Denver Zoo shutters early after warnings of a TikTok-driven teen “takeover” spark safety fears.
At a Glance
- The Denver Zoo closed its gates early on Saturday, June 29, out of caution over a rumored “teen takeover” event.
- The decision was made after the Denver Police Department warned the zoo about a social media-fueled gathering planned for City Park, where the zoo is located.
- The concern stems from a recent trend of large, disruptive teen gatherings organized on platforms like TikTok that have occurred in Denver and other U.S. cities.
- Zoo officials emphasized that they were not directly threatened but were taking a proactive step to ensure safety.
A Precautionary Closure at Denver Zoo
The Denver Zoo took the preemptive step of closing its gates early on Saturday, June 29, 2025, to avoid potential chaos from a rumored “teen takeover” event that was circulating on social media. The zoo, which is located inside the city’s popular City Park, closed at 1 p.m. after being alerted to the situation by the Denver Police Department.
“The Denver Police Department made us aware of an event happening tomorrow afternoon in City Park, which is being referred to as the ‘City Park takeover,’” Jake Kubie, the zoo’s Vice President for External Relations, told local media.
The “Teen Takeover” Trend
The zoo’s decision was not made in a vacuum but was a direct response to a recent and troubling trend of large, sometimes-violent gatherings of teenagers organized on social media platforms like TikTok. These “takeover” events have caused disruptions in cities across the country.
As reported by Yahoo News, a similar event just weeks prior saw some 300 teenagers gather in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood, leading to multiple skirmishes. Another high-profile incident at Menlo Park Mall in New Jersey also involved hundreds of teens and resulted in fights and chaos.
“Caution Over Everything Else”
Zoo officials were clear that they had not received any direct threats. The early closure was a purely proactive measure to ensure the safety of the zoo’s nearly two million annual visitors, its staff, and the 2,500 animals in its care.
Denver zoo closes early over the weekend to prevent wild teens from pulling off TikTok-inspired ‘takeover’ trend https://t.co/lf1Y1jUBKL pic.twitter.com/6EYPN4VsyB
— New York Post (@nypost) June 30, 2025
“We don’t believe we’re a target of anything,” Kubie told the New York Post. “We haven’t received any information that suggests that there is going to be any impact to us. We’re always leaning towards caution over everything else.”
The Denver Police Department confirmed it had an increased presence in and around City Park on Saturday to monitor the situation. The zoo’s decision, while disruptive for some would-be visitors, highlights the new and unpredictable challenges that social media trends can pose to public safety and community institutions.
