It was a record breaking year at Zoo Knoxville, for the third year in a row!
The zoo welcomed 495,055 visitors in 2017, setting a new attendance record for the third year in a row and exceeding the record set in 2016 by 21,376 people.
“With the opening of Tiger Forest at the Boyd Family Asian Trek in 2017, we completely changed the way our guests experienced the zoo with the most immersive habitat for tigers and cranes in the country,” said Zoo Knoxville President and CEO Lisa New. “These beautiful and complex habitats emphasize our commitment to saving these animals from extinction as part of a collaborative effort with accredited zoos nationwide. I believe our record attendance reflects the desire our visitors have to connect with wildlife and their support of the conservation work being done here in Knoxville.”
While about half of those visitors were from Knoxville and the surrounding area, the others were tourists who made a $28 million impact on the local economy! According to zip code data, visitors came from four continents and as far away as New Zealand.
“As an anchor destination for the Magnolia Avenue Corridor Plan, we are happy about bringing more people to East Knoxville,” said Pete Claussen, Chair of Zoo Knoxville’s Board of Directors. “Zoo Knoxville continues to be Knoxville’s most visited attraction, and it is our strategic goal to continue to bring more tourists to Knox County.”
October saw the most visitors, with 76,331 people enjoying the zoo.
There's even more new stuff to look forward to in March, when the zoo will open new habitats for silvered-leaf langurs and white-handed gibbons in the Boyd Family Asian Trek that will allow guests to explore their habitats on multiple levels.