Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo — Attraction in Saskatoon

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is a historical and ecological gem that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, educational opportunities, and recreational activities. Spanning approximately 58 hectares, the park has evolved from its origins as a tree nursery into a multifaceted destination that attracts visitors year-round.

The Forestry Farm Park's history dates back to 1913, when it was established as the Sutherland Forest Nursery Station. Its primary purpose was to produce and distribute tree seedlings to support reforestation and agricultural shelterbelt projects across the Canadian Prairies. Over the decades, millions of trees were cultivated and planted, significantly contributing to the region's ecological stability. In 1966, the nursery station closed, and the site was transformed into the Forestry Farm Park, preserving its legacy while repurposing the land for public enjoyment and conservation.

Today, the park boasts beautifully manicured gardens, serene walking paths, and a wealth of heritage buildings that offer a glimpse into the past. The gardens, featuring a wide variety of plant species, provide a vibrant display of colors and fragrances, making it a popular spot for leisurely strolls and picnics. The park's historical buildings, including the Superintendent's Residence and the Office/Foreman's House, have been meticulously restored and serve as reminders of the park's rich history.

At the heart of the park is the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo, which opened in 1972. The zoo is home to over 80 species of animals, ranging from native Canadian wildlife to exotic species from around the world. Visitors can encounter majestic creatures like grizzly bears, cougars, and wolves, as well as more playful animals like red pandas and meerkats. The zoo is committed to conservation and education, participating in various breeding programs and offering educational programs for schools and the public.

The park also features several recreational amenities, including playgrounds, picnic areas, and a fishing pond. The fishing pond, stocked with trout, is a favorite spot for family outings and young anglers. Additionally, the park's vast open spaces and scenic vistas make it a popular location for community events, weddings, and photography sessions.

In summary, the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is a cherished community resource that blends historical significance with modern attractions. It offers a tranquil escape from urban life, a sanctuary for wildlife, and a living testament to the region's commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship. Whether you're a history enthusiast, nature lover, or family looking for a fun day out, the park provides something...

The Saskatoon Forestry Park and (so called) Zoo was a place that we had visited during our stay in Saskatoon. Our experience with this particular zoo was unfortunately abhorrent and reprehensible. Here are my points to explain:

First, the Zoo promised 28 animals to showcase in the zoo. That is a very descent amount, but the fact that the zoo had only five animals in sight is just disheartening. All other animals were "to be placed in the future" or hiding somewhere within their containment, which I doubt since there was an arctic owl outside in 32 degrees Celsius. Sorry, let me define "zoo" to Saskatoon to make this clear: "an establishment which maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation, or display to the public". There were basically no animals in the zoo, and the zoo's entrance and overall structure was just dramatized to make viewers feel better. I am shocked on how a place like this gets 4.3/5 rating. It should really deserve a 0 (at best)!

Second, the animals that were in the zoo were, what should I say, not impressive or exciting. Like, one of the five animals that we saw was a goat...Let's add a house fly next! The monkeys that were in the zoo were very, very, miniature. The animals that were in their containment didn't have the "lively" or "wild" sensation in them and were most of the time just asleep. We also had to pay 60 dollars in total for this trip for our family. I mean, $14 dollars per adult is just shocking for a zoo like this. It even had an extra parking fee as well! This zoo was one of the top things that we had to see in our to-do list. I knew we should've went to Walmart instead.

In general, there was pretty much nothing to do in this zoo. Nothing to see or have fun in. If you are thinking of going here, this will be a drastic waste of your time. We were very disappointed with this experience and wished it was a type of zoo like the zoos in San Diego (a real zoo). Overall, I definitely don't recommend you go to this zoo and waste your time. We are not satisfied with the way this place was made and we are very disappointed. So much that our disappointment is immeasurable... and our...

This zoo feels tired and like they aren't keeping up with maintenance of the grounds. I know funding can always be an issue but some of the issues I don't believe are funding related, just is the result of poor management/motivation. So for starters why is the train only running until 3:30pm even though the zoo has been open until 5pm? Why not run it until near the end of the day. People enjoy this feature. Also I feel a lot more could be done with this "train" feature. It consists of 2 train cars which are actually quite nice but only hold about maybe 14 people in total. And the "train" is actually just a green gator. Why not think bigger, install some tracks, get a proper train, add some cars etc. Next I noticed they seem to have really fallen behind on the landscaping work as many of the animal enclosures have bushes and weeds overgrown where full sized adults have to maneuver around to get a view of the animals and not bushes. They need to get to work cleaning up all the weeds and trimming bushes down out of view sights. Another issue is the installation of signage on the enclosures. The signs are installed right on the fencing also blocking your view of animals. Why would you install the signs like this, seems like the lazy, cheap way out. How about making a nice sign post lower off the ground that isn't blocking the view of customers?

And lastly this one was sad to see. I visited during the plus 30 heat waves and other then the bears a lot of the animal enclosures pond water features were empty. The arctic wolves pond was bone dry and being an arctic animal I'm sure they could have used it to cool off. This was so sad to see this one in particular and some other animals in the same boat but the arctic wolf would be very heat sensitive I'm sure. Saskatoon zoo should be ashamed of this. How hard is it to put a garden hose and fill up their ponds so they can cool off and have some enjoyment in their day? This zoo I feel is doing the bare minimum and if I was in charge there I would be concerned and looking for...