The Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is located in San Jose, California. This unique combination of family rides, amusements, a Puppet Theater, play areas, and an accredited Zoo with over 140 animals offers something for everyone.
Located on approximately 9 acres in the City’s Happy Hollow Park it is home to the original Pony Carts that children have been enjoying for over 30 years. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has been a part of San Jose’s history since 1942 – the year the land was purchased by the City of San Jose from developer Henry E. Doelger.
During World War II, materials to construct a large reservoir were manufactured on-site and eventually housed a zoo beginning in 1947. The need for additional space led to the construction of a new facility at its current location adjacent to Kelley Park and Highway 280 in 1983.
Since then, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has taken great strides to become one of the nation’s premier educational attractions with an annual attendance exceeding 300,000 visitors each year. In addition, it has developed into one of the City’s most popular centers for birthday parties and field trips. In 1991, the City of San Jose’s focus on educational attractions was rewarded by becoming a member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). Only about 20 institutions in the United States are members of this prestigious organization composed primarily of zoological facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The standards AZA institutions must maintain are rigorous, making accreditation status one of the highest honors within the animal care community.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo have developed into an educational attraction that provides service to 70,000 school children each year through scheduled classes, tours and student programs. The park works with many groups including students from throughout California, disabled children through Easter Seals, and special needs groups through the City’s park-based Special Recreation Services.
For school children, Happy Hollow offers 10 scheduled classes throughout the year that emphasize science activities interpreted by naturalists who work with animals and their habitats. A sample of the many topics includes animal adaptations, animal behavior, food chains/webs, biomes, reptile/amphibian life cycles, insects and arthropods, mammals/marsupials, primates, and endangered species protection.