Staff are celebrating the announcement of a £4.5million investment into Castle Hill from West Midlands European Regional Development Fund.
The five-year project will create a new access and shared arrival area for visitors to DZG, Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Canal Trust.
A dedicated £1.2million for DZG will upgrade roads across the 40-acre site, fund new signage and create a medieval animal-based visitor experience within the 11th century Dudley Castle.
DZG CEO Peter Suddock said: "This funding shows just how important the site and tourism are to the region.
"The programme will create easier access from the motorway, which will relieve current traffic problems, transform a derelict site into a car park accessed from a brand new infrastructure and boost visitor numbers."
The work is due to start next year – the zoo’s 75th anniversary.
Mr Suddock added: "This is wonderful news, coupled with £1.12million Heritage Lottery Funding to restore four of our 1937 Tecton buildings, plus our own investment programme which will create a new shop and boost the animal collection, it really is the icing on the cake and we’re looking forward to a fantastic anniversary year."
DZG CEO Peter Suddock in the Humboldt penguin enclosure, which will be remodelled as part of the site’s overall investment programme.