Riverbanks Zoo

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina, is a 170-acre zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden along the Saluda River, with a small portion in West Columbia. Conceived in the early 1960s and made possible by the creation of the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District in 1969, it opened in 1974 after five years of planning. It grew from its original moated exhibits for big cats and bears into a major attraction with more than 2,000 animals, extensive plant collections, and major facilities such as the Birdhouse, Aquarium Reptile Complex, and gardens. Continued expansion has reinforced its role as a leading cultural and educational destination in South Carolina.

Columbia, South Carolina · United States