I am offering an archaeological perspective on contemporary zoo experiences. Archaeologists are, among other things, used to studying material culture, not only regarding their patterns in space and time but also within larger theoretical frameworks. Here, I focus specifically on an analysis of material animals as part of the zoo experience, with implications for the role of living animals. Fittingly in the Experience Economy, I am adopting an experience-directed mindset (as defined by Pine and Gilmore 2011), foregrounding how zoo experiences are designed and how visitors in turn experience what they find in zoos. This study of contemporary material culture in the zoo turns out to be well suited to exploring previously neglected aspects of what visitors experience in a zoo. It emerges, among other things, that visiting a zoo is about something else than what it appears to be at face value as living animals are not as central to the zoo experience as is often assumed. My argument proceeds by first making some theoretical distinctions on which the following analysis of animal representations and animal reifications will be based. I conclude with a broader discussion of the developing character of zoo experiences on the one hand and of the potential of contemporary archaeologies on the other hand.