Central Coast Zoo

About the zoo

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Central Coast Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and habitats, educating the public about the natural world, and providing a safe and stimulating experience for both humans and animals. The zoo features several species not often seen in facilities of its size, including red pandas, lemurs, meerkats, and a Malayan tiger, as well as many other interesting mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

SLO County Park Ranger Charles “Chuck” Paddock founded the zoo, along with a county animal shelter, in 1955. Paddock nursed wild animals back to health, and by 1959 he housed and cared for approximately 125 birds and mammals. In 1963, the animals moved to the zoo’s current location by Atascadero Lake Park, just off State Route 41, and the new zoo was called the Atascadero Children’s Zoo. The City of Atascadero assumed management of the zoo in 1979, and the name was changed in 1980 to the Charles Paddock Zoo in honor of its founder. In 2025, the zoo underwent a brand refresh and adopted a new name: the Central Coast Zoo.