Attendance at the David Traylor Zoo was large for the first half of 2026; in fact, current numbers are already halfway to the total for 2025.
During an appearance on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia Friday, Zoo Director Brenda Young noted that attendance, as of the end of July, was at just over 28,000 individuals, and she says there are likely a few key factors that contributed to the turnout. First, she says the “foundation” of the zoo is found in the community and the community never hesitates to support the local staple.
Young also noted many people often make the zoo a stop whenever they may be passing through the community, saying many individuals appreciate the high quality of exhibits in a smaller, more peaceful setting.
Another big reason for the turnout is the large list of community events the zoo hosts each year, including its annual Open House and its expanded list of summer camps, which wrapped up Friday.
With summer camp now complete, the zoo is gearing up for a hefty list of community activities over the final four months of 2026, starting with a new Botanical Bingo event in partnership with Good Way Gardens on August 29th. This will lead to the popular Zoo Brew event in September, Boo in the Zoo on Halloween, and Happy Holidaze in November.
You can find a full list of upcoming events and activities through the zoo by visiting Emporiazoo.org or by finding the David Traylor Zoo on social media.
All of this comes with the zoo still in the “silent phase” of its sequel campaign to the Oasis Capital Campaign. Young reiterated Friday that the new campaign will fund several projects, much like Oasis, including the new North American River Otter Exhibit.
Young noted that the otter exhibit was originally supposed to come through the first wave of fundraising with Oasis; however, COVID-19 altered those plans to a degree.
On top of the otter exhibit, the zoo will also be upgrading its Bald Eagle exhibit, the children’s play area and more with the funds raised. In terms of a timeline, Young says she expects the new campaign to take roughly five years to complete; however, the planned projects will be on a different timeline.
She explained that the plan is to address each project in a phased approach rather than waiting to have the full sum of dollars raised before beginning construction.
Again, more information on the zoo and upcoming activities can be found by visiting Emporiazoo.org or by calling 620-341-4365. The zoo is open daily from 10 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Sunday and is completely free.
