When you spend a day with us, you're creating memories with your family. Maybe you’re introducing your children to an animal species they haven’t heard of before, cooling off at Zoombezi Bay, or enjoying a round of golf at Safari Golf Club.
What many guests don't realize is that their visit supports the local economy, too!
Every ticket purchased, every meal enjoyed nearby, every hotel stay, and every stop at a local family-owned shop helps fuel Central Ohio's economy. Those visits support jobs, strengthen proud businesses, generate tax revenue that benefits communities, and create opportunities that ripple throughout the state.
A new independent economic impact study found that the Columbus Zoo, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club generated $612.6 million in economic activity across Ohio during 2025. Together, the three attractions supported 4,703 jobs, helped provide income for thousands of Ohio families, and generated nearly $39 million in state and local tax revenue.
For our guests, that means a family day at the Zoo becomes part of something much, much bigger.
Your Visit Supports Local Communities
The Columbus Zoo, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club welcomed 2.2 million guests in 2025 to its Powell, OH, locations, including visitors from every state and Washington, D.C.
Nearly 300,000 of those guests traveled from outside Ohio!
That visitor spending totaled an estimated $102.5 million, benefiting businesses across our community.
By the Numbers
Here's a snapshot of the impact our guests helped create during 2025:
- $612.6 million in statewide economic activity
- 4,703 Ohio jobs supported
- 3,124 Ohio households supported
- $194.9 million in labor income
- $38.9 million in state and local tax revenue
- $22.8 million invested in improvements across the Zoo campus
- $775,000 provided through complimentary admission, tours, educational programs, and community experiences
Every one of those numbers begins with people choosing to spend time together at the Zoo, Zoombezi Bay, or Safari Golf Club.
A Strong Community Partner
The Columbus Zoo has been woven into the fabric of Central Ohio for almost 100 years. Walk around long enough, and you’ll see a birthday celebration, a field trip full of excited students, corporate event attendees excited to visit for the first time since they were a kid, and sometimes, the occasional marriage proposal. The Zoo has a magical quality to it, full of nostalgia and love.
That community connection also strengthens Ohio's tourism economy.
"The Columbus Zoo is one of Ohio's premier destinations, drawing visitors from across the country and creating economic opportunities for businesses and communities throughout our state," said Steve Stivers, President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. "This study highlights the organization's role in supporting jobs, driving tourism, and helping keep Ohio's economy strong."
It All Starts With Wildlife
While this study focuses on economic impact, it all begins with something much simpler: people caring about wildlife.
Every visit helps support exceptional animal care, conservation efforts around the world, educational programs that inspire future conservationists, and experiences that connect people with animals in unforgettable ways.
Learn about Animals at the Columbus Zoo
When our community chooses to visit the Columbus Zoo, Zoombezi Bay, or Safari Golf Club, everyone benefits.
- Wildlife benefits.
- Local businesses benefit.
- Ohio families benefit.
And together, we're helping create a stronger future for the place we all call home.
