Mill Mountain Zoo sits on the same Mill Mountain ridge as the Roanoke Star, in a small but well-presented zoo focused on species of interest to the region or to the AZA Species Survival Plan. The collection includes red pandas, snow leopards, fishing cats, a Pallas cat, and a pair of red wolves — a critically endangered species native to the southeastern US.
The zoo is small enough to cover in an hour or two, which makes it a natural combination with a stop at the Star. The mountain setting means the enclosures are unusually shaded and quiet for a small-city zoo. A miniature train runs through the grounds in season.