David Traylor Zoo of Emporia — Attraction in Emporia

The David Traylor Zoo in Emporia, KS is definitely a hidden gem! Tucked on the outskirts of town, sits a totally free zoo featuring some very finely landscaped grounds and a unique layout. So many big city zoos are laid out so similarly that it is truly refreshing to go to a small zoo that works with what it has rather than reshaping the landscape to fit what the normal mold of a zoo is.

Before even entering the zoo you'll see the great flowers that are kept up so well and the rustic wooden sign. After that the chain link fence around the perimeter is not very inviting, but once inside you are suddenly in a little paradise. There is a tranquil pond with a variety of ducks and turtles right as you enter. Benches and boardwalks are placed strategically around the pond to allow many viewing points which helps lessen congestion at any one point. There are informative signs telling where in Kansas each species can be found as well.

As you continue there are two main offshoots through the zoo, the forest adventure which leads out to a long road with large open exhibits for Llamas, Emus, Bison, Texas Longhorns, peacocks, etc. The other being a loop surrounded by flowers, enclosed exhibits, benches and a concession stand.

The forest trail lacks creativity as far as the way is it is laid out, but provides a great look at some very entertaining animals and each exhibit allows ample space for the animals to roam freely.

The Main loop inside the zoo is very creatively designed, twisting and turning through a variety of small and interesting exhibits including, a Prairie Dog town, a Wolverine exhibit (I didn't get to see him on this particular visit), a bald eagle, Mountain lion, bobcat, red fox, exotic vultures, black swans and more! The landscaping around the path and in the individual exhibits is top notch, attention being paid to the smallest details. It is obvious to see the great care put in to cleaning the zoo, both inside the exhibits and out, and the pride they take in their flowers is evident in their appearance and the many signs telling visitors to leave the flowers alone.

I did not expect much from the David Traylor Zoo in Emporia, but walked away very satisfied with the pleasant hour of exploration it provided me and I would highly recommend visiting if you are ever...

A couple friends and I drove out to this zoo from Lawrence last month and had a blast. It waa a bit of a drive to make for a 30 min zoo experience but we wanted to see every zoo in Kansas and this one was still on the list. You can't go to this place thinking it's going to be like the one at San Diego! It is free after all!

The grounds were clean and well maintained, and the animals looked healthy and mostly satisfied with their lives. One gentlemanly vulture impressed me in particular, as well as a very cute bobcat. If you get lucky the tamarins may hold still for a picture.

There's a portion of open fence that looks like it may or may not be an exit. It is not an exit and leads to a bison, some llamas, and other cool stuff, so be sure...

The David Traylor Zoo is one of the smallest zoos in the United States accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). It boasts naturalized exhibits showcasing both native and exotic birds and animals, and is renowned for its extensive landscaping. The serene atmosphere is enhanced by the well-maintained plants and water features, and convenient parking adds to the zoo’s accessibility. During our visit, there were no concession stands available, though a drink vending machine was on-site. This charming zoo free and is perfect for a leisurely hour-long stroll. However, it would be great to see some animals housed in larger, more naturalistic enclosures with more viewing windows instead of fences.

Photos taken by: Chloe...