Bear Hollow Zoo 🇺🇸

Nestled inside the 72-acre Memorial Park in Athens, Georgia, Bear Hollow Zoo offers you a chance to see native wildlife that are non-releasable to the wild. As you explore this unique facility, you will meet resident animals like white-tailed deer, an American alligator, North American river otters, great horned owls, and various creatures in the reptile house. The zoo is particularly famous for its American black bears, including Athena and Yonah, though long-time resident DJ passed away in May 2025 at an estimated 22 years old due to spinal osteoarthritis. Beyond the animal exhibits, your visit places you right in the heart of a vibrant local park filled with additional amenities. You can take a peaceful walk along the 1.25-mile Birchmore Trail to see "The Great Wall of Happy Hollow," an impressive 18-foot-tall wall constructed by Fred Birchmore when he was in his 70s. After visiting the wildlife, you can check out the park's fishing pond—home to ducks, geese, and many types of turtles—or take advantage of the playground, dog park, picnic areas, outdoor basketball courts, swimming pool, and the non-profit Athens Creative Theater, which has been hosting performing arts since 1966.

What to see at Bear Hollow Zoo

• Native non-releasable animals, including American black bears Athena and Yonah.
• A reptile house, North American river otters, and an American alligator.
• The 1.25-mile Birchmore Trail featuring the 18-foot-tall Great Wall of Happy Hollow.
• A fishing pond filled with ducks, geese, and various types of turtles.
• On-site park features like a playground, dog park, pool, and the Athens Creative Theater.

Visiting tips

Combine your zoo excursion with a stroll down the 1.25-mile Birchmore Trail to see the incredible 18-foot stone wall built by Fred Birchmore in his 70s.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Bear Hollow Zoo is easy to reach on Athens’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Sanford Stadium and State Botanical Garden of Georgia. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Athens travel guide.