Turtle Back Zoo, which took its name from a nearby rock formation, opened in 1963 with a collection of 140 animals representing 40 species. It was originally opened seasonally and had a Hans Christian Andersen "storybook theme," with such exhibits as "a giant piggy bank, the ABC house, the pirates’ ship". By 1973 the zoo was home to 850 animals representing 275 species. In 1975, the Zoological Society of New Jersey was established to help promote the zoo and provide funding. Despite this, Turtle Back Zoo fell into disrepair, and was almost shut down in 1995. In 2000, the zoo created a master plan with the objective of improving the zoo enough to receive accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Between 2003 and 2006, Turtle Back received approximately $20 million in funding, which was used to improve the facilities, and in 2006 the zoo received its first accreditation. New facilities included the Essex County Animal Hospital on zoo grounds, and a new entrance/administrative complex with a reptile center, classrooms, and an auditorium. In 2016, zoo attendance exceeded 700,000 visitors for the first time in its history.
Exhibits
Exhibits include an American black bear exhibit; the Essex Farm, which holds common farm animals and includes a petting zoo; and the Tropical Currents Aquarium, which exhibits fish from around the world in six large tanks; African Adventure's first enclosure which exhibits Masai giraffes, Common Eland, Ostriches, White-faced whistling ducks and Bontebok.
Reptile center
The $4.6 million reptile house and education center, the zoo's first indoor exhibit, opened in June 2006. When the reptile center opened, it contained a pair of nine-foot-long "black dragons", a species of monitor lizard which was discovered in Malaysia in 2005 and has yet to receive a scientific name. The Reptile House's main exhibit now contains a Komodo dragon an animal born by parthenogenesis.
Gibbons
The gibbon habitat contains a outdoor mesh tent habitat that is home to the zoos five gibbons. This $1.8 million exhibit was opened in 2009 and became the first exhibit for Amazing Asia.
Amazing Asia
This regional exhibit is home to Red pandas, White-naped Cranes, Muntjacs, and a new leopard exhibit that opened in 2018. The crane and muntjac exhibits also contain a rare african Dwarf Crocodile.
Shores of Africa
The penguin enclosure reopened. This home is full of African penguins that love their new indoor pool and underwater viewing. This small dark exhibit is home to a galago family.
This exhibit features an 82,000-gallon pool for sea lions and a 1,600-gallon touch tank for sting rays, along with space for education programs and special events. This $5.5 million exhibit was opened in 2013.
Big Cat Country
The exhibit features cougars and jaguars and has a Southwest United States theme. The animals’ area has rock outcroppings, a waterfall and indigenous Southwest plantings. Viewing areas resemble a southwest mine or cave and stamped concrete pathways for visitors resemble a southwest trail. The big cat area has an indoor winter refuge area for the animals and secure holding areas. It also is being used as a breeding facility. This $3 million exhibit was opened in 2011.
In May 2016 the zoo opened their three-acre African Adventure attraction. The $7 million addition is designed to mimic an African Savannah and contains four Masai giraffes. In addition the exhibit contains: eland, whistling ducks, ostriches, bonteboks, and tortoises. In spring 2017, this ancient exhibit includes lions and a pack of hyenas.
Drill Family Flamingo Exhibit
In the summer of 2018, the zoo opened a new exhibit for the American Flamingo and the Hyacinth Macaw. The current flamingo habitat was the zoo´s old penguin exhibit, which got demolished and replaced by a home for new tropical birds.
Other attractions
The zoo has the narrow gauge Turtle Back Zoo Railroad train ride, carousel, and a playground. The trains were originally Iron Horse Trains by Allan Herschell, but were replaced in 1984 and 1999 by C. P. Huntington trains by Chance Rides. In 2015, the railroad received a third locomotive as part of a program to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death on April 18. The carousel opened in 2008 and is in a large gazebo. On September 25, 2010, the Turtle Back Zoo opened the Turtle Back Zoo Safari Mini Golf course. Designed by French & Parrello Associates, P.A., the miniature golf course replicates three African regions: the Sahara Desert, the African Grasslands, and the Congo located to the center is Mount Kilimanjaro. The miniature golf course consists of 19 holes and contains various animal sculptures, such as a camel, an elephant, a gorilla, a lion and more. In September 2011, the zoo opened the Treetop Adventure Ropes Course. An education center opened in July 2014. All the zoo's attractions are part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex. A $2 million on-site veterinary hospital includes a full surgery suite and x-ray and ultrasound facilities. In 2016, a new 15,000 square foot, $2 million, sea turtle recovery center opened within the zoo.
Controversy
Residents of Essex County have lobbied for expansion of the zoo to cease, citing traffic congestion and disruption of the surrounding South Mountain Reservation. In July 2019, Essex County officials announced the construction of a proposed amphitheater, grizzly bear exhibit, and overnight camping. Essex County officials reported in September 2019 that as a result of the backlash, the amphitheater was scaled back, though no exact details were released.
