April 20, 200916 yr Cincyimages posted this in the Columbus Zoo thread, but Cincy is also listed, so I figured I would post it here too. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is the 7th Best Zoo in the country, and Columbus is the best! http://www.wrsol.com/usatravelguide/2009/02/top10zoosinamerica/
April 20, 200916 yr Horray. But because Cincinnati's is urban and wonderful and Columbus's is super suburban..... Cincinnati Zoo > Columbus Zoo. :) Although Cincy Zoo's latest reworking of the Vine Entrance leaves very little to be desired. Talk about defensible space. eeewww
April 30, 200916 yr ^ I need to drive down and see all the new improvements they've made. I haven't been in a few years. Is there a map somewhere of all the land they actually own? go to zoochat.com More info on the zoo than you could ever want.
May 11, 200916 yr Zoo's new entrance $19.6M investment When the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden opened in 1875, visitors entered from Vine Street. Starting Saturday, they will again. Historic Vine Street Village, the zoo's new $19.6 million entrance, is designed to make the park more visitor-friendly by alleviating traffic jams, providing more parking and reducing the wait to get in. The entry also continues a commitment to be "the greenest zoo in America," executive director Thane Maynard said, by including features such as solar panels, recycled building materials and a system to eliminate rainwater runoff. Read full article here: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090511/NEWS01/905120301/1055/NEWS/Zoo+gets++19.6M+entrance
May 11, 200916 yr Yeah, I'm not crazy about it either, but at least it will open up some of the other lots for expansion of the zoo. I will kind of miss coming in off Drury, I liked that entrance and how hidden from the rest of the city it was.
May 11, 200916 yr Since they're basically closing off that lot already, I hope that means they're going to start work on the Savannah project, lets see some renderings! Not a great design, but should work well and will open up TONS of space in the zoo
May 12, 200916 yr It took some searching but I found the zoo's master plan which I don't think has been posted here before. and the current map to compare: There's a lot going on in the diagrams but I noticed a few things. [*]The Cheetah Encounter as built is on the opposite side of the park than as planned. [*]No plans are listed for either closed parking lot (Rhino and Whiting). I'm curious about the plans for the Whiting lot, it's behind the recently remolded picnic area, which makes it in an awkward position. The plans show some sort of amphitheater, which seems like wasted space. [*]The Cat Canyon remodel is listed, but I haven't heard anything about the Gorilla Forest or Rhino Expansion (which looks like it will be in the veldt where the Sumatran Rhino currently is, and not in the current Rhino reserve). I guess those are the next projects to come online, with the Savannah maybe coming later? EDIT: Embedded Maps
May 27, 200916 yr So, I'm making a trip out there with my boyfriend mid-June and we're specifically going to see the Zoo. I'm not big on paying for parking and we're willing to walk, but I keep hearing about how sketchy Avondale is. Where do you think the best place to park for the day is? Is parking allowed on Louis, Glendora, and Shields...and is there a fence between the parking lot and Ruther? I know I should just suck it up, but $6.50 seems a little excessive to park a car. Hell, if worse comes to worst I'll park somewhere else on Rt 1 and ride the bus in.
May 27, 200916 yr A lot of people park along Dury Avenue (eastern front of the zoo), and along Rockdale and Larona avenues east of the zoo. I parked there with some photography equipment laying about only a few months ago during the Tunes & Blooms performances for hours in the evening with no issue. The entrance has since been moved, but any of the streets surrounding the zoo, especially to the south, are fine to park at. Just use common sense and leave the valuables out of sight.
May 27, 200916 yr Just stay south of the Zoo. Even Erkenbrecher can be okay with the new entrance. Ruther isn't bad if you're willing to walk. To be honest, physically you'll be fine, but your car might get broken into. It isn't a high probability, but it isn't zero either. Lived in that very immediate area for four years and had a couple problems.
June 4, 200916 yr Cincinnati Zoo spring visitors up 40% The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden said it has seen a double-digit jump in attendance for the first four months of 2009. The zoo, in Cincinnati’s Avondale neighborhood, said in a news release that it saw more than 370,000 visitors from January through May, up 40 percent over the previous year. Attendance for April and May was the second-best in the zoo’s 134-year history, with a record-breaking 13,000 visitors on May 23. Read full article here: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/06/01/daily51.html
June 22, 200915 yr Bad economy pushes visitors through zoo gates http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTctQ02Pz8cnIq2aZZtZuINluP6wD98VSDN82 To draw visitors, zoos count on gentle giraffes rolling out their long tongues to grasp treats, stingrays gliding through a pool to be petted and the playful tussling of tiger cubs. This year they're also getting help from the recession. Zoos in cities including Cincinnati, St. Louis, Baltimore, Kansas City, Mo., and Memphis, Tenn., report higher attendance as consumers look for affordable entertainment closer to home. "We are trying to be more careful in our spending, and this is a great way to do that and be with family," said Noelle Bragg, 42, of Springboro, about 35 miles from Cincinnati. "Gas prices are rising again, and we don't have to drive far to have a really good time." Bragg, her son and nephew had just finished feeding a giraffe at the Cincinnati Zoo. More than 58 percent of 120 members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums responding to an April survey reported attendance increases year-over-year. Attendance at the Cincinnati Zoo rose 34 percent — to more than 372,000 visitors — in the first five months of this year. Keep reading article here.
November 3, 200915 yr Cincinnati Zoo goes platinum, grows attendance http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/10/cincinnati-zoo-goes-platinum-grows.html By Randy A. Simes | UrbanCincy, October 31, 2009 It doesn't take a die-hard Cincinnatian to know that the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens is one of the region's real assets. The Zoo provides a tremendous learning opportunity for children, terrific family outings, and so much more. And while the Zoo is one of the best in the country, it is also a community leader. The Cincinnati Zoo was just recently deemed "America's Greenest Zoo" by the green building community. It is the first zoo in the country to have multiple LEED projects, and is the second zoo in the country to attain the prestigious LEED Platinum certification for one of its buildings. As the zoo continues to grow and improve itself, Zoo leadership has pledged that all future projects will pursue the LEED certification - a first of its kind commitment in the country. What is even better news is that while the economy continues to slug its way out of hibernation, the Cincinnati Zoo is posting record attendance numbers. Zoo officials will welcome the 1 millionth visitor to the zoo this year sometime this week. The attendance numbers represent a 23 percent increase over the same time in 2008, and also is higher than total attendance numbers posted over the past four years. The Cincinnati Zoo is open daily from 9am to 5pm for the rest of the year (except Christmas), with tickets starting as low as $13 for adults. Metro provides bus service to the Zoo via the #1 (directly serves the Zoo...this is your best option), 46, 51, and 78 bus routes (plan your trip now); bicycle parking is also available.
November 3, 200915 yr The plan is to turn that into an African Savannah themed exhibit, I don't know how far off that is though. The master plan isn't entirely accurate since it shows the cheetah run on the opposite side from what really exists, so I wouldn't look into it too closely.
January 8, 201015 yr Zoo attendance soars in 2009 January 8, 2010 http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20100108/NEWS01/1090330/ The 1,218,892 visitors in 2009 boosted attendance 24 percent over the 2008 total of 982,043.
January 9, 201015 yr I understand that the African Safari design work is in progress. A zoo official told me that attendance at the zoo is up BECAUSE of the poor economy. People are taking a trip to the zoo instead of a more expensive trip somewhere else. It's kind of like soup manufactures getting a rise in business due to more people buying cheaper food; Walmart has been doing well because people are buying cheaper clothes. Colleges have record attendances because students are staying in school longer because they can't find jobs.
March 3, 201015 yr Lions and tigers and ... caterpillars? Cincinnati Zoo began with birds brought in for pest control By John Johnston • [email protected] • March 2, 2010 Say what? The Cincinnati Zoo got its start because of caterpillars? And people once worried that the park's location was too remote? http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100302/LIFE02/3020327/Who+knew+...+this+about+zoo?
June 4, 201015 yr Cheetah Encounter expands; species holds own http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20100528/NEWS01/5290317/Cheetah-Encounter-expands-species-holds-own By John Johnston • [email protected] • May 28, 2010 Cathryn Hilker wasn't about to let a little thing like a broken hip keep her from checking out the Cincinnati Zoo's expanded Cheetah Encounter this week. "Is this not the biggest, prettiest place in the whole zoo?" she said, impressed that the grassy area where cheetahs show off their sprinting ability has grown by 40 percent, and now stretches more than 100 yards. The $3 million expansion opens Saturday and includes more seating and shade for visitors as they watch cheetahs run, a larger yard for giraffes and a new flamingo exhibit.
June 4, 201015 yr Zoo to open Komodo dragon exhibit By John Johnston • [email protected] • June 3, 2010 http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20100603/NEWS01/6040331/0/NEWS0103/Komodo-dragon-returns The world's biggest and baddest species of lizard - the Komodo dragon - is back at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden after a three-year absence. Say hello to Hudo, the star of the zoo's new Dragons! exhibit, opening Saturday. The Dragons! exhibit, which is free with general zoo admission, also features several other monitor lizards, including the green tree monitor, known for its colors that range from green to turquoise, and the crocodile monitor, which can grow to a length of 10 feet.
June 4, 201015 yr Here's the most exciting part of the Cheetah article... the new Savannah map: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2010/05/28/cheetah.pdf As the article above mentions, they expanded the cheetah and giraffe yards and added a flamingo exhibit. They're also moving the wild dogs over here (which makes sense for the expansion/modifcation of the cat house and cat canyon) as well as a lot of the hooved animals (which will probably mean changes for the old African veldt, I'm guessing a Rhino exhibit). And for the first time since I was little they're going to have a hippo again! Finally, it looks like they're taking out the old membership buildings and putting in a Baboon exhibit and revamping the restaurant across from it. I just wish they'd do something with "Tree Tops" which is the old education center and now just meeting rooms. Also there's a new walk thru flight cage, which is always fun.
June 7, 201015 yr ^The zoo is making a lot of big changes. With the Savannah and all the other changes, you have to think the Zoo will only become a bigger draw for the region.
November 8, 201014 yr Per discussions on the Zoo's future photovoltaic parking shades: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2010/09/cincinnati_zoo_to_build_green_parking.html I grabbed this image of William Paterson University's new 3.5 MW array from the US Dept of Energy website. Helped me visualize what the Vine Street lot will soon look like.
March 19, 201411 yr Cincinnati Zoo receives millions in state budget Staff Cincinnati Business Courier The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will receive a significant investment from the state of Ohio as part of its 2014 capital budget, FOX19 reports. Executive director Thane Maynard announced Tuesday evening that the zoo will receive a total of $3 million. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2014/03/cincinnati-zoo-receives-millions-in-state-budget.html
September 3, 20159 yr Cincinnati Zoo to build $12M expansion The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden plans to build a $12 million expansion at the Avondale zoo. The zoo posted a YouTube video of Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo, announcing plans to build a $12 million addition to its gorilla exhibit. In the video, Maynard said the zoo will build a big, indoor “greenhouse” that will be about the same size as the existing outdoor area. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/09/02/cincinnati-zoo-to-build-12m-expansion.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 3, 20159 yr Also, if you want to see a Sumatran Rhino (for probably the last time ever) you should go to the zoo before Harapan moves to Indonesia in an attempt to increase their numbers. There are currently only 100 Sumatran Rhinos in existence and only one outside of Southeast Asia. Last Sumatran Rhino in Western Hemisphere is leaving the Cincinnati Zoo CINCINNATI (August 25, 2015) – The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden announced today that eight-year-old male Sumatran rhino Harapan will be moved to Indonesia. His departure marks the end of an era for the Cincinnati Zoo’s Sumatran rhino breeding program, the only captive breeding program in the United States to produce calves for this crtically-endangered species. During a press conference held to announce Harapan’s departure, Dr. Terri Roth, Director of the Zoo’s Center for Conservation & Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) said, “Despite the great personal sadness so many of us feel both about Harapan leaving and Cincinnati Zoo’s Sumatran rhino breeding program coming to an end, we need to focus on all we have accomplished, for there is much to celebrate. The Cincinnati Zoo has had a profound, historic impact on the effort to save this species.” Harapan, the third of three calves born at the Cincinnati Zoo, is the only Sumatran rhino, also called the “hairy rhino” because of its hairy body, living outside of Southeast Asia. He is sexually mature and his opportunity to breed and contribute to his species’ survival exists only at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS), a breeding facility in the Way Kambas National Park of Indonesia. SRS is home to Harapan’s brother Andalas, as well as the son that Andalas sired at the sanctuary in 2012, and three possible mates for Harapan. Approximately 100 of Harapan’s kind remain in the world and only nine are cared for in captivity. Also known as the “hairy rhino” because of its hairy body, the remaining wild Sumatran rhinos are scattered throughout fragmented rainforests in Southeast Asia, making it difficult for the animals to find each other and reproduce. Last week scientists declared the species extinct in the wild in Malaysia, dealing another blow to a species already considered to be the most endangered rhino. “Though the numbers are frighteningly low, Sumatran rhinos still exist in the forests of Sumatra, we believe there is still time to save them and we are by no means giving up that fight now. Ultimately, the responsibility for saving this magnificent species now lies squarely on the shoulders of our Indonesian colleagues. Our hope is that they succeed beyond all of our wildest dreams,” said Dr. Roth. “We will all rejoice when we hear news of another birth – a son or daughter of either Andalas or Harapan,” said Dr. Roth. Paul R HarryAn exact date for Harapan’s departure has not been set but the Zoo is pushing for the move to happen this fall. Moving an 1,800-pound animal such a great distance requires special training, multiple permits and coordination between governments. Paul Reinhart, Team Leader, Wildlife Canyon and the Zoo’s most experienced Sumatran rhino keeper, and Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Jenny Nollman will be accompanying him on his journey. “The Cincinnati Zoo has been committed to saving the Sumatran rhino for 25 years, and this move only strengthens that commitment,” said Thane Maynard, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Zoo. Both CREW and Cincinnati Zoo keeper staff will continue to provide support and assistance as requested by SRS. Harapan is the only Sumatran rhino on view to the public anywhere in the world. Zoo visitors can find him in Wildlife Canyon daily from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., weather permitting, until he leaves for Indonesia. About the Sumatran Rhino Breeding Program at the Cincinnati Zoo After years of research, CREW scientists at the Cincinnati Zoo, led by Dr. Roth, unraveled the mysteries of Sumatran rhino reproduction and, in 2001, produced Andalas, the first calf bred and born in captivity in 112 years. In 2004, his sister, Suci, was born, and in 2007, Harapan arrived. Between 2001 and 2012, the Cincinnati Zoo held the distinction as the only place successfully breeding this endangered species. The Zoo worked closely with Indonesian and Malaysian colleagues to transfer knowledge and techniques so that they too could succeed. In 2007, the Cincinnati and Los Angeles Zoos agreed to send Andalas to the SRS to replace an old, infertile bull. That sacrifice on the part of the LA Zoo, where Andalas was living at the time of his transfer, paid off in spades in 2012 when Andalas’s healthy son was born in Sumatra. The Cincinnati Zoo works closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, the Indonesian Rhino Foundation, the IUCN Asian Rhino Specialist Group and the International Rhino Foundation, to protect this species in the wild and also propagate Sumatran rhinos in captivity.
September 3, 20159 yr The zoo has had a steady stream of construction projects for about the past 5+ years. In addition to the African Savannah project that was just completed, they are still currently working on the new hippo exhibit, which will close out construction in what was formerly the main parking lot and entrance. With the new gorilla exhibit, the zoo will have another year-round attraction, which should help with non festival of lights winter attendance. Good stuff, as always, from the zoo!
October 15, 20159 yr Here's who stepped up with $7M to bring hippos back to Cincinnati Oct 15, 2015, 10:51am EDT Updated Oct 15, 2015, 10:55am EDT Erin Caproni Digital Producer Cincinnati Business Courier The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has reached its fundraising goal to create a $7.3 million hippopotamus habitat in its Africa exhibit. Two hippos will be on display at the zoo beginning in summer 2016 after a nearly 20-year absence. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/10/15/heres-who-stepped-up-with-7m-to-bring-hippos-back.html
April 7, 20169 yr Cincinnati Zoo set to open its ‘most complicated project’ The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is working to complete construction of its new hippopotamus exhibit this summer. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/04/07/exclusive-cincinnati-zoo-set-to-open-its-most.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 2, 20169 yr Gorilla death discussion: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,30741.0.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 30, 20168 yr Cincinnati Zoo plans early opening for highly anticipated new exhibit Cincinnati’s new hippopotamuses are here, and they’ll be on display sooner than planned. Henry, a 34-year-old male hippo, and Bibi, a 17-year-old female hippo, have moved into the zoo’s new Hippo Cove exhibit that features a 70,000-gallon pool and underwater viewing area. Each Nile hippo weighs about 4,000 pounds More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/06/30/cincinnati-zoo-plans-early-opening-for-highly.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 30, 20178 yr ...attempted to visit the Zoo on Memorial Day at 10am with a variety of infant-toting female relatives. We were one of the last carloads to get into the last zoo lot, but then we faced a line of 100+ people to get in. The women aborted the trip and cursed the world for the next hour. They didn't listen to me when I warned that it was going to be "really crowded" and were equally upset they didn't get the chance to use some coupons.
May 30, 20178 yr Independent decision making comes in very handy. If you think everyone else is going to do a certain thing at a certain time and it doesn't HAVE to be done then... do something else. That's like everybody trying to sell us their video games that they got last Xmas in May and wondering why we have too many and can't buy any more of that particular game. We can't sit on them until the next Xmas since they'll be worth a third as much then from being a year old. But if you sell us that game a week before Xmas I can promise you we won't have too many. But nobody does that.
May 30, 20178 yr The dilemma zoos face is that they can only fund their serious work (breeding programs, etc.) with the financial support that comes from the place being "something to do" for families with young children. The Cincinnati Zoo faces the added dilemma of being in a city neighborhood that is too vast for it to control and tart up. Also, even if the city built a light rail network (in the 90s, OKI studied building a light rail stop , I'm not confident that many of these suburban families could be compelled to ride it to the zoo.
May 30, 20178 yr Columbus' Zoo was out in the middle of total nowhere until about 2000 when the sprawl machine targeted southern Delaware County and quickly carpet bombed thousands of acres. Before then the zoo did OK but had a strong national reputation due to TV appearances. When most of Columbus' wealth moved from being all over the city to the Cool Crescent the zoo cleaned up financially from being near the Cool Crescent's apex.
November 28, 20177 yr I'm guessing this article might have already been posted on another thread, but if it wasn't... https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/25/style/fiona-the-hippo.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ffashion&action=click&contentCollection=fashion®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=5&pgtype=sectionfront http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
December 5, 20177 yr Cincinnati Zoo opens new indoor gorilla habitat The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will unveil its indoor gorilla habitat to the public on Wednesday. Media, VIPs and members got a sneak peak Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, concluding a $12 million, multiphase renovation that began in 2015. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/12/05/cincinnati-zoo-opens-new-indoor-gorilla-habitat.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 12, 20187 yr The Cincinnati Zoo is asking for an increase to its property tax: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/01/08/3-reasons-why-cincinnati-zoo-needs-tax-increase/1000974001/ Currently the average county homeowner pays $10-20 per year (not per month -- per YEAR) toward the zoo.
January 12, 20187 yr The Cincinnati Zoo is asking for an increase to its property tax: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/01/08/3-reasons-why-cincinnati-zoo-needs-tax-increase/1000974001/ Currently the average county homeowner pays $10-20 per year (not per month -- per YEAR) toward the zoo. I think the zoo should definitely go with the idea to charge non Hamilton County residents more in admission fees rather than asking for yet another tax increase. It's not fair that Hamilton County residents have to pay additional taxes to support institutions that the whole region gets to enjoy. Many places understand this, and offer discounted or even free admission to residents of the home county, to try to balance the scales a bit. I'm a bit perplexed why the zoo has seemingly rejected this option as a non-starter.
January 12, 20187 yr I agree with raising ticket prices. The zoo is only around $15 while the Newport Aquarium is $25. I say you charge $20-25 per ticket, but then keep the residents of Hamilton at the current price of $15 dollars. All of this coming from a Newport resident, and zoo pass holder, but I have been to many zoos and other attractions around the country and ours seems to be cheaper than most, especially for how good the zoo is. Our ticket price is the same as Fort Wayne's zoo for comparison.
January 12, 20187 yr I suppose that the zoo could attract some good will from county residents by doing this, but honestly, it's not a big deal. The bigger question is what the hell is going on with all of the tear-downs on Erkenbrecker and Louis. What is the zoo planning? There is hardly a house left now between Vine and Children's Hospital. There were about 100 homes and apartments in that area until the tear-downs started around 2005. Now we're down to about 30.
January 12, 20187 yr I would assume a physical zoo expansion. Wasn't there a report floating around before that detailed out their 25 year vision that detailed just that?
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