Clay Center Zoo- Clay Center, Kansas The Clay Center Utility Park Zoo in Clay Center, Kansas is funded and run by the Clay Center Utility Company. It located in the Depression era Utility Park across from the power plant. The park has natural rock walls, bridges, gazebos, fountains, a children's play area and interesting plantings. Other than the zoo, the park is open 9 AM - 8 PM daily. When I first visited the Utility Park Zoo in 2006, a significant number of the animals were kept in barren cages with nothing but cement and steel. There was little to provide a quality of life for those animals. Fortunately, the zoo has been working to change that and when we last visited in 2023, had taken significant strides toward making the zoo a better experience for both the animals and visitors. I've been to the zoo four times over the years and every animal has appeared healthy. When we last visited, the zoo was open, but all of the buildings were locked, so I don't know how many species are exhibited and it made it hard to get good animal pictures. Work is still underway at the zoo and is still needed, but I'm glad to say it is not the bleak place it was for many years.
copyright 2006-2025 by Keith Stokes |
