The zoo emphasizes educational programs, conservation initiatives, and interactive animal experiences to encourage appreciation for biodiversity.

As a non-profit, all donations and purchases directly support the zoo's mission to preserve wildlife and ecosystems for future generations.

In its early years, most of the animals on exhibit were native to the area, with a notable exception being a group of prairie dogs that were brought from Texas.

[3] After the failed relocation proposal, the newly-established Blue Ridge Zoological Society voted in 1988 to keep the zoo permanently atop Mill Mountain.

[7][8] In June 2021, the zoo completed its largest capital project in three decades and added a black bear, heritage goats, hogs, and other animals.