What can close encounters with miniature cows and giant rabbits teach us about animals and their interdependence with humans?
Visitors to the Greenville Zoo will find out in 2026 when construction is complete on the new Phillips Family Farm, a renovation to the existing farm habitat enjoyed by generations of children.
The project, the largest for a single exhibit in the zoo’s history, makes the most of the current space and adjacent unused land to accommodate 2 acres of farmyard, a two-story, 6,600-square-foot building and two smaller barns, said Lindsay Tucker, director of operations and engagement for the Greenville Zoo Foundation.
“The immersive new exhibit will allow guests to engage closely with farm animals from around the world,” Tucker said. “This habitat will celebrate the important role domesticated animals play in global agriculture and conservation. It is truly a blend of learning, exploration, and fun for guests of all ages.”
The three barns will span the zoo’s lower walkway and feature walk-through exhibits and hands-on education areas. In addition to the cows and rabbits, the new farm will be home to mini donkeys, alpacas, turkeys and a barn owl, along with the zoo’s currently held African pygmy goats and Kunekune pigs.
One of the Upstate’s top-rated attractions, the Greenville Zoo welcomes over 325,000 guests each year. Its education programs reach students from preschool to those studying veterinary technology at Greenville Technical College.
“We host up to 500 field trips every year from schools all over the state and Western North Carolina,” Tucker said. “The new exhibit will be a game changer in terms of what the zoo looks like for the future.”
The Phillips Family Farm, which has been in the planning and fundraising stages for two years, follows other recent updates, including the Jim and Janice Cordes Giraffe Encounters, which opened in 2023, and the Mary H. Huse Africa Plaza, completed in 2024.
“The lead donor had been searching for a way to honor the legacy of her late parents, who were farmers, when she read about the farmyard project in a Greenville Journal feature article,” Tucker said. “This project seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that.”
Community Foundation of Greenville is supporting one of the barns, named the Community Foundation of Greenville Barn Owl Habitat, with a $100,000 gift to the Greenville Zoo Foundation.
The Greenville Zoo was founded in 1960. Since 1986, it has been one of a select group of zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is committed to ensuring that the animals housed there receive care that meets or exceeds AZA standards.
Temporary accommodations have been made for the current farm animals and a groundbreaking is scheduled for late summer.
“We’re a small zoo with big goals,” Tucker said. “We’re honored to partner with an incredible number of donors and organizations that understand the importance of a community treasure like the Greenville Zoo and the impact a project like this will have for decades to come.”
Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.
