A pair of Asian elephant twins, a sprawling seven-acre elephant preserve, Amur tigers, snow leopards, red pandas, penguins, and more than 700 animals are all waiting in Syracuse, just a road weekend trip from New York City.
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is one of those Upstate New York attractions that can fly under the radar for NYC families, animal lovers, and anyone looking for a fall escape that does not involve another pumpkin patch.
Founded in 1914, the zoo is among the top 10% of North American zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, a distinction awarded to facilities that meet rigorous standards for animal care, welfare, veterinary programs, education, conservation, and guest safety.
Set inside Burnet Park, the zoo is home to more than 700 animals representing 216 species, from bright poison dart frogs and red pandas to 8,000-pound Asian elephants.
But its biggest draw might be two very unusual Syracuse siblings: the zoo’s “miracle” elephant twins, Yaad and Tukada.
One of the country’s rarest elephant programs is in Syracuse
Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s elephant habitat is not a quick walk-past enclosure. It’s the Helga Beck Asian Elephant Preserve, a nearly seven-acre environment built around the needs of the zoo’s eight-elephant herd.
The preserve includes a 50,000-gallon naturalistic watering hole with biofiltration, a 12,000-square-foot elephant-care facility with a green roof, and outdoor spaces where visitors can watch the herd roam, feed, socialize, and cool off.
The headliners are Yaad and Tukada, male Asian elephant twins born at the zoo in October 2022. Their birth was an extraordinary conservation milestone: the twins joined the third generation of the zoo’s elephant family, which includes their mother Mali, aunt Kirina, and grandmother Targa.
The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan.
Of the AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, only eight are active Asian elephant breeding facilities, placing the Syracuse zoo in an especially small national group.
Visitors can typically see the twins and the rest of the herd at the preserve during daily outdoor viewing windows from 11 – 11:30 am and 2 – 2:30 pm, weather permitting, as well as through the Pachyderm Pavilion viewing windows.
From snow leopards to a submarine-themed cave
The elephants may be the stars, but the rest of the zoo makes a convincing case for taking your time.
The half-mile Wildlife Trail moves through wooded sections of the park and past Amur tigers, red wolves, red pandas, Humboldt penguins, Andean bears, gray wolves, snow leopards, Steller’s sea eagles, Bactrian camels, and blue cranes. It;s the kind of walk where you can go from spotting a tiny red panda tucked into a tree to standing face-to-face with a tiger enclosure in a matter of minutes.
Indoors, the U.S.S. Antiquities exhibit turns the natural-history experience into something a little more theatrical. Designed to resemble a submarine voyage through time, the cave-like space follows life from the earliest ocean creatures to animals that eventually made their way onto land. Expect tropical fish, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and jewel-toned poison dart frogs that look more like tiny living pieces of candy than anything that should be handled without professional supervision.
There is also the Social Animals building, home to species that thrive in groups, including Amur leopards, golden lion tamarins, meerkats, ruffed lemurs, porcupines, and the zoo’s Komodo dragon during colder months.
Fall brings Zoo Boo to Syracuse
The zoo makes an especially appealing fall destination because October comes with Zoo Boo, its “kooky-not-spooky” daytime Halloween celebration.
This year’s Zoo Boo is scheduled for October 17, 18, 24, and 25, from 10 am to 3 pm. The event includes trick-or-treat stations, creepy-crawly animal encounters, keeper chats, games, activities, photo ops, and a costume parade.
Costumes and treat bags are encouraged, and Zoo Boo is included with regular paid admission or membership.
The zoo will also host its annual Fall Festival on October 3 and 4, from 10 am to 3 pm, bringing together local vendors, seasonal activities, and a full zoo day under peak Central New York foliage.
Make it a Syracuse fall escape
Syracuse sits roughly 250 miles from NYC, making this more of a full-day drive for early risers or, better yet, an easy overnight fall escape.
After the zoo, walk around nearby Armory Square for restaurants, bars, and historic brick-lined streets, then head to Onondaga Lake Park for waterfront paths and open views.
For an especially autumnal detour, drive about 20 minutes southwest to Beaver Lake Nature Center, where trails loop through forest, wetlands, and lake scenery that comes alive once Central New York’s leaves begin to turn.
The zoo is also close to several Syracuse institutions worth building into a weekend, including the Erie Canal Museum, Everson Museum of Art, and Destiny USA.
A little farther afield, Skaneateles offers lake views, small-town storefronts, and the kind of Finger Lakes fall atmosphere that will make you briefly consider checking real-estate listings just for fun.
What to know before you go
📍 Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse, NY 13204
🗓️ Hours: Open daily from 10 am. to 4:30 pm. The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
🎟️ Admission: Adult tickets are $9 from March through December. Youth ages 3 to 17 and seniors 62 and older are $5, while children 2 and under enter free. Active-duty military members, veterans, active-duty military spouses, and up to three family members receive free admission. Confirm current pricing and hours through the Rosamond Gifford Zoo website, as schedules and fees can change.
🎃 Zoo Boo: October 17, 18, 24, and 25, 2026, 10 am. to 3 pm. Included with regular admission.