All of the previous interviews occurred after the opening of that zoo’s new exhibit, except one.  When I interviewed Lee Ehmke in May, Minnesota Zoo’s Woodland Adventure was still 6 weeks from completion.  Now that it is open for curious youngsters, I checked in with Lee to see how it was received.

Lee said the “opening went great, and response has been outstanding.”

Kids who tried out the playground before the opening gave it “a big thumbs up.”

“There was lots of climbing and playing and exploring, which is really the point”

“It’s not just looking like a lot of the rest of the zoo.”

Woodland Adventure is an impressive 4,800 square feet and located off the Central Plaza (zoo map).  The Plaza, opened last year along with Russia’s Grizzly Coast serves as a much needed orientation and gathering stop before starting along the lengthy outdoor trail.  Woodland Adventure adds a new component to the Plaza, which previously contained other important visitor amenities (Cafe, restrooms, and gift stand).  The new playground is full of features for exploration including:

The Star Tribune posted a gallery of photos.

As mentioned before, zoos across the country are experiencing a rise in attendance.  Record setting years have occured at many zoos, and Minnesota recently joined the bunch.  With the opening of Grizzly Coast, there were great expectations.  The final number was 1.36 million (16% increase), beating out 1994’s mark.  Memberships also increased by 21%.  With the always popular crocodile planned to become a resident (first time in the zoo’s history to my knowledge) next year, things are continuing to look up in Apple Valley.