Celebrating over 50 years of education, conservation, animal interactions, and fun!

Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo

Located in Rome, New York, Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo offers engaging animal interactions with fun activities for kids of all ages. Fort Rickey is home to a variety of native and exotic animals, many of which are featured in daily hands-on educational presentations. All the animals living here are pampered, loved, and provided with everything they need for their physical and mental well being. Fort Rickey takes great pride in their level of animal care, it is always the top priority.

The petting zoo at Fort Rickey offers a unique experience allowing guests to feed and mingle with tame deer in a large scenic enclosure. Visitors also enjoy the “Maternity Ward” where they can go inside the baby pygmy goat play yard for holding and cuddling, a very popular element of the zoo. Other attractions for kids include the Wild Creatures Playland, which is a 2 story custom design soft play structure complete with multiple events including the Rodeo Rider Room, the Bouncing Wallaby Forest, a Frog Hop, a pull swing, a stand and spin, a 16ft speed slide and of course a ball crawl! Not too far from the playland we offer the “Jumbo Jumper” pillow bounce, a “Water Wars” water balloon sling shot game, and the new Downpour Derby water bucket game that is certain to thrill and chill on those hot days.

Upon your arrival you will be greeted by the amazing Tegu Lizard who will point you to the gift shop for admission. Across from the shop is the Twin Pine Picnic Grove, providing a classic camp style picnic area where you are welcome to bring in your own cooler or picnic basket for lunch. Just past the gift shop you will see the deck leading to our Otters, Tuck and Roll. Best time to visit them is early in the day or late afternoon, as they do enjoy mid day napping. From there you will come to a gravel road leading you to the Petting Area on the right, the Maternity Ward on the left, and on the center lawn, the Gazebo where the snake presentation is held twice a day.

Walking the loop of the zoo you will find well manicured spacious enclosures housing capybara, wallabies, emus, bison, spider monkeys, yaks, lemurs, the eagle owl and the beautiful swan pond where children can feed the swan, ducks, and fish right off the dock. On the way to the Wild Creatures Playland you will pass by the Scottish Highland Cattle, North American Porcupines, the Arctic Foxes, and the Friendly Barnyard where visitors are invited to feed and pet the alpacas, sheep, mini donkey’s, ponies, chickens, and bunnies. The majestic grey wolves can also be seen on this road, quite often they love to run with children along the road way. Hidden here you will also come across a short nature trail leading you by our Chinchillas, Koda, the Coati, a tiny magical fairy village, and our Cockatoo’s Charlie and Cassie!.

When you arrive at the Wild Creatures Playland, among the fun, you will also find a sweet little concession stand ready to offer you refreshments and classic kid friendly food as well as picnic tables, pavilions and even a party room for birthday parties! With the many things to do at Fort Rickey, you will have a great day of family fun. Typically, when families go to the zoo they mostly just stroll and observe. Our commitment is to help children discover nature and to make one-of-a-kind creature connections in a fun, safe, and clean environment. Our joy is in the wonderful memories made at our little zoo.