Our History

In 1971, Dr. David “Doc” and Connie Hellyer donated the original land that became Northwest Trek Wildlife Park to Metro Parks Tacoma. After four years of diligent fundraising and planning, Northwest Trek officially opened its doors on July 17, 1975. Over the next 15 years, the park expanded its exhibits, debuting the snowy owl, cougar, bobcat, lynx, wolf and bear exhibits. In 1994, the park set an all-time attendance record with more than 210,000 visitors, following the opening of the new grizzly.

Pierce County residents have shown strong support for Northwest Trek Wildlife Park over the years, approving several park bonds for improvements and additional exhibits. In 2000, Pierce County voters again expressed their support by passing a county-wide sales tax measure, which supports more than 40 percent of the park’s budget.

In 2005, Metro Parks purchased 100 acres bordering the northern end of the park, protecting the tram route from residential encroachment and providing new space for future conservation initiatives. A partnership between Northwest Trek, Pierce County, the Land Conservancy and several generous private donors made the land purchase possible.

On January 20, 2006, Dr. Hellyer passed away and in July of 2012, his devoted wife, Connie, passed away. Their passion and commitment to Northwest wildlife and habitats lives on at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. The park continues to play a significant role in the lives of community residents and generations to come.