Faq's

Planning your Panama City Beach vacation? Take a break from the beach and stop in at ZooWorld! Much more than a zoo, ZooWorld Zoological Park offers up-close animal encounters and WILD adventure! No PCB vacation is complete without an alligator encounter, meeting a capybara or even feeding a giraffe!

What does an interactive zoo mean?
ZooWorld is a highly interactive zoo and probably quite a bit different than you are used to! We encourage our guests to get up close to view our animals and even meet some of them. If you are looking for an adventure that the whole family will love, our immersive exhibits and up close animal opportunities will make your day... and probably your entire vacation!

You can opt to feed our petting zoo friends ( goats, ponies, sheep, llama, cows and exotic deer)
You can join an up close experience and meet a capybara or a lemur, wade with gators, kiss a kangaroo joey or pet a sloth!
Or, you can choose to just look!
What is an At Will experience?
At Will means that ZooWorld's animal ambassadors only participate in experiences when they choose to. It also means, that as a Zoo guest, you can rest assured knowing that the animals they've enjoyed meeting have enjoyed it as well. All of our up-close animal experience areas are designed to give our animal ambassador teams the freedom to remove themselves or to join the fun whenever they chose to do so.
Are your animals forced to perform?
Animals at ZooWorld never perform tricks, shows, or participate in experiences against their will. All experiences follow an “at-will” model, meaning animals choose when and how they interact with guests. Encounters take place in environments that give animals complete freedom to leave, hide, or observe without engaging. This approach reflects our commitment to ethical treatment, choice-based enrichment, and positive human-animal relationships. Staff train animals through trust and reinforcement, not force. Every animal meets guests because it chooses to—not because it must.
How do I know that ZooWorld's animals are well cared for?
The well-being of the animals that live at ZooWorld is the highest priority for all of our team members. Our ongoing animal welfare assessment program encourages team members from all departments to monitor, assess, report and record information on each animal. The Zoo's animal welfare and enrichment committees assess and track this data, consulting with industry professionals and our own animal care team members to ensure proactive care is being provided.
What makes ZooWorld different than other places in the area?
 ZooWorld operates independently, without affiliation to other nearby animal parks. Since 2015, ZooWorld has grown under private ownership as a woman- and military family-owned small business focused on ethical, guest-centered animal care. The park has upgraded exhibits, retained its staff through significant disruptions, and expanded its animal well-being programs year after year. ZooWorld reinvests its dollars into care, conservation, and infrastructure—without local tax funding. Our decisions reflect long-term commitment, not short-term gain. The team works here because they believe in animal care, and guests return because they see that difference firsthand.  
Can admission tickets be purchased at the door?
Yes, they can! While we would personally recommend buying tickets online here, you can also purchase admission tickets in person if you want to take a spontaneous trip to the Zoo. We are open year-round and are operational rain or shine!

Our current hours can be found here!
Does the Zoo offer concessions?

We offer snack and drink options in our concession stand! Want a delicious Zoo Brew coffee? We've got you covered!
You'll be excited to find that we live our conservation message, even in our food service. You won't find disposable plastics! Our straws are made of agave and our utensils are bamboo!
Where is the Zoo located?
We are located at: 9008 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407

Additional parking is located at:
1) 8914 Front Beach Road, 32407
2) 9216 Front Beah Road, 32407
Who inspects ZooWorld
ZooWorld is licensed and permitted by state and federal oversight agencies. These agencies conduct unannounced inspections at least once yearly, reviewing everything from enclosures and veterinary care to guest safety. In addition to government oversight,
Is ZooWorld Accredited?
Yes! ZooWorld holds an additional accreditation from the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), a process that requires extensive documentation, facility inspections, and re-evaluation every five years. Only a small percentage of zoological parks in the U.S. are accredited and meeting these standards reflects a continued commitment to animal welfare, professional care, and operational transparency.

Still have questions about some of our exclusive offerings?

Well, we have answers! Find some answers to questions you may have about our:
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