Lehigh Valley Zoo - Schnecksville, Pennsylvania - game preserve and zoo located in the Lehigh Valley for over a century

In 1906, local businessman General Harry C. Trexler wanted a patch of land to help preserve the North American Bison, which were facing extinction. With the help of Dr. William T. Hornaday of the Bronx Zoo, Trexler created a space where both bison and elk (wapiti) native to the area could thrive. Although Trexler died in an automobile accident in 1933, his work laid the foundation for what would become the Lehigh Valley Zoo.

Originally, the game preserve was only open on Sundays and was a 1200-acre home to bison, wapiti, and deer. In the mid-1970s, the board decided to begin developing a children's zoo to go along with the preserve, and over the next several years, the collection grew to house animals both native to Pennsylvania and from around the world. Some of the animals that call the Lehigh Valley Zoo home include owls, kangaroos, otters, emus, goats, camels, prairie dogs, wolves, and llamas. Of course, visitors can still see bison, wapiti, and deer - the animals that started it all - at the zoo. They also have a birds of prey exhibit, and education zone, outdoor dining areas, and an amphitheater.

The primary focus of the Lehigh Valley Zoo is education. They cater to educational groups like school classes, and provide zoo activity packs for programs while children are visiting. The programs are designed for each grade, last up to an hour, and are made to meet Pennsylvania's Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content Standards in Science. In addition, they have a sleepover program where groups can spend the night at the zoo and see how the animals act in the evening and at night. This is the most active time for some of the animals in the zoo, such as the owls and some of the mammals.

The zoo also has a community educational outreach program for groups that can't make the trip to the facility. The zookeepers will bring some of the animals to the classroom, along with educational material. They also have teacher workshops, can assist in scouting events and earning badges, and provide smaller education programs for families on a daily basis, available with pre-registration. At times, the Lehigh Valley Zoo offers trips to other zoos, aquariums, parks, and preserves across the country and even around the world to help community members learn more about animals, plants, and conservation.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is open seven days a week during the entire year, weather permitting. They have in-season hours from April 1 to October 31, with admission price ranging from $6.50 to $9.00 and special group rates available to groups of 15 or more. Most of the zoo's animals are active during the off-season as well, though some may be hibernating and many of the amenities, like the nature store and outdoor cafy, are not open. The zoo is closed on major holidays and during some days when there's poor weather. Visitors can call 610-799-4171 to verify that the zoo is open and learn more about the facility.