Community welcomed back 'Leo the Lion' water fountain at the Central Coast Zoo

NORTH COUNTY — Love was in the air across North County this Valentine’s weekend, as communities came together for celebrations ranging from sweet treats and family fun to downtown shopping and local traditions. Festivities kicked off Friday, Feb. 13, with the Sweetheart Stroll in downtown Atascadero, hosted by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, and continued through Valentine’s Day itself.

Popular Paso Robles bakery Just Baked joined the holiday fun with a wide array of festive treats, drawing both longtime patrons and new visitors. Owner Libby Ryan said Valentine’s Day is one of the shop’s favorite times of year.

"Valentine’s Day is always such a treat at the shop. We love seeing our past couples come back celebrating their anniversaries in Paso, reminiscing on their wedding days," Ryan said.

The bakery decorated for the holiday with pink, hearts, and festive displays, making each visit feel special. Tiramisu and chocolate-covered strawberries proved to be top sellers, reflecting the community’s sweet tooth for the holiday.

"It’s also just a great time with everyone grabbing treats for those they love, and we try to make everything look extra special and cute for this holiday," Ryan added. "One of my favorite things, though, about the holiday is being tagged in everyone’s Kissing Booth photos. We try each holiday to make sure that you can leave the shop with some sort of 'takeaway' experience. I hope everyone felt 'the love' from our fun photo op."

Just Baked also shared treats with neighboring businesses like General Store Paso Robles, spreading Valentine’s cheer beyond the bakery’s walls.

Families found a different kind of Valentine’s celebration at the Central Coast Zoo in Atascadero, where the children’s water fountain, “Leo the Lion,” made its long-awaited return. Though unconfirmed, it is suspected that "Leo" is from the 1960s. The unveiling coincided with the debut of the zoo’s inaugural Valentine-themed event, "Woo at the Zoo," and began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local families.

Zoo Director Dr. Cynthia Stringfield described the restoration as a long but rewarding process.

“The fountain was taken out in October of 2024 while we looked for a place to have it restored to get the cost estimate, and then find funding — this took much longer than I anticipated," she explained. "I could not find anyone locally to do the refurbishment, but thankfully finally found a specialist, Avalon Studios, in Minnesota — much to my surprise, they specialize in these fountains, restoring them as well as making new ones. It needed extensive restoration we were not even aware of under the paint, then it was re-painted as the new ones look, and it also received new plumbing, so it’s like brand new now.”

Visitors enjoyed heart-themed activities, keeper talks about animal mating habits, and enrichment sessions for the animals. A social media promotion encouraged guests to share past and present photos with Leo for a chance to win Valentine-themed prizes.

Dr. Stringfield said the community’s reaction to the fountain’s return was overwhelmingly positive, “The community was very excited and we have received a lot of positive comments, in person and on social media. I was relieved and happy to have this project done, and done well — he looks fantastic and I'm so glad for the community that he is back.”

The restoration was made possible through the support of H&R Block of SLO County and the Lions Clubs of San Miguel and Templeton.

The Sweetheart Stroll also brought a lively crowd to downtown Atascadero, where guests enjoyed the Sip & Shop event presented by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. More than 15 local businesses participated, offering wine, beer, coffee, and treats as shoppers explored the area. Shops stayed open late for the large turnout, and Historic City Hall welcomed visitors for complimentary tours.

From sweet treats at local bakeries to family fun at the zoo and vibrant downtown events, Valentine’s Day in North County offered something for everyone.

Feature Image: Libby Ryan, center, owner of Just Baked brought flowers and treats for her business neighbors of the General Store Paso Robles on Feb. 14. Contributed photo