diff --git a/content/zones/tavern.toml b/content/zones/tavern.toml
index e0d34e9..22b7f9d 100644
--- a/content/zones/tavern.toml
+++ b/content/zones/tavern.toml
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ description = "a cozy tavern with a crackling fireplace"
 width = 8
 height = 6
 toroidal = false
+spawn_x = 1
+spawn_y = 1
 
 [terrain]
 # rows as strings, one per line
diff --git a/src/mudlib/zone.py b/src/mudlib/zone.py
index 0b49bd8..3bc875f 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/zone.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/zone.py
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ class Zone(Object):
     toroidal: bool = True
     terrain: list[list[str]] = field(default_factory=list)
     impassable: set[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: {"^", "~"})
+    spawn_x: int = 0
+    spawn_y: int = 0
 
     def can_accept(self, obj: Object) -> bool:
         """Zones accept everything."""
diff --git a/src/mudlib/zones.py b/src/mudlib/zones.py
index 13488de..de417b7 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/zones.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/zones.py
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ def load_zone(path: Path) -> Zone:
     width = data["width"]
     height = data["height"]
     toroidal = data.get("toroidal", True)
+    spawn_x = data.get("spawn_x", 0)
+    spawn_y = data.get("spawn_y", 0)
 
     # Parse terrain rows into 2D list
     terrain_rows = data.get("terrain", {}).get("rows", [])
@@ -71,6 +73,8 @@ def load_zone(path: Path) -> Zone:
         toroidal=toroidal,
         terrain=terrain,
         impassable=impassable,
+        spawn_x=spawn_x,
+        spawn_y=spawn_y,
     )
 
     return zone
diff --git a/tests/test_zone.py b/tests/test_zone.py
index e3413d1..9c902e2 100644
--- a/tests/test_zone.py
+++ b/tests/test_zone.py
@@ -32,6 +32,20 @@ def test_zone_default_impassable():
     assert "~" in zone.impassable
 
 
+def test_zone_default_spawn_point():
+    """Zone has spawn_x=0, spawn_y=0 by default."""
+    zone = Zone(name="test")
+    assert zone.spawn_x == 0
+    assert zone.spawn_y == 0
+
+
+def test_zone_custom_spawn_point():
+    """Zone can be created with custom spawn point."""
+    zone = Zone(name="test", spawn_x=3, spawn_y=4)
+    assert zone.spawn_x == 3
+    assert zone.spawn_y == 4
+
+
 # --- can_accept ---
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_zone_loading.py b/tests/test_zone_loading.py
index 9a58698..f031a22 100644
--- a/tests/test_zone_loading.py
+++ b/tests/test_zone_loading.py
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ def test_load_tavern_zone():
     assert zone.width == 8
     assert zone.height == 6
     assert zone.toroidal is False
+    assert zone.spawn_x == 1
+    assert zone.spawn_y == 1
     assert len(zone.terrain) == 6
     assert zone.terrain[0] == ["#", "#", "#", "#", "#", "#", "#", "#"]
     assert zone.terrain[5] == ["#", "#", "#", "#", ".", "#", "#", "#"]
@@ -144,3 +146,68 @@ def test_load_tavern_zone():
     # Check that walls are impassable
     assert not zone.is_passable(0, 0)
     assert not zone.is_passable(7, 0)
+
+
+def test_load_zone_with_spawn_point():
+    """Load a zone with spawn_x and spawn_y defined."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "spawn_zone"
+description = "a zone with spawn point"
+width = 10
+height = 10
+spawn_x = 5
+spawn_y = 7
+
+[terrain]
+rows = [
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+    "..........",
+]
+""")
+        temp_path = pathlib.Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        zone = load_zone(temp_path)
+
+        assert zone.spawn_x == 5
+        assert zone.spawn_y == 7
+    finally:
+        temp_path.unlink()
+
+
+def test_load_zone_default_spawn_point():
+    """Load a zone without spawn point defined defaults to (0, 0)."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".toml", delete=False) as f:
+        f.write("""
+name = "default_spawn"
+description = "a zone without spawn point"
+width = 5
+height = 5
+
+[terrain]
+rows = [
+    ".....",
+    ".....",
+    ".....",
+    ".....",
+    ".....",
+]
+""")
+        temp_path = pathlib.Path(f.name)
+
+    try:
+        zone = load_zone(temp_path)
+
+        assert zone.spawn_x == 0
+        assert zone.spawn_y == 0
+    finally:
+        temp_path.unlink()