Charles Paddock Zoo

Charles Paddock Zoo, now operating as the Central Coast Zoo, is a charming 5-acre AZA-accredited zoological park located within the wooded Lake Park in Atascadero, California, and the only accredited zoo on the Central Coast. Home to approximately 100 species, the zoo delights visitors with species rarely seen at facilities of its size, including red pandas, fossa, Malayan tigers, spider monkeys, lemurs, binturongs, meerkats, flamingoes, and tortoises. Beautifully landscaped exhibits and interactive opportunities make exploration engaging for all ages, and the lakeside setting adds a picturesque backdrop. As part of AZA's globally managed conservation programs, the zoo's animals participate in species preservation efforts that protect their wild counterparts. Visitors can stroll through the exhibits in an hour or spend a full day enjoying the park's lawns, walking pathways, playground, and paddleboat lake.