Vintage Monkey Islands--Hershey Zoo

1964

With the advent of World War II, Hershey Zoo closed on December 20, 1942 for the duration. The zoo reopened on May 7, 1950, under the leadership of the new director, Clarence Moose and assistant director Raleigh Hughes. Hershey Zoo followed the fortunes of Hershey Park during the 1950s and 1960s. At first the zoo was able to add some additional attractions, most notably Monkey Island in 1954. But there was never any money to develop the zoo. Hershey Zoo was closed in 1971 as part of Hershey Estates' planning for a new themed amusement park, Hersheypark and reopened in 1978 as ZooAmerica.