Riverdale Farm Zoo
Riverdale Farm has buildings, livestock, gardens and natural surroundings that reflect a typical, small Ontario farm of the late 19th to early 20th century. The Farm is home to a variety of domestic farm animals. The breeds have been selected to best represent, in today’s terms, the genetic material commonly found on a turn-of-the-century Ontario farm. A visit to the farm is a great way to experience animals, particularly in spring when we welcome new additions to the animal family!
Site History
The Farm was the site of Toronto's first zoo. The Riverdale Zoo was located on the west bank of the Don River and operated from 1894 to 1974. When the zoo closed, its animals relocated to a new, much larger facility in Scarborough (the current Toronto Zoo). A tour of Riverdale Farm today is a walk through an important piece of Toronto's zoo history, with the Residence, the Donnybrook and the Island House remaining as part of the original zoo buildings. Far from being an "old zoo ruin", today's Riverdale Farm is an engaging and educational urban attraction. When the zoo closed, the site was restored as a farm to let city children see how a farm works and to experience animals.
Come for a visit!
Tour the Farm’s scenic 7.5 acres along pathways through wooded areas, around ponds, and into butterfly-herb-flower-vegetable gardens, watch and chat with the farmer during daily chores and meet the animals at the pig and poultry barn, duck pond and in the unique Francey Barn, where animals live on the lower level.
Your Cooperation
Riverdale Farm is a representation of a rural farm in Ontario. It is not a petting zoo. Please do not feed the animals, as hand feeding can encourage aggressive behaviour and disrupt their controlled nutritional diet.
Admission is free and Riverdale Farm is open every day from 9am to 5pm.
Note: Parking is only available on neighbouring city streets. Dogs, bicycles, in-line skates, foot scooters, ride toys, and vehicles are not permitted on the Farm's property.
How to Get There
Riverdale Farm is located 3 blocks east of Parliament Street along Winchester Street or 3 blocks north of Gerrard Street East along Sumach Street.
Dogs, bicycles, in-line skates, foot scooters, ride toys, and vehicles are not permitted on the Farm's property. Our lower gate which allows access to Riverdale Park West/Broadview Avenue foot bridge is open May 1 – November 1 (9:15 am – 4:00 pm daily).