My SoCal Garden
My SoCal Garden

Trail

Old LA Zoo

Abandoned zoo enclosures, picnic grounds, and a short family walk through one of Griffith Park’s strangest historic sites.

The Old LA Zoo turns a short family walk into a strange encounter with Griffith Park history. The abandoned enclosures are visually interesting, easy to reach, and also a stark reminder of how zoo animals were once kept.

Exhibit Ruins

Overview

The Old LA Zoo turns a short family walk into a strange encounter with Griffith Park history. The abandoned cages and animal grottos now sit among picnic tables, trails, graffiti, roots, and rocks.

It is easy to enjoy the ruins visually, but some of the remaining cages are more stark and grounding. The site is also a physical record of an era when cities displayed exotic animals in small enclosures for everyday entertainment.

The place

This is part historic ruin, part picnic area, and part short Griffith Park walk. The original Griffith Park zoo operated here from 1912 until the current Los Angeles Zoo opened in 1966.

The surviving animal cages and grottos are no longer used as a zoo. Visitors can walk around and, in some areas, through the old structures.

What to see

The main attraction is the collection of abandoned animal enclosures. Some are open concrete grottos; others are rows of small cages that make the conditions of the old zoo much harder to romanticize. The structures are covered with some of the most interesting graffiti in the park. Even nearby roots and rocks have been decorated in ways that often feel integrated with the ruins rather than simply painted over them.
Behind an Exhibit
For those of us who don't often get to see the backside of a zoo. Even though this is such an antiquated zoo, it is still an enlightening view.

Field notes

A visit to this part of Griffith Park can feel like a visit to ancient ruins, except that “ancient” means the middle of the 20th century, when Los Angeles was in an especially optimistic phase of growth and the television and movie industries were centered nearby.

The place invites a slower and more contemplative visit than its short walking distance might suggest. A separate Field Note explores what the old cages say about zoos, entertainment, and the uneven direction of social progress.

Native plants

Plants photographed around the site included Southern California black walnut, western chicory, sticky monkeyflower, and California fuchsia. Castor bean, a non-native invasive plant, was also present. The vegetation is part of what makes the site visually unusual: native plants, roots, and dry Griffith Park slopes are growing around structures built for a very different purpose.
Sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus longiflorus)
Large patches of sticky monkeyflower were a real treat to see on this hike.

Photography

The old cages, layered graffiti, concrete grottos, roots, and surrounding vegetation provide many strong photographic subjects. The contrast between the colorful surfaces and the severity of the remaining cages is especially effective.

Visiting with kids

The short walk and ability to explore the old structures make this an engaging family outing. The enclosures are not a maintained play structure, however, and include stairs, uneven surfaces, openings, and exposed concrete, so children need supervision.

Before you go

The easiest way to find the Old LA Zoo is to navigate to the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. From Crystal Springs Drive, follow signs for the Merry-Go-Round and park in one of the nearby lots. The old enclosures and picnic area are a short walk up the road and trail.

For GPS, “Old Zoo Picnic Area” or “Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round” is usually more useful than trying to find a formal street address. The commonly listed 4730 Crystal Springs Drive address refers to the broader Park Center area, not the exact Old Zoo site.

The Merry-Go-Round is also a historic Griffith Park attraction. It was built in 1926 and moved to Griffith Park in 1937.

Photos

See the photo gallery.

View gallery

Field Notes

Stories and observations from Old LA Zoo

Location

Route for Old LA Zoo

Griffith Park, Los Angeles, Los Angeles

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