Seminars and company events
The McDonnell Center at River Camp hosts dinners for up to 168 seated guests and receptions for up to 180, inside the Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri. The zoo rents the building for corporate meetings, team-building days, holiday parties and company gatherings, as well as private celebrations such as anniversaries and reunions. It is available seven days a week, for daytime or evening events.
The main space divides into three rooms that can be booked on their own. A group can hold a meeting in one section and serve a meal in another, or take a single room for a smaller session. A private terrace runs the full length of the building for breaks and outdoor drinks. For a company group, the zoo can add encounters with penguins, sea lions or stingrays, or a ride on the Emerson Zooline Railroad or the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel, which turns a meeting into a day out for the team.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings are part of the zoo's event program. Booking a venue such as River Camp is required to add one of the zoo's ceremony sites, which include the Bird Garden Gazebo, the Herpetarium, Hippo Landing, the Meadow on Historic Hill, the South Entrance Plaza and the Stingray Deck. Outdoor sites are seasonal and depend on weather and daylight. The reception can then move to River Camp for dinner and dancing.
Rooms and capacities
The full room seats 168 for dinner or holds 180 for a cocktail reception. It splits into three rooms, each bookable separately. One end of the space has a window into the Missouri River Aquarium, where guests can watch paddlefish, gar and other river species during the event. The terrace extends the space outdoors along the whole building. A 3D virtual tour of the venue is available on the zoo's website for planners who want to check layouts before a visit.
Catering
Food and drink come from the zoo's in-house catering team, led by an executive chef. The catering menu is available from the events team. Balloons and straws are not allowed on zoo grounds, a rule that applies to decor and bar service.
History and setting
River Camp is one of four rental venues at the Saint Louis Zoo, alongside The Living World, the Lakeside Cafe and the Event Tent. The building is linked to the Missouri River Aquarium, which presents the fish of the river. Fees from event rentals support the zoo's conservation work, and guests can combine their event with time among the animals.
Getting there
The zoo's address is 1 Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110, in Forest Park, west of downtown. St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the nearest airport, and the MetroLink light rail stops at Forest Park-DeBaliviere, a short ride or walk from the zoo.
