Arizona Wildlife World Zoo founder Mickey Ollson dies at 80

PHOENIX – The founder and owner of the metro Phoenix Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park, Mickey Ollson, has died after a brief battle with cancer, the facility announced.

Ollson, 80, died Sunday. The West Valley native and philanthropist opened the zoo in Litchfield Park at Northern and Sarival avenues in 1984. The site grew to include an aquarium and safari park spread out over 215 acres and has more than 6,000 animals.

“Mickey Ollson was a dreamer,” park spokeswoman Kristy Hayden said in a press release. “His vision and hard work entertained and educated millions of people through the Wildlife World Zoo.

“He was an inspiration to his family and everyone who knew him.”

Ollson began dreaming of his zoo as a child, when he came down with chicken pox and was homebound. To keep himself busy, he drew a map of a zoo he wanted to build, according to the zoo.

He went on to graduate from Arizona State University and become a teacher.

But his love for animals stayed strong, raising exotic birds for other zoos, the park biography said.

“In the early ’80s, with the growth of the West Valley, we decided to go ahead and open a zoo here,” he said.

Ollson quit his teaching job and was a daily sight at the animal facility for decades to come.

He was honored by the Zoological Association of America in 2021 with its lifetime achievement award for professional excellence and “contributions to the zoo industry.”

Memorial services have not yet been arranged but the family asks in lieu of flowers, donate to Save Giraffes Now, one of Ollson’s favorite charities.

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