Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Columbus Zoo and Aquarium News 2025

I was able to view North America Trek today on a soft open, and I am extremely thrilled to report that it is absolutely beautiful. I am beyond impressed. I'll upload more pictures to the gallery but here are a few highlights
  • The pathways are wide. Should to wonders for crowd congestion but also lets you view a lot at once
  • The theming is so incredibly detailed and immsersive. There are three waterfalls (Otter, Wolf and Bear) that you can hear throughout the region.
  • Still quite a bit of work to go on the Aviaries. It looks like the songbird aviary will feed into the Swan aviary. I will say I hope the songbird aviary will grow on me, it looks like a downgrade from the current one20250619_163534.jpg
  • The Otter exhibit is massive and viewing from almost every angle. The otters love it, they were swimming, climbing, running and playing during my visit20250619_170353.jpg
  • The main waterfall is the highlight of the region. It's the perfect centerpiece20250619_164119.jpg
  • The Conservation building is simple but does the job well, great use of the space imo20250619_164827.jpg
  • The Eagle exhibit surprised me. Its still smaller than I wouldve personally liked but I can't say I'm unhappy with it20250619_164459.jpg
  • Bear exhibit is great up close, the detail in the cave viewing was insane20250619_165809.jpg
  • The signage was colorful, unique and eye catching, I LOVE the style and hope they continue it next phase
Ultimately this is exactly what I was hoping for, I cannot wait to see what phase two holds if this level of quality is upheld. I have high hopes for the future of Columbus' construction projects.
 

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Frankie_number_1_fan said:
I was able to view North America Trek today on a soft open, and I am extremely thrilled to report that it is absolutely beautiful. I am beyond impressed. I'll upload more pictures to the gallery but here are a few highlights
  • The pathways are wide. Should to wonders for crowd congestion but also lets you view a lot at once
  • The theming is so incredibly detailed and immsersive. There are three waterfalls (Otter, Wolf and Bear) that you can hear throughout the region.
  • Still quite a bit of work to go on the Aviaries. It looks like the songbird aviary will feed into the Swan aviary. I will say I hope the songbird aviary will grow on me, it looks like a downgrade from the current oneView attachment 801800
  • The Otter exhibit is massive and viewing from almost every angle. The otters love it, they were swimming, climbing, running and playing during my visitView attachment 801801
  • The main waterfall is the highlight of the region. It's the perfect centerpieceView attachment 801802
  • The Conservation building is simple but does the job well, great use of the space imoView attachment 801803
  • The Eagle exhibit surprised me. Its still smaller than I wouldve personally liked but I can't say I'm unhappy with itView attachment 801804
  • Bear exhibit is great up close, the detail in the cave viewing was insaneView attachment 801805
  • The signage was colorful, unique and eye catching, I LOVE the style and hope they continue it next phase
Ultimately this is exactly what I was hoping for, I cannot wait to see what phase two holds if this level of quality is upheld. I have high hopes for the future of Columbus' construction projects.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the quick review! It all looks great! Is the old petting zoo barn still in the same place and is it open?

This expansion looks very exciting and a great sign of the future hopefully, and just to make sure, this is the layout I could surmise from the pictures I have seen, correct me if I am wrong please: Once you walk thru the arch, the WIP aviary is on the left, with the Trumpeter Swans next to them (are all birds off display or just the aviary?), then the NA River Otters and Bald Eagles to the right side, then the new Conservation building is around here I believe, not sure about the Petting Zoo barn tho. Then the Mexican Wolves a little further up on the left, and then way down the path is the Black Bear, with the rest of the region being unchanged, is that all right?
 
E-Scope said:
Thanks for the quick review! It all looks great! Is the old petting zoo barn still in the same place and is it open?

This expansion looks very exciting and a great sign of the future hopefully, and just to make sure, this is the layout I could surmise from the pictures I have seen, correct me if I am wrong please: Once you walk thru the arch, the WIP aviary is on the left, with the Trumpeter Swans next to them (are all birds off display or just the aviary?), then the NA River Otters and Bald Eagles to the right side, then the new Conservation building is around here I believe, not sure about the Petting Zoo barn tho. Then the Mexican Wolves a little further up on the left, and then way down the path is the Black Bear, with the rest of the region being unchanged, is that all right?
Click to expand...
The Barn is in the same place and is back open! The Conservation building is right next to it and has a re-signed wetland out back that loops to the barn.

Your layout is spot on! All the birds were off-show yesterday and probably will be for another few weeks yet since they still have work to do on the ponds, perches and foliage!
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
I was able to view North America Trek today on a soft open, and I am extremely thrilled to report that it is absolutely beautiful. I am beyond impressed. I'll upload more pictures to the gallery but here are a few highlights
  • The pathways are wide. Should to wonders for crowd congestion but also lets you view a lot at once
  • The theming is so incredibly detailed and immsersive. There are three waterfalls (Otter, Wolf and Bear) that you can hear throughout the region.
  • Still quite a bit of work to go on the Aviaries. It looks like the songbird aviary will feed into the Swan aviary. I will say I hope the songbird aviary will grow on me, it looks like a downgrade from the current oneView attachment 801800
  • The Otter exhibit is massive and viewing from almost every angle. The otters love it, they were swimming, climbing, running and playing during my visitView attachment 801801
  • The main waterfall is the highlight of the region. It's the perfect centerpieceView attachment 801802
  • The Conservation building is simple but does the job well, great use of the space imoView attachment 801803
  • The Eagle exhibit surprised me. Its still smaller than I wouldve personally liked but I can't say I'm unhappy with itView attachment 801804
  • Bear exhibit is great up close, the detail in the cave viewing was insaneView attachment 801805
  • The signage was colorful, unique and eye catching, I LOVE the style and hope they continue it next phase
Ultimately this is exactly what I was hoping for, I cannot wait to see what phase two holds if this level of quality is upheld. I have high hopes for the future of Columbus' construction projects.
Click to expand...
Are there still moose at the zoo?
 
Are the chicken back in the Barn? I didn't see them the last time i visited before its closure last year. I'm not sure if they are not longer at the zoo or if they are simply off exhibit due to bird flu, do we actually know all the birds that were moved due to the flu?
 
E-Scope said:
Are the chicken back in the Barn? I didn't see them the last time i visited before its closure last year. I'm not sure if they are not longer at the zoo or if they are simply off exhibit due to bird flu, do we actually know all the birds that were moved due to the flu?
Click to expand...
the chicken were off exhibit since covid and I don't think they will get chickens back unfortunately
 
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E-Scope said:
Are the chicken back in the Barn? I didn't see them the last time i visited before its closure last year. I'm not sure if they are not longer at the zoo or if they are simply off exhibit due to bird flu, do we actually know all the birds that were moved due to the flu?
Click to expand...
Yes I believe they're gone for good. The exhibit is overgrown now and doesn't appear fit to house animals anymore.
 
The zoo still hasn't updated the website to reflect the opening yet, I wonder if the physical maps are updated
 
E-Scope said:
Designs for North America Phase 2 are under way, and it's current target for opening is 2028, so it's a long way off

Inside the Epic New North America Trek at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Coaster101
Click to expand...
Very curious if this will actually be the case or if it will be pushed back. Staff told me before ground broke on phase 1 that the design changed numerous times before, and durring, construction. However I think they at least have a rough plan this go-around, I saw it last year and it looks promising. There are a few details I specifically hope they keep!
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
Very curious if this will actually be the case. Staff told me before ground broke on phase 1 that the design changed numerous times before, and durring, construction. However I think they at least have a rough plan this go-around, I saw it last year and it looks promising. There are a few details I specifically hope they keep!
Click to expand...
anything specific you can share?
 
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