About Us
As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Great Plains Zoo strives to fulfill four major objectives: Education, Conservation, Recreation and Discovery.
The Zoo came from humble beginnings as a private collection in the 1880’s owned by Senator Richard F. Pettigrew, who housed a few specimens of animals for viewing in the local parks around Sioux Falls. In 1930, the Sioux Falls Parks systems assumed responsibility for zoo development and added additional specimens for permanent display in
In 1957, the Zoological Society of Sioux Falls (ZSSF) was established as a non-profit corporation by a group of zoo supporters and organized by Howard Chernoff, associate publisher of the
The Great Plains Zoo continued growing and in 1984 the Delbridge Museum of Natural History opened. In 1985, the operation of the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History (GPZ) was assumed by the ZSSF and the City retaining ownership of the buildings and grounds. The change was based on the belief that private sector funding would increase if the City was not solely funding the zoo and museum, and the ZSSF would be better qualified to provide the necessary expertise to operate and manage a modern Zoological Park and Museum of Natural History.
In 1991 the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited the GPZ. Now, the Zoo's collection has grown to of hundreds of live animals from around the world exhibited in natural habitats emphasizing conservation and education. The Zoo has continued to renovate several of the older exhibits and created new larger habitats for the animals including: Asian Cats, Rare Rhinos of Africa, the award-winning Snow Monkey exhibit and Fortress of the Bears. GPZ’s current capital campaign is to bring the roar of the Lions back to Sioux Falls with an expansion to the African exhibit.
The Zoo is also a regional education leader, reaching up to 40,000 adults and children each year with interactive ZooMobiles and hands-on programming at the Zoo for infants through early high schoolers, including STEM and nature-inspired classes.
Zoological Society of Sioux Falls Board of Directors
- Jeanelle Lust - Chair
- Andrea Smith - Vice-Chair
- Tina Davis- Secretary
- George Mollner - Treasurer
- Jeff Hugunin - Past Chair
- Don Kearney - Ex Officio
- Ryan Tysdal - Mayoral Appointee
- Becky Dewitz - President/CEO
- Audrey Otto-Pepper - COO
- Alissa Bretsch
- Tracy Dahl-Webb
- Margaret Carmody
- Molly Daniel
- De Knudson
- Jeannie Iannello
- Matt Ditmanson
- Melissa Fossell
- Darin Hage
- Ryan Howlett
- Jennifer Kirby
- Laura Mitchell
- David O'Hara
- Mckenzy Raterman
