On the back of announcing a new brand evolution and site redesign as part of a Next Century Plan, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is this weekend kicking off celebrations to mark 90 years since it first began welcoming guests inside the 235-acre park.
Along with a name change to “Brookfield Zoo Chicago” and a logo change from its long-used bison to a lion, the zoo recently revealed that it will soon open a new $66 Million ‘Tropical Forests’ primate exhibit as part of a major overhaul taking place over the next decade.
This weekend, however, the zoo will begin its immediate celebrations with the opening of a 110-foot Ferris wheel and an array of events and activities.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago welcomed guests for the first time just under 90 years ago on July 1st, 1934. Tomorrow, Friday, March 15, the historic zoo will celebrate with the opening of a towering 110-foot Ferris wheel that will stay at the zoo through December 31, 2024.
Offering guests a unique bird’s-eye view of the park’s gardens, animal habitats, and Chicago skyline, the Anniversary Ferris Wheel will feature 24 gondolas that seat up to six people each and illuminate brightly with 350,000 multicolored LED lights.
The enormous 125-ton Ferris wheel was manufactured in the Netherlands by Lamberink B.V. and will be located just east of the zoo’s newly landscaped Roosevelt Fountain.
Rides on the new attraction will cost $8 per person or $6 for Brookfield Zoo Chicago members.
The Anniversary Ferris Wheel isn’t the only exciting addition at Brookfield Zoo Chicago this year, however. Starting this spring, guests can go behind the scenes at its new “Wild Connections” animal encounters.
The exclusive experiences offer an up-close and personal look at several of the zoo’s most popular residents including leopard sharks, river otters, flamingos, macaws, and more.
While we may have to wait until 2025 to see the gorillas and orangutans that will live in the $66 million new cutting-edge primate exhibit, there are other new exhibits set to open at Brookfield Zoo Chicago even sooner.
Opening this June, a new 3,000-square-foot North American Prairie Aviary will feature a pool to entice the 4-foot-tall regal-looking sandhill cranes and greater prairie chickens which will be free to observe with zoo admission.
For the first time in its history koalas will also take up residence at Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s in the Hamill Family Play Zoo making it the only accredited zoo in Illinois with Koalas.
The two male koalas, Brumby and Willum will live in an exhibit with both indoor and outdoor habitats that will also be free with zoo admission.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is currently open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
More information can be found at brookfieldzoo.org.
[Featured image from Brookfield Zoo Chicago]