Detroit Zoo Celebrates Benchmark: 1 Million Satisfied Customers

For the sixth year in a row, the Detroit Zoo's attendance surpassed the one million mark.  The milestone was reached  Sept. 11, 2011, when 1,001,720 visitors had officially strolled through the turnstiles.

The zoo's featured summer attraction, Dinosauria, with more than 30 life-like animatronic dinosaurs, was a likely factor in the robust numbers, according to zoo staff. The attraction drew roughly 28 percent of the zoo's visitors between May 25 and Sept. 5.

Another factor was the home makeover for the lions, which debuted on August 25 with more than double the space and a 17-foot glass wall for a closer encounter with the big cats. Two days later, the zoo saw its highest weekend attendance of the year  -- with 16,416 guests on Aug. 27 and 15,542 the following day.

"It's wonderful to see the community continue to enjoy their zoo. Our goal is to provide families with one amazing experience after another," said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan.

But they're not resting on their laurels. The Detroit Zoo plans to build on its strong attendance with the introduction of the Carousel on Sept. 28. Thirty-three hand-carved and hand-painted figures – including traditional horses, plus exotic mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, snakes, fish, seahorses and dinosaurs – will make the 36-foot wood-and-brass carousel unique from others in the region. 

The Detroit Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $12 for adults 15 to 61, $10 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $8 for children 2 to 14 (children under 2 are free). The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round; admission is free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.