Maidstone Zoo is a former zoo in Maidstone, Kent, England. It was opened in 1914 by Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, but it closed in 1959 due to financial difficulties.
The zoo was located on the Tyrwhitt-Drake family estate at Cobtree, near Sandling. It had a wide variety of animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, zebras, monkeys, and reptiles.
The zoo was a popular attraction, and it was visited by many people from Maidstone and the surrounding area. However, it was also expensive to run, and it suffered from financial difficulties during the First World War and the Second World War.
In 1959, Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake died, and his family decided to close the zoo. The animals were sent to other zoos around the country, and the zoo's buildings were demolished.
The site of the zoo is now occupied by Cobtree Manor Park, a public park with a children's play area, a cafe, and a sculpture trail.
The zoo's old elephant house has been converted into a Men's Shed, and a wood at the park is still called Wolf Wood, recalling its time as the zoo's wolf enclosure.
Although Maidstone Zoo is no longer open, it remains an important part of the history of Maidstone. The zoo's legacy is preserved in the name of Cobtree Manor Park, and in the memories of those who visited the zoo in its heyday.
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