Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo – opened in June 1989 as Zooland Animal Park. Joey Ward of Gulf Shores founded the zoo as a private enterprise. In 1991, the Ward family created the Zoo Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation, and donated the 17 acres of prime real estate that makes up the zoo today. Three years later, the Ward family and the Erie Meyer Foundation graciously donated an additional 13 acres, which are still undeveloped.