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Official website for the City of Aurora, Illinois. Mayor Tom Weisner

Phillips Park Zoo History

  • 1915 The Phillips Park Zoo was established
  • 1916 The Birdhouse was built with a glass roof at a cost of $1,600.
    • 1933 The Birdhouse was wrecked by a hailstorm.
    • 1985 The new Birdhouse opened in May.
  • 1920The zoo had 5 black bears, 10 monkeys, 6 elk, 3 buffalo, 2 foxes, 1 wolf and 1 deer, in addition to hundreds of birds of every description.
  • 1926 Bob Lisle built the stone wall leading to zoo.
  • 1934 Once the Brookfield Zoo opened, it was decided to focus on a collection of native animals, rather than the giraffes and other large exotic animals that were showcased prior.
  • 1937 The zoo also became known as a museum, when the mastodon bones and tusks were displayed in the Birdhouse.
  • 1937 The zoo was home to monkeys, a coyote, baboons, rabbits, bears, pigeons, parakeets, parrots and lovebirds.
  • 1937 The animal pens were rehabbed and new cages added through a WPA Project.
  • 1950 The barn was built in the zoo.
  • 1964 The water wheel was built out of cypress.
  • 1983 The original elk pen and small barn were constructed.
  • 1984 The outdoor bird cage/bird flight was built.
  • 1985 Judy the Bear was donated to the zoo. Judy died in 1999.
  • 1985 A Macaw by the name of Farfel was donated by the Lincoln Park Zoo.
  • 1985 Two black swans were donated by Ray Moses.
  • 1986The newborn Twin African Pygmy Goats named Billy Paul and Billy Joe arrived
  • 1992 The pillars at the zoo entrance were constructed in April and dedicated on June 28. The entrance wall, consisting of stone letters that read "Phillips Park Zoo", was built and installed in the fall. Sculptor Steve Weitzman was commissioned by the Aurora Public Art Commission to design the entrance pillars, which are decorated with American Black Bears on top, and animal sculptures on the sides. On each pillar there were three insets designed, one of a four-horned sheep, one of a fox and the other a swan, each on a different side of the pillar.
  • 1996 "Chopper" the Caiman arrived in April.
  • 1996 Otters "Teeter and Totter" were a new addition to the zoo exhibits.
    • 1999 A new water-slide exhibit was designed for the otters.
    • 2002 The otter exhibit was redesigned
  • 2001 The elk were moved to a more natural habitat in the Lagoon area (former skating pond area).
  • 2001 The perimeter-fencing project was completed at the Phillips Park Zoo.
  • 2001 A new wolf habitat was added for "Dakota", Cheyenne" and "Aurora", along with a viewing shelter.
  • 2002 The newest addition, "Kenai"the bald eagle, took place on July 19, 2002. Work had begun earlier in the year to prepare the Bird Flight for her arrival. It is a 50 x 25 foot open-air shelter that houses a pond and a waterfall, with a backdrop mural of a mountain setting.
  • 2002 The Elk Viewing Deck was opened to the public in August, providing an open view of the elk enclosure.
  • 2002 Exhibits include a Bald Eagle, Wolves, an Artic Fox, a Platinum Red Fox, North American River Otters, an Elk herd, Four-horned Sheep, Goats, Pot-bellied Pigs, Llamas, Birds, Reptiles, Swans, Ducks, Turkeys and Peacocks.
  • 2003 Another Bald Eagle "Denali" was added to the exhibit on July 8, 2003.
  • 2003 The four-horned sheep were donated to a farm to make room for the construction of the new Mountain Lion exhibit.
  • 2005 Mountain Lion Exhibit opens.
  • 2006 Reptile House renovation completed.
  • 2008 Constructed Zoo Storage building to store supplies and materials.
  • 2008 Installed security cameras in/around the Mountain Lion exhibit as well as inside     the reptile house for better security.
  • 2008 Hosted the Mid-America Zoo Alliance Conference.
  • 2008 Received Accreditation of the Mountain Lion exhibit by the Feline Conservation Federation.
  • 2009 Replaced roof and facia of old “washroom” building, now used to house those animals  that are used for educational talks.
  • 2009 Produced and designed new Zoo and Park Brochure.