Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

 

March 21^st, 2020

- History

Park Entrance & Ticket Booths

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo opened up in 1961 charging just 10 cents for children and 15 cents for adults. Originally, Happy Hollow was on 7.5 acres of land bought from the Kelley family. The Park and Zoo today are 16 acres and are within Kelley Park, which is 172 acres in all. Animals were not brought into the park until 1967. Over the years, exhibits have been updated to become more naturalistic and provide more space for the animals.

- Enclosures and Animals

The zoo portion of Happy Hollow is set in two distinct sections on opposite sides of the park. Zoo in the Hollow, the original site of the first exhibits, features more animals than Zoo on the Hill, an expansion added in 2008. Upon entering the park, we were greeted by the carousel featuring a ton of different animals. We were directed down a one-way path into Zoo in the Hollow. The pathway was very nice and lined with some beautiful ornamental bamboo. 

Capybara Enclosure

The first enclosure we came upon was the capybaras. The enclosure was very nice! It had a beautiful pool and rockwork and was very indicative of the riverbanks of capybaras native South America. I would, however, like to see them add a bit more foliage to really round out the exhibit. We did not see the capybaras out while we were there, but it was a bit chilly in the morning.

Joey Parma Wallaby Nursing

The next exhibit we saw was the red panda exhibit. This exhibit was very large and had a ton of foliage and exhibit features. We were able to observe both the outdoor and indoor holdings of the red pandas and we got a good look at one of them sleeping up in the trees. The collared peccary exhibit across the way as well as the African spurred tortoise enclosure were currently closed for exhibit expansion. I cannot wait to go and see them once they are complete. Next, we went down the path and encountered some amazing sunning yards for their turkey vultures. They had tons of items for the birds to stand on and sun themselves. Next door was their Parma wallaby exhibit. This exhibit was so cute, and I spent so much time watching the wallabies hop around. I even watched one of their joeys nursing from its mom for probably 10+ minutes, it was just so adorable.

Jaguar Enclosure

Two of my favorite exhibits were the fossa and the jaguar enclosures. Fossa are not an animal you see at every zoo but they are so interesting to watch. I got to see their fossa Roni wandering around the enclosure enjoying the pond and ramp up to the indoor holding area. The enclosure had tons of plants, logs, shady, and sunny spots. Recently, Roni, underwent surgery to remove one of her eyes that she lost vision in from severe glaucoma. The jaguar enclosure was just as, if not more, gorgeous than the fossa enclosure. The rock work, waterfall, and naturalistic elements made it by far my favorite enclosure at the zoo. We saw their jaguar Sophia lounging in the sun while enjoying a cat nap. 

Petting Corral with Goats

After leaving Zoo in the Hollow, we traveled up an incline to Zoo on the Hill. In this area they have the Double-H Ranch, anteater, and red ruffed lemur enclosures. Within the Double-H Ranch they have a corral with goats to pet, a barn with sheep and cattle, and tons of fun activities. They have eclectus parrots as well as a guinea pig village to explore. At the end, they had a huge field for all their chickens with little houses for them, it was sweet. Next door to the ranch was the giant anteater exhibit. This exhibit was really nice and naturalistic. They used mesh for the enclosure walls, which did obstruct the view of the anteater just a little bit.

Giant Anteater Enclosure

Other exhibits to see include the fennec fox, squirrel monkey, American alligator, ring-tailed lemur, red ruffed lemur, black & white ruffed lemur, the aviary, and meerkat enclosures. Make sure to explore all the exhibits the zoo has to offer and take the time to watch the animals for a while to see what they do. I am not sure what the future holds for what animals, if any, they will be adding, but I am excited to see what they have in store!

Exhibit Sign

Overall, I was very impressed with the naturalism of the exhibits. Their exhibits are built to get you up close and personal with the animals. Because of this, they do not utilize hahas, the ditches usually surrounding exhibits, but rather they use mesh and glass panels. One of my favorite things about their exhibits was how naturalistic they were. They all contained natural rock work, water features, and tons of foliage. I did not observe any stereotypical behaviors from any of the animals and they all seemed at ease and that they were enjoying the day. There was tons of enrichment in the exhibits that allowed for their animals to display species specific behaviors. All the information signs at the exhibits were amazing as well! They were very informative and enjoyable to view, filled with fun facts and pictures. They had many informational signs about California’s native wildlife such as bats and bees. When you visit, be sure to check them out!

- Education, Programs, & Events

Wing Span Comparison Activity

Happy Hollow does not have an animal show, but they do have ambassador animals. These animals go to schools, camps, and educational events to help the public get up close and personal with them. They help to connect people to nature and inspire care for our natural world. The zoos collection ranges from ectotherms and birds to mammals. A few to note are the domestic barbary dove, a prehensile-tailed skink, eclectus parrot, prehensile-tailed porcupine and many more! The zoo offers different public presentation options for bringing these animals up close and personal. They have a range of programs specifically tailored to various age groups and that cover various topics. They are even currently continuing programs via Zoom! The park occasionally holds various events for conservation, 21+, and kids on grounds. They also offer full day summer camps for ages 5-13!

Informational Sign

One amazing program I discovered while researching Happy Hollow was their education initiative. Through this initiative, Happy Hollow funds free field trips to the park and zoo for low-income Title I schools. Happy Hollow provides transportation, admission, a picnic area rental, and an ambassador animal education program for schools found in the area. This is currently a pilot program, but it is great to see them making a difference and providing an education about animals for all!

- Standards/Accreditations

Fossa Enclosure

Happy Hollow received its first Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation in 1993 and is still currently accredited. Additionally, it is a part of the San Jose Parks, Recreations, and Neighborhood Services as well as the Global Association for the Attractions Industry. As a member of these organizations, Happy Hollow is held to strict standards to provide the best care for their animals, and the best experience for their guests. 

- Conservation Efforts

Quarters for Conservation Causes

Like other AZA facilities, Happy Hollow participates in species survival plans (SSPs) for a variety of the species they house. While not on site while I was there, I did notice that Happy Hollow has a place for a quarters for conservation station. 25 cents from each ticket sold and $1 from each membership sold go to conservation organizations. When the station is set up, there are four different causes people can choose to put their donation towards: Save the last remaining mountain gorillas, Provide habitat to save honey bees & native bees, Preserve habitat for red pandas, and Resolve conflict between carnivores and humans. I love quarters for conservation stations because they allow visitors to choose which causes they would like to support and put their hard earned money towards.

One really unique opportunity that Happy Hollow offers is a Progress for Pollinators Grant. Community members dedicated to creating pollinator-friendly habitats in public spaces can apply for a grant up to $2,500. There are certain guidelines that must be met, but if you are local and interested in applying, look here. The zoo also hosts beekeeping workshops for those interested in learning about the world of beekeeping. It is run in the zoos backyard habitat garden which has many pollinator-friendly plants and has a resident hive. Sales of the honey harvested from the resident hive helps to support rangers in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home of the last remaining mountain gorillas.

- Environmental Initiatives

Zoo Pathway

In 2008, the park underwent a $72 million expansion, including a bridge to the new entrance, renovation of 12 acres of habitats, and building 4 acres of new enclosures. This expansion had the park closed for 2 years. It also included eco-friendly architecture and other features, leading to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification. The park now features many different design elements that help make the facility more eco-friendly. The entry plaza to the park features recycled glass mixed in with the concrete. The learning lodge features walls made from stacks of hay bales which serve as good insulation to help reduce energy usage. A few of the buildings on property have flooring that is heated and cooled by water pushed through pipes underneath. 

Meerkat Enclosure

One of the cool features I saw was that many of their buildings on property have living roofs, which not only produce oxygen and habitats for local wildlife, but also help to keep buildings hot or cold depending on the season. They have even taken to converting some of their rides to be electric instead of gas powered. Being in California, Happy Hollow has many measures to help reduce water waste and increase water capture. They have barriers and landscape elements that help to funnel rainwater into catch basins to prevent flooding and filter water as it enters the groundwater supply. You can see these elements around the carousel and in the spiral lawn. Water used for hand washing is recycled to be used as toilet and plant water. Additionally, water bottle refill stations are available around the park.

- Ways to Help

Zebu Playing with Ball

There are a few ways that you can help to support Happy Hollow. The zoo offers many different volunteer opportunities from ages 14-18+. They have zoo teen, docent, keeper aide, beekeeper, and gardener opportunities in their volunteer repertoire. An additional way to get involved is by being a Youth Board Member. High school students can serve a one-year term on the board of directors for the Happy Hollow Foundation, the park’s non-profit. This allows a local teen to help give a different perspective and be a part of change for the park and local community. This is a unique opportunity that I have not seen in many zoological facilities before.

If you are in the position to do so, you can always donate to Happy Hollow. Annual donations of $1,000+ and you can become a part of Danny the Dragon’s Dreambuilders. They also have an auction, starting July 12^th, 2021, which includes many one-of-a-kind experiences at Happy Hollow. Of course, any donation is welcome and will go to making the park and its animals thrive!

- Layout

Map

The layout of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo when it is fully open can be a bit overwhelming when first looking at it. There are signs everywhere pointing to where various attractions and activities are located. Every part of the park and zoo is set up in a circular pattern with paths connecting every which way. With all these pathways, I could see some children getting lost. However, while we were at the zoo there were a ton of staff members and they were very helpful. If the situation of a lost child occurred, they would definitely handle the situation promptly. Whatever the situation, there is only one way in and one way out of the park. When visiting, only Zoo in the Hollow and Zoo on the Hill were open and there was a one-way path to get through both sections. Signs were provided everywhere to remind guests of the right way. I was never confused of which way to go and it was a fairly easy path, with a few hills. Since my visit, more attractions have opened, so the path structure may have changed.

- Accessibility

American Alligator Enclosure

Renovations in 2008 allowed Happy Hollow to meet all standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Anyone looking for more info on accommodations can go to Guest Services when they enter the park. The zoo offers tons of different amenities to help make it more accessible to everyone. There are bike racks, lockers, and water bottle filling stations as well as strollers and wheelchairs available for rental. Additionally, the park offers a nursing room located at guest services for parents to rent out in 15-minute intervals. The park does have many hills, but there are no stairways that I observed so everything seems fairly accessible from the parts that were open for us to explore!

- Attractions Other than Animals

Keep-Around Carousel

There are plenty of things to do in the park other than the zoo. There are rides such as a carousel, swings, and roller coaster. There are various play structures, shows, and even a learning lodge. The whole day could be spent at Happy Hollow and there would still be more to explore! One of the things I really enjoyed is they had little story stations that were filled with books for anyone to read and enjoy. Currently, only the zoo, store, food, and two play areas are open for enjoyment. As regulations continue to change, more will eventually open up for more fun. You can learn more about what they currently have to offer here.

- Food

Chicken Coop

The Picnic Basket is the only location for purchasing food in Happy Hollow. It was closed when we were visiting but is now open for grab & go food. Happy Hollow’s environmental initiatives are extended to The Picnic Basket. They offer gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options as well as pre-packaged allergy friendly food. Produce and fresh ingredients are locally sourced, cutting down carbon emissions during transportation. They offer fair-trade coffee and sugar as well as seafood that is Seafood Watch safe. Additionally, all containers, packaging, straws, and cutlery are made from biodegradable potato starch and the waste bins on property are made from recycled milk cartons. It seems like they are making great strides to make their dining practices sustainable as well as delicious! Since Happy Hollow is both a park and zoo, they allow outside food from home into the park. There offer picnic areas for guests to sit down, relax, and enjoy some food!

- Shopping

Outside of Gift Shop

There is one gift shop, Explore & More Store, which was closed when we were there. The gift shop is now open as of May 8^th, 2021.

- Cost

Two adult tickets cost $8.50 each as we were only paying for the zoo portion of the park. Admission is going up as more portions of the zoo open. Overall, the admission was very reasonable and very worth the money!

- Parking

There are two parking lots on either side of the park. The main parking lot is easily accessible and only a short walk over the bent bridge to get to. The secondary parking lot looks to be a bit more of a walk, but is still not too bad. Parking can cost money, but it did not the day we went. It is always nice when zoos have their own designated parking, so point to Happy Hollow!

- Covid-19 Procedures

Covid-19 Signage

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo currently has limited capacity. When buying tickets, we had to reserve them for a particular time. When first arriving, we had our temperatures checked and we were asked a few health screening questions. Masks were and still are required for everyone ages 2 and up, even in outdoor spaces. All staff members were wearing masks and pointed us in the direction in which we needed to go. 

Masking Sign in Multiple Languages

The only part of the park that was open on our visit was the zoo portions. There was a one-way path throughout the two sections and staff members along the way to answer any questions or concerns. There were signs everywhere reminding us to socially distance and that there was a one-way path to follow. It was particularly amazing, that their signs were in multiple languages to make sure all guests stayed safe and healthy. I am excited to visit the park again when more things are open! Since our visit more attractions have opened for use. Make sure to check the website for the most recent information on what is open.

- Final Thoughts

Red Panda Enclosure

Just like when I was little, I loved visiting Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. While the pandemic may have caused most of the park to be closed, I was very happy to be able to walk through the zoo portion. I cannot wait to visit again and be able to update this review when more things are open. The zoo exhibits are very naturalistic and provide ample space for their animals. You can also see that they are putting work into expanding some of their exhibits. I am not sure how much space and room they have to expand the exhibits and the zoo, but Kelley Park, where Happy Hollow is located, is 172 acres, 16 of which Happy Hollow sits on. I cannot wait to see how Happy Hollow expands in the future. If you visit, be sure to let me know how your experience was!