Information
Landmark: Lehigh Valley ZooCity: Allentown
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Lehigh Valley Zoo, Allentown, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
Lehigh Valley Zoo, tucked inside the Trexler Nature Preserve, rests about 15 miles northwest of Allentown in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, where you might catch the crisp scent of pine drifting through the air.Back in 1906, it all started with General Harry C., his name inked in bold across the first letterhead.Today, Trexler’s game preserve spans 29 acres as an accredited zoo, drawing about 200,000 visitors a year and caring for over 300 animals from 100 different species, from sleek river otters to towering giraffes.African Savannah habitats feature Grevy’s zebras with their crisp black-and-white stripes, scimitar-horned oryx involved in global reintroduction projects, and towering ostriches, with friendly dwarf goats waiting in a nearby contact yard.On the North American Trail, you’ll spot Mexican gray wolves pacing in their enclosure, elk grazing quietly, river otters splashing in the water, bobcats watching from the shade, and bald eagles recovering their strength.Jordan Creek Penguins-an energetic African penguin colony you can watch darting through blue water-features keeper talks that show how the zoo supports Species Survival Plans.At the Reptile & Amphibian Discover Center, you’ll meet jewel-bright poison dart frogs, curious axolotls, slow-moving eastern box turtles, and Albert-a massive American alligator stretching ten feet from snout to tail.Australian Walk-About (summer) lets guests wander through an open yard, brushing past red kangaroos and watching emus stride across the dusty ground.Barnyard & Prairie – You’ll find gentle alpacas, tiny horses, and a bustling crowd of black-tailed prairie dogs darting in and out of neat, sun-baked burrows.safeJoin a daily Keeper Chat or training demo-see wolves light up at new enrichment, or watch otters dab bright colors across a canvas during positive-reinforcement sessions.Zoosnooze Overnight lets you curl up at the zoo after dark, wander through off-limits areas, and slice fresh fruit for the animals’ breakfast.Conservation Education – Outreach vans roll into local schools, while onsite classes follow Pennsylvania’s STEM standards and focus on protecting habitats, from forest streams to meadow edges.Seasonal events like Ottertoberfest in September, the Winter Light Spectacular from mid-November through January, and spring’s Eggstravaganza turn the zoo into a festive scene filled with themed decorations and lively activities.You’ll find us at 5150 Game Preserve Road in Schnecksville, PA 18078.We’re open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with longer hours in summer and during holiday lights.In 2025, admission is $18.50 for adults, $15.50 for kids ages 2–11, and $17.50 for seniors or military; children under 2 get in free.Buy your ticket online ahead of time to save money and skip the long lines at the gate.You’ll find free parking, an indoor Nature Store gift shop, Geakers Tacos café with seasonal snack stands, stroller and wheelchair rentals, and a shaded picnic grove just outside the gate where the air smells faintly of fresh-cut grass.The site offers paved, mostly level paths you can walk with ease, sensory bags and quiet zones for comfort, and it welcomes service animals.At the Lehigh Valley Zoo, conservation takes center stage, with staff involved in more than 30 Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plans-supporting creatures from sleek African penguins to elusive Mexican gray wolves, and even the slippery, mottled eastern hellbender.The veterinary team also cares for injured raptors from across Pennsylvania, tending broken wings or damaged feathers before freeing them whenever they can.When guests visit, they help fund field projects-everything from tagging delicate monarch butterflies to backing anti‑poaching units in Namibia.From Allentown, take PA‑309 North for about eight miles until you reach the Schnecksville/PA‑873 exit, then turn west onto Game Preserve Road, where the trees start to crowd the shoulder.The road winds up through Trexler’s soft green hills and past bison grazing in the sun, then ends at the zoo’s parking lots.Tucked into the wooded ridges of Trexler Nature Preserve, Lehigh Valley Zoo offers close-up moments with wildlife while championing conservation-a laid-back, family-friendly day trip where you might hear a red fox rustle through the leaves.
