New name announced for Elk Grove’s future zoo.
Nearly a year after approving the relocation of the Sacramento Zoo from Land Park to Elk Grove, the Elk Grove City Council is taking another step forward by unveiling the official new name of the zoo.
The facility will now be known as the Elk Grove – Sacramento Zoo, a name that preserves its historic connection to Sacramento while embracing its new home in Elk Grove.
The new zoo is planned to occupy approximately 65 acres near the northwest intersection of Kammerer Road and Lotz Parkway in Elk Grove. This expansion will significantly increase the zoo's capacity compared to its current 14.7-acre site in Sacramento's Land Park.
Renderings released by the City of Elk Grove showcase the vision for the Elk Grove – Sacramento Zoo.
The project is estimated to cost around $302 million, with the City of Elk Grove contributing approximately $172 million through bonds and city funding. The remaining funds will be raised by the Sacramento Zoological Society and other regional partners.
The Sacramento Zoological Society announced it had raised $17.5 million in pledges and cash contributions toward the $50 million goal required to initiate construction. The deadline for reaching the $50 million fundraising goal is set for January 1, 2027. If the fundraising target is met, construction of the new zoo is expected to begin later that year and be fully completed by 2029.
Elk Grove - Sacramento Zoo Site Video
The project is currently in the design phase, which is expected to continue through 2026.
At full build-out, the new zoo will include dining, retail, entertainment, and hospitality and will be able to support an annual attendance of approximately 850,000 visitors. The project will also include a parking district approximately 25 acres in size.
The City of Sacramento owns the Sacramento Zoo site in Land Park, and there are currently no plans for its future use after the zoo relocates to Elk Grove.
