takes about an hour to casually stroll through. Staff is wonderful! If you feel like making a donation, there is a box right at the front entrance. A cheap and fun way to enjoy the area.. go swimming at Parvins state park and come visit the Conhanzick Zoo! read more

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Not too long ago, my girlfriend and I were visiting my parents down in South Jersey and we were looking for something to do... What's better than checking out the local zoo? Well, the Bridgeton Zoo isn't exactly on par with Philly or the Bronx or the National Zoo. However, it's free and has a few cute animals and it's a decent way to spend an hour on a weekday afternoon. The fennec foxes were definitely the highlight, they were running around like lunatics be whole time. The Asiatic bear was pretty cool, they had peacocks wandering the grounds, and I loved looking at the little marmosets. Definitely donate a few bucks to help them out if you make it over. Some of their facilities need a little updating, but I like what they've done with the resources they've got. read more

Cohanzick Zoo - My girlfriend with the big old gorilla statue (sorry hon). - Zoos Near Me - Bridgeton, New Jersey

Free family fun nestled along the Cohansey River in Bridgeton, NJ. Very scenic, with a beautiful walking rail that boarders the zoo property. I'm the summertime, there is a cute Splash Park for the kids. It's a peaceful and serene place. read more

It's not the biggest zoo but it's great for a stroll will the little ones and it's free , but please donate in the little box at the entrance the animals need to cared for. read more

I wish this zoo had more TLC.. its a beautiful, serene location outside of all the Bridgeton hustle and bustle. However, there are many enclosures that are missing animals. This seems to be from a lack of funds.. perhaps rather than free admission with a donation box, they could charge a few dollars per person. You often see zookeepers walking the grounds so its nice to know there are staff nearby. The water fountains do not have any water so come prepared! read more

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This place is awesome. It's free! There's a ton of different animals and it's a good pit stop on the way to the shore. Definitely go and make a donation. Great for kids and they were very serious about social distancing etc. read more

Tucked away in deep South Jersey, this precious zoo is off most people's radar. I have read about it occasionally over the years, and with a January day in the upper 60's, we wanted to make the most of such lovely weather, and I remembered the zoo! It is in a very nice park, near a sprayground, picnic pavilion, and walking trails. The zoo is absolutely FREE, but deserves generous donations from everyone that walks through the gate. There is a box near the entrance to drop in money. Each, and every animal looks healthy, and well taken care of. Every enclosure seems adequate for the size, and number of its inhabitants. The information available about each animal is also posted along with most of their names. Some of these animals were unfortunately exotic pets that could no longer be cared for, or needed extensive care that left them unable to return to the wild, so if not for this place, some or most of them would not be in such lucky circumstances. I really appreciated the opportunity to watch the animals in such a close-up range with many different viewing vantage points. There was a worker there the whole time during our visit that fed each animal. It is so much fun to be there during feeding time! The Red River Hogs were hilarious grunting at one another, and all vying for the tastiest vittles! I also savored the opportunity to be there when the leopard and panther decided it was playtime, and took off on a game of chase, rolling down the steps of their wooden platform, pouncing, and wrestling like domestic kitty cats! There were 2 mountain lions as well as a solitary, and gorgeous tiger. I was thrilled at the number of large cats. I would have never imagined the number of animals there! Those saying they were done in "5 minutes" must have jogged through with a mere glance at each exhibit. We spent one and a half hours, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. In nicer weather, the zoo also has a picnic grove, so combined with other amenities in the adjoining park, it can easily be a full, and fun day for any family! The zoo overall shows sign of wear, and the exhibits are all in the need of sprucing up. There are signs indicating that they are working towards such improvements. I wish it all the success for years to come! read more

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Free family fun! Well kept. Make sure to donate when you can to help them out with repairs & such! Splash park is an added bonus

I come here every other day... I walk a three to five mile distance daily. This is my community awareness and a way to say thank you to Mayor Kelley. If no one ever tells him... Mayor Kelley of Cumberland County you are appreciated. read more

Had the place to ourselves. Cute, apparently nj's oldest zoo, and you get so close to the animals its borderline-scary- but in a fun way. read more

Cohanzick Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Bridgeton, New Jersey

They do the best they can on a very small budget. I wouldn't travel a great distance to visit. But if your in Cumberland County for God knows what, it's worth a visit. read more

It was ok. Not as many animals as I thought would be there. The scenic route was beautiful. Would visit again in the near future . read more

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This little New Jersey gem doesn't get enough attention or donations! Please visit and support this great little zoo. Some of the animals they have are rescues that would not survive if they did not step in. Take for example the orphaned cougar cubs they took in during the winter of 2016. This is a small zoo, so you don't need to spend a whole day there...nice for kids that may have a shorter attention span. In summer, there is a splash zone park right next door. There are bathrooms but they are sometimes closed during winter months. The animals can be very appreciative of visitors in the cold winter months when you can literally have the zoo to yourself! Often keepers will be at different exhibits to tell you about the animals and answer any questions you may have. read more

Not my favorite zoo to visit any more very boring barely any animals I was just there last week with my four-year-old it literally took us like five minutes to go around the zoo a lot of people not enough animals read more

It's a free zoo. First off that's all you need to know. Why not let your kids experience everything? My kids loved it. Is it the Philadelphia Zoo? Of course not, but it's not about comparing the two. The local playground isn't Great Adventure ,but still gives the kids a great day out. Plus with all the fruit picking farms in the area you can easily make a fun day trip out of it. My kids are teens and 9 and they still liked it. Then we went out to get lunch. The place relies on donations. So anything helps. And the more people that visit and donate the better it can be for the next adventurers. read more

This is a free zoo but zoo collects donations which I strongly suggest. The animals are interesting they have a nice collection. The kids will enjoy themselves and you may learns some things. They have a splash park. The kids can cool off during summer season. read more

I was a little disappointed about the animals not really being out, but it was rainy so I didn't expect to many of them. We still had a good time and I was very impressed by the improvements they are making. I really missed seeing Sunset Lake and the creek you could canoe down. It was also sad to see the lion and lioness had passed and not been replaced yet. I can remember them being the high point of our childhood trips to this zoo. The lion did not like motorcycles, so whenever one would go by, he would let out a very loud roar, it was so cool! We will definitely be back!! read more

Cohanzick Zoo - Albino peacock - Zoos Near Me - Bridgeton, New Jersey

Not the biggest zoo to go to but they have been trying for the past few years, its not the Cape May or Philidelphia Zoo but for what it is I go there often with my kids, the new baby tigers are fun to watch becaude they are very playful and interested in the visitors of the zoo, its a clean place to take your kids or just walk around. read more

This is a great low-key small zoo that unfortunately got hit pretty hard by the floods of 2011 & lost most of its water, but is working to fix that. Admission is free, but you can help out their cause with a donation & still save over the outrageously overpriced Philly Zoo! read more

We are so thankful to have this little zoo nearby. The zookeepers are very friendly and we've learned a lot about the place through their programs for kids (Zoobrary, creature talks, and Zoo Camp in the summer). Is it the best zoo? No, but they do a good job of taking care of the animals they have and seem to really care about them. We love coming every other week or so and talking to our favorite animals (wallaby, fennec fox). My kids prefer this over the Philadelphia Zoo because it's smaller, easier to see and talk to the animals, and not such a long drive. read more

Very small, definitely appreciate that it is FREE!!!! But you definitely get what you pay for. Me personally, I like the Philadelphia zoo better. read more

Great little zoo. We had a nice time walking and seeing all kinds of different animals. Two legs and four. A white peacock was something to see. Will come again..for sure. read more

Great time for the children. I used to visit when I was a kid and it still holds it's magic.

I have the best childhood memories at this zoo!!!! It is small and you're able to see the whole place, the staff is friendly and they treat the animals nicely. The parking is usually free and the admission is free! It's a great neighborhood zoo!!!! read more

We are very happy that this zoo is free because it is literally right down the street from my home. Right outside the zoo is a wonderful walking trail and lots of picnic areas. In walking distance you'll also find Sunset Lake and basket ball courts. I can see some of zoo animals from the trail even when I have my dogs with me. We've already been back several times. Don't forget to leave a donation to help out with their projects. read more

First zoo in New Jersey, amazing Memories. Finally got help and did a wonderful light show for December. Deserves all the help it has gotten, just need to bring the food and gift store window back. read more

Really awesome that this is a free zoo. It isnt the biggest, but when you want to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and animals while remaining local you cannot beat it. read more