Riverside Discovery Center facts for kids
| Location | Scottsbluff, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Land area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Coordinates | 41°51′19″N 103°41′03″W / 41.8552°N 103.6841°W |
| No. of animals | 125+ |
| No. of species | 50+ |
The Riverside Discovery Center is a fun park and zoo located along the North Platte River in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States. It used to be called the Riverside Park and Zoo.
This center is Scottsbluff's city park and has the only zoo in western Nebraska. It features three lakes where you can camp and enjoy outdoor activities. There's also a riverside trail that follows the North Platte River. You can find over 30 beautiful garden spots here too!
In December 2017, two brother grizzly bears found a new home at the center. Their mother was no longer with them in the wild. State and federal wildlife experts hoped the two young cubs could survive on their own. However, after several months, the cubs started getting too used to people for food. Officials worried about public safety and the cubs' well-being. When it became clear the cubs couldn't make it alone, they decided to rescue them. The Riverside Discovery Center offered to help and give these two grizzly bear cubs a safe new home.
The Riverside Discovery Center was right in the path of the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. This was a very exciting event for visitors!
The Riverside Discovery Center was reviewed by the AZA in September 2023.
Contents
Meet the Amazing Animals
The Riverside Discovery Center is home to over 125 animals from more than 50 different species. They live in various special areas designed just for them.
North American Grasslands
This area shows animals that used to live all over the grasslands of North America.
- American bison (Bison bison)
Garden Walk
Take a stroll through the garden and meet these creatures:
- Box turtle
- Greek tortoise
- African spurred tortoise
- Blue-and-yellow macaw
Slither Inn
The Slither Inn mainly houses animals used for educational programs behind the scenes.
- Bearded dragon
- Boa constrictor
- Borneo python
- Grammostola pulchripes (a type of tarantula)
- Mexican black kingsnake
- Uromastyx lizard
- Chinese water dragon
Raptor Row
This section is home to many different birds of prey, also known as raptors.
- Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
- Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
- Red Tailed Hawk
- Rough-legged Buzzard
Rainforest Discovery Center
Step into this area to see some of the smaller animals that live in rainforests.
- Waldrapp ibis (Geronticus eremita)
- Mission golden-eyed tree frog
- Squirrel Monkey
- Emerald Tree Boa
Chimpanzee Building
This building is home to the chimpanzees and other unique animals.
- Chimpanzee
- Ball python
- Uromastyx
- Leopard Gecko
Cat Complex
Meet some of the big cats and other cool animals in this complex.
Primate Building
This building has a small collection of primates.
Zebra Circle
Come see these striped animals and their neighbors.
Children's Zoo
The Children's Zoo is a great place to meet friendly farm animals and more.
- Donkey (Equus asinus)
- Pot-bellied pig
- Highland Cattle
- Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Pond
Look for these beautiful birds on the pond.
- Trumpeter Swan
Other Cool Animals
Some animals at the center are not part of the main exhibits but are still amazing to see!
- Grizzly Bear
- Marbled Fox
- Porcupine
Conservation Efforts
The Riverside Discovery Center works hard to protect wildlife. They are part of the Survival Species Program, which helps save different kinds of endangered animals that you can see at the zoo.
The zoo and park are located about half a mile west of Nebraska Highway 71.
