Oddity Odysseys
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      • The Lummis Castle
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    • 2019 Episodes >
      • The Shoemaker Tunnels
      • The Canned Heat Suicide House
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      • The Amboy Crater
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      • The Mosaic Tile House
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    • 2018 Episodes >
      • Devil's Gate Dam
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      • The Sutro Bath Ruins
      • Bring Your Own Big Wheel
      • The Wave Organ
      • The Bay Bridge Troll
      • The Peephole Cinema
      • Nike Missile Site LA-88L
      • The High Tower Elevator
    • 2017 Episodes >
      • The Bridge to Nowhere
      • The Musical Road
      • The Old Los Angeles Zoo
      • The St. Francis Dam
      • Phantasma Gloria
      • The Sunken City
      • Nike Missile Site LA-96C
      • The Prohibition Tunnels
      • Vasquez Rocks
      • Big Horn Mine
      • The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
    • 2016 Episodes >
      • The Laguna Beach Pirate Tower
      • The Great Wall of Los Angeles
      • Murphy's Ranch
      • The Chemosphere
      • The Los Feliz Murder Mansion
      • The Music Box Steps
      • Bronson Cave
      • The Shakespeare Bridge
      • The S.S. Dominator Shipwreck
      • The Last Bookstore
      • Picnic Table #29
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THE OLD LOS ANGELES ZOO

Location: Griffith Park
​Accessibility: Easy - Parking lot near site

​Built: 1912
Los Angeles has two zoos. The Old LA Zoo and the "New" LA Zoo. The difference? One houses animals and one houses the memory of animals. Found hidden behind the Merry-go-round area of Griffith Park, the Old Zoo is a collection of ruins that allows the viewer to see how the animals lived, and one can even climb into some of the cages and pretend to be a bear or giant tortoise.

The cages, cave enclosures, and irons bars left abandoned and wide open has put it on the map of unique sites around Los Angeles. The Old Zoo has also made memorable appearances in television and film including "Starchy and Hutch", "Aquarius" and the climactic scene of "Anchorman". 

How did the Old LA Zoo become "old"? For starters, the zoo had a rough start. The structures were less than animal friendly and a shortage of meat in the US made it difficult to properly feed the animals.  When it opened, only 15 animals lived at the zoo, so there was no visitor attraction.  Once the New LA Zoo opened in 1966, the Old zoo was abandoned but not forgotten. It is now a favorite spot for tourist, picnickers, as well as LA natives.  In addition, each year the Old Zoo is home to a free Shakespeare festival with several stage performances.

For more information, check out our episode where we spent the day at the Old LA Zoo. 
  • New Episodes
  • Episode Archive
    • 2020 Episodes >
      • The Lummis Castle
      • The Sky Slide
      • The Galleta Meadows Sculptures
      • Burro Schmidt Tunnel
      • The Global Angel Wings Project
      • The Topanga Time Tunnel
      • Solstice Canyon
      • The Kea Mill
      • Tankland
      • Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
      • Cabot's Pueblo
    • 2019 Episodes >
      • The Shoemaker Tunnels
      • The Canned Heat Suicide House
      • Angels Flight
      • Echo Mountain
      • Amir's Garden
      • The Amboy Crater
      • Hazel's Volcanic Gardens
      • East Jesus
      • Rock-a-Hoola Waterpark
      • The Mojave Lava Tube
      • The Mosaic Tile House
      • The Krampus Run
    • 2018 Episodes >
      • Devil's Gate Dam
      • Salvation Mountain
      • The Cat House
      • The Sutro Bath Ruins
      • Bring Your Own Big Wheel
      • The Wave Organ
      • The Bay Bridge Troll
      • The Peephole Cinema
      • Nike Missile Site LA-88L
      • The High Tower Elevator
    • 2017 Episodes >
      • The Bridge to Nowhere
      • The Musical Road
      • The Old Los Angeles Zoo
      • The St. Francis Dam
      • Phantasma Gloria
      • The Sunken City
      • Nike Missile Site LA-96C
      • The Prohibition Tunnels
      • Vasquez Rocks
      • Big Horn Mine
      • The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
    • 2016 Episodes >
      • The Laguna Beach Pirate Tower
      • The Great Wall of Los Angeles
      • Murphy's Ranch
      • The Chemosphere
      • The Los Feliz Murder Mansion
      • The Music Box Steps
      • Bronson Cave
      • The Shakespeare Bridge
      • The S.S. Dominator Shipwreck
      • The Last Bookstore
      • Picnic Table #29
  • Contact Us