Cheyenne Mountain Zoo stands above the rest. Located about 6,800 feet above sea level, our local zoo not only offers breathtaking views of our city, it is also ranked as the fourth-best zoo in North America by USA TODAY, and for good reason.
From Private Collection to World-Class Attraction
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, you’re aware of the thoughtfully designed exhibits that mirror natural habitats from around the world and get you as close as possible to the animals. And don't forget the distinctive landscape of this mountain zoo. Built on the side of a local slope, Spencer Penrose founded the zoo in 1926 to house his collection of exotic animals. After he deeded it as a non-profit to the city of Colorado Springs, the zoo continued to grow and expand and animals from around the world now dwell here.
Open seven days a week, 365 days a year, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to over 30 species of endangered animals. It also boasts one of the largest giraffe herds on the continent and is renowned for its up-close-and-personal giraffe feeding experience. A zoo where you can do more than just look, there are multiple experiences involving the animals. Get eye-to-eye with the hippos, paint with reptiles, feed elephants and rhinos, and even toss treats to Emmett & Digger, the zoo’s grizzly bears.
Emphasis on Conservation
The zoo is also proudly committed to the preservation of wildlife through its conservation program, Quarters for Conservation (Q4C). With every visit, zoo guests receive 75 cents from admission in the form of tokens, which they can use to help fund conservation projects the zoo supports. Contribute to the conservation of orangutans, giraffes, black footed ferrets, African elephants, Amur tigers and other animals by dropping your quarters into one or more of the colorful quarter kiosks. Spare change is welcome, as well.
“Quarters for Conservation is such an amazing way to provide an opportunity for our staff and our community to engage in the conservation projects Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supports,” explains Rachel Wright, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s public relations and social media manager. “It’s really a treasure to be able to experience wildlife here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, all the while supporting animal conservation around the world.”
Fun Events
The Zoo offers a plethora of unique events. Experience magical nights on the mountain at Tales, Tunes & Tastes; Paint Sip Safari; Date Night Starlight Safari, and Boo at the Zoo. Or participate in hands-on camps and classes to experience the zoo in a variety of different creative ways.
“We love to invest and get involved with our community, by providing as many different ways as possible for people to experience Cheyenne Mountain Zoo,” Wright says. “After all, there really is no other zoo like it.”
Website: https://www.cmzoo.org/
Facebook: @CMZoo
Instagram: @CheyenneMountainZoo