Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Encyclopedia
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a mountainside zoo
, located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado
on Cheyenne Mountain
in the United States
at an elevation of 6800 feet (2,072.6 m) above sea level. The Zoo sits on 70 acres (28.3 ha) out of a 140 acres (56.7 ha) footprint. It is located west of the Broadmoor Hotel
Resort along the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain's lower north end. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only two mountain zoos in the United States (the other being Mill Mountain Zoo
in Virginia
). The animal collection includes more than 750 animals, representing nearly 150 different species, with more than 30 endangered species
.
Spencer Penrose
to house his growing collection of exotic animals. In 1938, after substantial development, Penrose incorporated the Zoo as a non-profit public trust to the people of Colorado Springs. This trust was deemed "for the sole purpose of establishing and maintaining a zoological park to provide recreation, education, conservation and scientific facilities in the field of zoology and related subjects, and to preserve the Zoo in perpetuity for the people of the Pikes Peak region."
As an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only a handful of Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos in the country that does not receive local or regional public tax support, nearly 100 percent of the Zoo's income is generated from earned revenues, gate admissions, gifts, membership dues, donations, corporate sponsors and grants.
Animal exhibit highlights: Rocky Mountain Wild, African Rift Valley, Wolf Woods, My Big Backyard, Colorado Habitat Tree, Lions' Lair, Australia/Budgie Buddies, Asian Highlands, Aquatics, Rocky Cliffs and Primate World.
Signature Animal: Reticulated giraffes flourish at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's African Rift Valley exhibit and are the largest herd in the United States. The public is able to hand feed specially formulated "giraffe crackers" to the giraffes at inside or outside enclosures. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo giraffe breeding program is the most prolific in the world with 191 births since 1954. There is also a giraffe web cam for online giraffe viewing or the herd outside along with zoo guests.
Unique Animals: okapi, moose, Amur leopard, Amur tiger, grizzly bear, North American river otter, Kori bustard, Hoffman's two-toed sloth, Mexican gray wolf, Nile hippopotamus
es, African lion
s, Rocky Mountain goats, naked mole rat
s, black-footed ferret and African elephants. The zoo is one of only three institutions outside South America
to display mountain tapir
.
Visitors can tour the zoo on the Zoomobile/tram which is handicapped and stroller accessible.
Admission to the zoo includes the Russell Tutt Scenic Highway and Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
for that day (weather permitting).
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
, located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
on Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain is a mountain located just outside the southwest side of Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S., and is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and its Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, formerly known as the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center .Throughout the Cold War and...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at an elevation of 6800 feet (2,072.6 m) above sea level. The Zoo sits on 70 acres (28.3 ha) out of a 140 acres (56.7 ha) footprint. It is located west of the Broadmoor Hotel
Broadmoor Hotel
The Broadmoor is a 5-star/5-diamond luxury hotel and resort, located in southwestern Colorado Springs, Colorado. Built in the early 20th century as the "Grand Dame of the Rockies", it was one of the finest resort destinations along the Rocky Mountains during the age of railroads. It continues to be...
Resort along the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain's lower north end. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only two mountain zoos in the United States (the other being Mill Mountain Zoo
Mill Mountain Zoo
-External links:* official website...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
). The animal collection includes more than 750 animals, representing nearly 150 different species, with more than 30 endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
History
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was founded in 1926 by philanthropistPhilanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Spencer Penrose
Spencer Penrose
Spencer Penrose was a philanthropist in and around Colorado Springs at the turn of the 20th century. He was born into a prominent Philadelphia family of Cornish descent and was brother to Boies Penrose and Richard Penrose...
to house his growing collection of exotic animals. In 1938, after substantial development, Penrose incorporated the Zoo as a non-profit public trust to the people of Colorado Springs. This trust was deemed "for the sole purpose of establishing and maintaining a zoological park to provide recreation, education, conservation and scientific facilities in the field of zoology and related subjects, and to preserve the Zoo in perpetuity for the people of the Pikes Peak region."
As an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only a handful of Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos in the country that does not receive local or regional public tax support, nearly 100 percent of the Zoo's income is generated from earned revenues, gate admissions, gifts, membership dues, donations, corporate sponsors and grants.
Exhibits
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo tries to continuously create new and updated exhibits that let visitors become active participants in their visit, encourage an appreciation and respect for the dignity and intrinsic value of all living things, and challenge the visitors to make a difference in the natural world.Animal exhibit highlights: Rocky Mountain Wild, African Rift Valley, Wolf Woods, My Big Backyard, Colorado Habitat Tree, Lions' Lair, Australia/Budgie Buddies, Asian Highlands, Aquatics, Rocky Cliffs and Primate World.
Signature Animal: Reticulated giraffes flourish at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's African Rift Valley exhibit and are the largest herd in the United States. The public is able to hand feed specially formulated "giraffe crackers" to the giraffes at inside or outside enclosures. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo giraffe breeding program is the most prolific in the world with 191 births since 1954. There is also a giraffe web cam for online giraffe viewing or the herd outside along with zoo guests.
Unique Animals: okapi, moose, Amur leopard, Amur tiger, grizzly bear, North American river otter, Kori bustard, Hoffman's two-toed sloth, Mexican gray wolf, Nile hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
es, African lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, Rocky Mountain goats, naked mole rat
Naked Mole Rat
The naked mole rat , also known as the sand puppy or desert mole rat, is a burrowing rodent native to parts of East Africa and the only species currently classified in the genus Heterocephalus...
s, black-footed ferret and African elephants. The zoo is one of only three institutions outside South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to display mountain tapir
Mountain Tapir
The Mountain Tapir or Woolly Tapir is the smallest of the four species of tapir and is the only one to live outside of tropical rainforests in the wild...
.
Other facilities
The zoo has a refurbished historic 1937 Carousel, the Mountaineer Sky Ride (an open air chairlift-style ride with separate admission and hours), the Shongololo Choo Choo Tot Train, pony rides, a fire tower, food shops, and gift shops.Visitors can tour the zoo on the Zoomobile/tram which is handicapped and stroller accessible.
Admission to the zoo includes the Russell Tutt Scenic Highway and Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, also known as Will Rogers Shrine or 5EP2175, is the tomb which holds the ashes of Spencer Penrose , a philanthropist who contributed many of the most prominent landmarks in Colorado Springs, including the neighboring Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Broadmoor Hotel...
for that day (weather permitting).