In the 1950's Mr. Paul Dreher, the city's first parks director, had a progressive vision for 76 acres of swamp land. He envisioned a botanical park, zoo, and play space for children. In what was then called Bacon Park, Mr. Dreher started, with $18 of his own, a barnyard zoo collection of two ducks, two chickens, one goose, and a goat.

In March 1969, a group of interested citizens filed for not-for-profit corporate status as the Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches. This core group became the Zoo's first Board of Directors. In 1989, the Zoo achieved accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and now serves more than 300,000 visitors annually.