kids encyclopedia robot

Riverside Discovery Center facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Riverside Discovery Center
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 / 41.8552; -103.6841
No. of animals 125+
No. of species 50+

The Riverside Discovery Center is a fun park and zoo located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. It sits right along the North Platte River. This center used to be called the Riverside Park and Zoo.

Riverside Park is Scottsbluff's main city park. It's special because it has the only zoo in western Nebraska. The park has three lakes where you can camp and enjoy outdoor activities. There's also a trail along the riverbanks. Plus, you can explore over 30 different garden areas!

In December 2017, two brother grizzly bears came to live at the center. They were cubs who had lost their mother in Wyoming earlier that year. Wildlife experts hoped the cubs could survive alone. But after a few months, the cubs started getting too used to people looking for food. Officials worried about their safety and the safety of people. So, they decided to find the cubs a new home. The Riverside Discovery Center offered to help and gave these two grizzly bear cubs a safe place to live.

The Riverside Discovery Center was also in the perfect spot to see the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. This was a very exciting event for visitors!

The Riverside Discovery Center was not re-accredited by the AZA in September 2023. This means it did not meet all the specific standards set by the AZA at that time.

Meet the Animals: A World of Wildlife

The Riverside Discovery Center is home to over 125 animals. These animals represent more than 50 different kinds of species. They live in various special areas called exhibits.

North American Grasslands: Home on the Range

This area shows animals that once lived freely in the wide grasslands of North America.

Garden Walk: Tiny Wonders and Colorful Birds

Explore this peaceful garden area to see some interesting creatures.

Slither Inn: Secret Snakes and Lizards

The Slither Inn mainly houses animals used for education. Many of them are kept behind the scenes.

Raptor Row: Birds of Prey

This section features different kinds of raptors, which are birds that hunt for food.

Rainforest Discovery Center: Jungle Friends

This area is dedicated to some of the smaller animals that live in rainforests.

Chimpanzee Building: Smart Primates and More

This building is home to the chimpanzees and other unique animals.

Cat Complex: Big Cats and Their Relatives

Here you can find different types of large cats and similar animals.

Primate Building: Monkeys and Lemurs

This building has a small collection of primates, which are a group of mammals that includes monkeys and apes.

Zebra Circle: Striped Wonders

Come see these animals with their unique patterns.

Children's Zoo: Farm Fun and Friendly Faces

This area is perfect for younger visitors to meet some common farm animals.

  • Donkey (Equus asinus)
  • Pot-bellied pig
  • Highland Cattle
  • Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Pond: Graceful Water Birds

Look for this beautiful bird near the water.

  • Trumpeter Swan

Other Amazing Animals

There are also other animals at the center that are not part of the main exhibits listed above.

Conservation Efforts: Protecting Wildlife

The Riverside Discovery Center helps protect endangered animals. They are part of the Survival Species Program. This program works to save different kinds of wildlife that are in danger.

The zoo and park are located about half a mile west of Nebraska Highway 71.

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Riverside Discovery Center Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.