KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Zoo Knoxville broke ground on a new attraction, The Ravine, that has been in the works since 2019, according to a release sent on Monday.
The Ravine at Zoo Knoxville will be a floating boardwalk designed as an old-growth hardwood forest encircling a 3-acre natural ravine, the zoo said. It also said The Ravine would be a one-of-a-kind venue for after-hours events.
Drew Rowan, the zoo's Interim President, spoke Monday on the planned attraction.
"Right behind me you guys are seeing one of the most topographically challenging areas of the zoo," Rowan said. "It was an area where we knew we couldn't build a building, but we knew we had an asset."
He also spoke about the surrounding wilderness of East Tennessee, and how he wanted to work to take the zoo's guests off the path and immerse them into nature. He said the zoo's goal is to connect the guests as much as it can with the surrounding forests of East Tennessee.
The Ravine's boardwalk will be a quarter-mile long and will have three separate viewing platforms, Rowan said.
"The additional space is going to be one of the most unique event venues in Knoxville," Rowan said. "The Ravine is also going to serve as host to a new after-hours fundraising event."
The boardwalk will be used for events such as corporate parties and weddings, but will also be home to the fundraising event that will be officially announced in 2025, the zoo said.
The Zoo Knoxville has a mockup of The Ravine on its website, showcasing the plans it has in mind for the attraction. The 3D rendering showed the location of the boardwalk, viewing platforms, lights and digital wildlife planned for the finished project.
The Ravine at Zoo Knoxville
"And of course, in 2025 we will be unveiling an immersive digital experience unlike anything Knoxville has seen! This installation was the initial inspiration for The Ravine and we anticipate it will bring an additional 90,000 guests to the zoo annually," the zoo said in a release.
The cost of The Ravine is estimated to be around $6 million, with the Boyd Foundation confirmed to be a financial supporter of an unknown amount. Randy Boyd helped to break ground at the zoo on Monday.
The City of Knoxville is pledging $1 million, Mayor Kincannon said. The county is also pledging $1 million, coming from hotel and motel taxes, according to Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Both Mayor Jacobs and Mayor Kincannon helped to break ground at the zoo on Monday as well.