I rather dislike zoos.  I am still refining my viewpoint on animals in captivity, but a zoo is currently at the top of my do-not-patronize list.  When I was a kid, I looked forward to field trips to the zoo because I enjoyed seeing and learning about the animals, but ever since I was an older child, I've had particularly negative feelings towards zoos because I disliked seeing animals behind bars, spending all day in cages and being pointed at by spectators.

But an abandoned zoo without any animals... that sounds like a zoo worth exploring!



I first learned about this abandoned attraction after watching a Tom Explore's Los Angeles's video of the Old L.A. Zoo (Tom Explores Los Angeles is a great resource for tourists and Angelenos who want to learn a bit of history and discover cool sites in L.A.).  The Griffith Park Zoo opened in 1912 with fifteen animals.  In 1966, Griffith Park Zoo closed, and the animals were transferred to the new Los Angeles Zoo (which is also located in Griffith Park).  The old animal enclosures were left as ruins in what is now a hiking and picnic area.

There's nothing I love more than a great view.  The higher up, the better.  Looking down on the city makes me want to throw my hands in the air and scream, "I'm on top of the world!"  (I'm sure my family and friends are thankful that I have never actually done that.... but one day it will happen.  You've been warned.)

So one of the first things I did after settling into my apartment in Los Angeles was begin searching for the best view of the city.  And Griffith Observatory was a popular destination among acromaniacs like myself.