Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo

Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo are a campground and zoo located in Olmsted County, Minnesota north of the city of Byron, and about 4.5 miles west of Rochester. It houses over 30 species of animals, most of which have injuries that would prevent them from surviving in the wild. All of the animals are native to Minnesota. The zoo is named after Dr. Paul E. Zollman. The most popular animals include a wolf, bald eagle, white-tailed deer, coyotes, bobcat, river otters, bison and cougar. Oxbow Park is open most of the year, as is Zollman Zoo, with a majority of the animals being visible year round.

The idea of a new park for Olmsted County was fostered by the Olmsted County Park Board and residents of the park area. The initial 465 acres of land were purchased in 1967. Located in the Zumbro River Valley, the area offered ideal recreational opportunities. A large bend in the river, called an “oxbow” because of its resemblance to an ox yoke, gave the park its name. This “oxbow” has been preserved through bank stabilization and now surrounds the main picnic area.

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