Cheyenne Mountain Zoo opens new Giraffe Center to the public for the first time

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Tuesday morning, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ) will open its new Giraffe Center to the public for the first time since construction started almost two years ago.

The outdoor yard is 25% bigger and includes brand-new switchbacks, allowing the Giraffes to explore up Cheyenne Mountain for the first time.

In addition, both Giraffes and guests can enjoy a new indoor space connected by giraffe-sized garage doors. The indoor space features a unique opaque ceiling allowing for natural sunlight and moonlight.

Guests will have access to feed giraffes along the entire walkway in the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Soon, guests will be able to feed the giraffes from brand-new vantage points not offered by the former exhibit. There are stairs and rope bridges allowing access to feed giraffes from above, and stairwells to the giraffes' ground level to feed them from below. Imagine a Stegosaurus bending over to eat from your hand! The zoo said it will open these attractions after the giraffes become more comfortable with the new space.

Foot traffic has been closed through the new exhibit since construction started, requiring guests to walk clockwise around the Western edge to access the East side of the zoo. Starting Tuesday, guests will once again be able to make the full loop around the property.

If you walk in the main gates and take a right, the path will take you through the zoo's new cafe and gift shop, into the new Giraffe Center indoor space, out into the new outdoor yard and connect you to the rest of the zoo.

The grand-opening celebration is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. It is open to the public.

CMZ is timed-entry only. As of 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, there were still timed-entry tickets available for 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

If you would like to go to the grand opening, you must purchase timed-entry tickets for the 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. time slot. You can find them here.

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