Big Bear Alpine Zoo

2021 NACo Achievement Award Winner

San Bernardino County, Calif., CA

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo had to be relocated. The facility was outdated and inadequate. In 1992 a task force was created to facilitate this process. Several attempts failed to find a suitable location. In 1998 the US Forest Service requested that the County relocate the zoo to National Forest land adjacent to the Big Bear Discovery Center. This plan moved forward with the County Board of Supervisors dedicating $225,000 to the project and the Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo retained an architectural firm to design the zoo. An additional $5.75M was approved for the relocation of the zoo. In 2008 the National Forest site became unavailable unexpectedly. In 2010 the original lease expired and rent went up exponentially. That year the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District purchased a 10.5 acres West of the Moonridge Golf Course. In 2016 the Board of Supervisors approved funding and awarded the contract for construction. On May 27, 2016 there was a ceremonial ground breaking. July 15, 2016 construction began. On September 25, 2020 animals were moved to the new zoo and on November 5, 2020 the new location opened to the public.