What began as one man's mission to save America's vanishing bison and elk has grown into a 29-acre zoo where 70 species from around the world find their home in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.

Nestled within the sprawling 1,100-acre Trexler Nature Preserve in Schnecksville, Lehigh Valley Zoo offers year-round wildlife experiences in a setting that honors its conservation roots.

Since opening as a children's zoo in 1974, this family-friendly destination has evolved into an AZA-accredited institution, welcoming over 100,000 visitors annually plus 30,000 students who come to connect with animals from across the globe.

A Vision Born from Conservation

The zoo's story begins in 1906, when industrialist Trexler started buying up farmland in North Whitehall and Lowhill townships. His goal was bold for its time: create a preserve to protect bison, elk, and white-tailed deer from extinction.

By the time of his death, Trexler had assembled 36 farms totaling 1,108 acres, which he bequeathed to Lehigh County. The Trexler Game Preserve officially opened in 1935. Four decades later, in 1974, construction began on a children's zoo within the preserve, featuring petting exhibits and exotic animals. When the preserve's original conservation mission succeeded, the county opened the entire area to the public in 2004, and the Lehigh Valley Zoological Society took over zoo management.

Animals from Three Continents

The zoo houses approximately 275 individual animals representing 70 species from Africa, Asia, and Australia. Visitors can encounter creatures ranging from the familiar to the exotic, with exhibits designed to bring wildlife closer to families and school groups.

The collection balances interactive experiences with educational opportunities, maintaining the zoo's original emphasis on hands-on learning. Beyond displaying animals, Lehigh Valley Zoo participates in Species Survival Plans for penguins, red pandas, and North American river otters, continuing its founder's conservation legacy through modern breeding programs that help protect vulnerable species.

Where History Meets Modern Zoo Keeping

Few zoos can trace their origins to a early 20th-century wildlife rescue mission. The zoo's location within the historic Trexler Nature Preserve creates a unique setting where visitors can explore both zoo exhibits and hundreds of acres of natural Pennsylvania landscape.

The zoo's year-round operation sets it apart, offering seasonal experiences from summer animal encounters to its popular Christmas light displays that transform the grounds each December. Its AZA accreditation since 2006 confirms its commitment to animal welfare standards, while its focus on serving school groups, with 30,000 student visitors annually, demonstrates its role as an educational hub for the region.

Lehigh Valley Zoo Highlights & Tips

• Species Survival Programs Watch penguins, red pandas, and North American river otters that are part of national conservation breeding programs working to protect these species for future generations.
• Historic Trexler Nature Preserve Explore the 1,100-acre preserve surrounding the zoo, where Trexler's original conservation vision for bison, elk, and deer continues more than a century later.
• Winter Wonderland Light Display Visit during the holiday season to experience the zoo transformed by festive Christmas light displays, offering a completely different atmosphere from daytime visits.
• Year-Round Access The zoo welcomes visitors every season, so you can plan your trip any time of year and experience how the animals and exhibits change with Pennsylvania's seasons.
• Educational Programs Check the website for school group programs and educational opportunities that make the zoo a learning destination for students throughout the Lehigh Valley region.
• Plan Extra Time With 29 acres to explore plus access to the surrounding nature preserve, allow several hours to fully experience both the zoo exhibits and the natural landscape.

From Trexler's 1906 vision to save American megafauna to today's participation in international Species Survival Plans, Lehigh Valley Zoo bridges more than a century of conservation work.

The 36 farms that Trexler assembled now provide space not just for the descendants of the animals he sought to protect, but for visitors to connect with wildlife from three continents. Whether you visit on a summer afternoon or during the December light displays, you're walking through a landscape where one person's commitment to wildlife created something that endures for generations.