Grand Junction's Beloved Lion Statue Honors Tragic Zoo History

The mysterious 1954 shooting death of Leo the Lion left an indelible mark on the community.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:11pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph depicting a large lion statue in a park setting, with the statue's form barely visible through a hazy, dreamlike wash of warm colors and soft, blurred shapes.A tribute to Grand Junction's beloved lions, the giant statue stands as a poignant reminder of the community's unique history and resilience.Grand Junction Today

In Grand Junction's Las Colonias Park, a giant lion statue stands as a tribute to Leo, a beloved zoo resident whose unsolved murder in 1954 left a lasting impact on the community. The zoo, which operated in Lincoln Park until 1969, was home to two lions named Leo, both of whom met tragic ends - the first shot by an unknown assailant, and the second dying of cancer. The lions' stories have become part of Grand Junction's local lore.

Why it matters

The Leo the Lion statue serves as a poignant reminder of Grand Junction's history and the community's connection to its past. The unsolved murder of the original Leo sparked outrage and left many unanswered questions, while the later Leo's death from cancer underscored the challenges of operating a small-town zoo. These stories highlight how local landmarks and public art can preserve a city's unique identity and collective memory.

The details

The first Leo the Lion arrived at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1936 after being traded for five monkeys. He quickly became a star attraction and community favorite. But on February 5, 1954, Leo was found dead in his cage, shot twice with a .22-caliber bullet. The murder remains unsolved to this day. After Leo's death, the Lions Club and Humane Society brought in a mother lion and two cubs, one of which became known as Leo the Second. Sadly, Leo II also met a tragic end, dying of cancer in 1969 that was initially mistaken for a toothache. The zoo closed that same year, devastating the community.

  • Leo the First arrived at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1936.
  • In 1952, Leo the First was shot but survived.
  • On February 5, 1954, Leo the First was found dead in his cage, shot twice.
  • The Lincoln Park Zoo closed in 1969, the same year Leo the Second died of cancer.
  • The giant lion statue in Las Colonias Park was erected as a tribute to the two Leos.

The players

Leo the First

The first lion to reside at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Grand Junction, who was mysteriously shot and killed in 1954.

Leo the Second

The second lion brought to the Lincoln Park Zoo after the death of the original Leo, who died of cancer in 1969.

Lincoln Park Zoo

A small zoo that operated in Grand Junction's Lincoln Park until its closure in 1969.

Lions Club

A community organization that helped bring in a new lion after the death of the original Leo.

Humane Society

An animal welfare organization that also assisted in bringing a new lion to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

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What they’re saying

“Seventy years later, it's still unsolved. What makes it even darker? This wasn't even the first time someone shot him.”

— Tim Gray, Author

What’s next

The giant lion statue in Las Colonias Park continues to stand as a tribute to the two Leos, serving as a lasting memorial to the zoo's history and the community's connection to its past.

The takeaway

The tragic stories of the two Leos at the Lincoln Park Zoo have become an integral part of Grand Junction's local lore, highlighting how public art and landmarks can preserve a city's unique identity and collective memory, even in the face of unsolved mysteries and heartbreak.