Griffith Park Zoo

The former Griffith Park Zoo is a picnic site on a wooded hillside in Los Angeles, where concrete enclosures, metal grilles, and small stone buildings from the mid-20th century sit scattered among the trees. The structures stand empty, doors and windows open, with paths winding through the brush from one building to the next.

The site functioned as a city zoo from 1912 to 1966, beginning with a handful of animals and later housing dozens of species. Officials moved the entire operation to a new location two miles away, leaving the old facilities to decay.

The abandoned cages and enclosures now carry graffiti and often serve as backdrops for photo shoots or small family gatherings. Picnickers sit among the old walls and benches where visitors once watched the animals.

From the parking lot near the merry-go-round, the site is about a five-minute walk along a gentle uphill path through the woods. Some enclosures offer shaded spots with picnic tables, but the terrain is hilly and partly covered with loose rubble.

Visitors can step through the open barred doors into the cages and enter the same space once occupied by bears, lions, and other animals. In some corners, iron rings and hooks remain, once used to secure chains or food containers.

Inception: 1912

GPS coordinates: 34.13388,-118.28868

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26