Oklahoma City Zoo Unveiled New Pumpkin House

The installation at the Oklahoma City Zoo features a custom frame built by state correctional inmates.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Wildlife

Screen-print poster illustration of a house-shaped structure made of stacked pumpkins, evocative of the seasonal Haunt the Zoo community celebration. — The Oklahoma City Zoo launched its annual Haunt the Zoo event, featuring a custom pumpkin house frame crafted by state correctional inmates. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support local partnerships that involve correctional inmates in community development projects?

The Oklahoma City Zoo has introduced a new pumpkin house attraction for its annual Haunt the Zoo celebration. The display features a frame constructed by inmates at the Dick Conner Correctional Center.

Why it matters

The project provided a unique opportunity for inmates to develop practical skills through hands-on construction. For the zoo, the collaboration served as a novel way to add an attraction to the Haunt the Zoo event.

The pumpkin house is engineered to hold 256 individual pumpkins. The structure was completed following a two-month construction period.

The players

Oklahoma City Zoo

This is a zoological park and botanical garden located in Oklahoma City that hosts annual seasonal public events.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections

This state government agency manages prisons and oversees inmate rehabilitation and vocational training programs.

Dick Conner Correctional Center

This facility is a medium-security prison located in Oklahoma that employs inmates in various vocational projects.

The details

The Oklahoma City Zoo partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to fabricate the display's framework. The resulting installation serves as a central feature of this year's seasonal festivities at the park.

Inmates spent two months constructing the frame between August and October 2026.
The pumpkin house is on display throughout October 2026.

Culture Shift

This project continues the established trend of using correctional labor in public-private vocational partnerships to achieve community infrastructure goals. These collaborations aim to bridge the gap between institutional rehabilitation programs and external civic needs.

Visitors to the Haunt the Zoo event can view the installation during regular park hours throughout the month. The display adds a seasonal aesthetic to the zoo grounds for families attending the event.

The takeaway

Collaborative art projects can provide meaningful vocational training for inmates while simultaneously enhancing local public attractions. Readers interested in similar seasonal events can check the zoo's calendar for updated visitor information.