Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, Saskatoon

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is a multifaceted destination where prairie heritage, conservation, and family fun come together. Located in the city’s northeast, this National Historic Site offers visitors a chance to explore beautifully landscaped grounds, heritage buildings, and Saskatchewan’s only CAZA- and WAZA-accredited zoo.

Originally established in 1913 as the Sutherland Forest Nursery Station, the site played a pivotal role in prairie agriculture. For over five decades, it produced more than 147 million hardy tree seedlings-such as caragana, ash, elm, and maple-shipped across the Prairie Provinces to help farms combat wind erosion and beautify the landscape. Its model farm layout included a superintendent’s residence, greenhouses, irrigation systems, and shelterbelt demonstration areas.

After the nursery ceased operations in 1965, part of the land was transferred to the City of Saskatoon. The site was reopened in 1966 as a public park and expanded in 1972 to include a zoo, incorporating the rescued collection from the former Golden Gate Animal Farm. Today, the Zoo features over 80 species of animals and participates in conservation programs, education, and bird monitoring projects in cooperation with national agencies. It's also home to the Saskatoon Zoo Society, founded in 1976 to support animal care and outreach efforts.

Beyond the zoo, the Forestry Farm boasts themed gardens, picnic areas, and remnants of its nursery past, including ornamental landscapes and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. In winter, it hosts the Enchanted Forest Holiday Light Display, a major local event since 1999. Now surrounded by urban development, the park also forms part of Saskatoon’s greenbelt, offering a vibrant, living reminder of the city’s agricultural and environmental roots.