North American Rain Forest Buildings
- Thread starter snowleopard
- Start date
I just saw several rainforests this past month. I really enjoyed Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's, although it is very architectural and feels like a hotel lobby in its front section, which is several stories tall and features the majority of the living plants. Glazed walls give way to Mayan-like ruins from which a giant waterfall drops and several small primate enclosures emerge. There is also a restaurant and small gift shop in this entry atrium area. The bottom floor of the main exhibit is mostly an extensive collection of standard reptile and amphibian enclosures arranged around a dark gallery room with minimal theming. Highlights include a large caiman enclosure with underwater viewing, a tunnel with windows into the lower floor of a two-story monkey exhibit which is better viewed from the second floor, and a really creepy dark open habitat for chevrotains in the middle of the room which features a mist system which creates a low fog and stops occasionally to clear and provide a view of the little deer-like critters! The second floor is the more open themed and skylit part of the main exhibit space and is entered by a themed rainforest education tent. Enclosures for giant anteaters, capybaras, clouded leopard, asian otters, silvered leaf monkeys, and others are mostly small to midsized and well-themed and presented, and an orangutan enclosure occupies the space beneath a glass dome with rocks and a large climbing tree, although the space is limited. Live plants are a bit sparse but not distractingly so. Overall it is a nice immersive experience, but not equal to Lied Jungle or Jungleworld. I also saw Cincinnati Zoo's Discovery Forest, which is a round glazed atrium that is part of an education center and only features a few exhibits in its two story space, including a toad, macaw, and sloth. I wouldn't really call this a zoo rainforest building ultimately. I also saw Kansas City Zoo's new Tropics building, which occupies an older 60's? era edifice. Again, this is hardly an indoor rainforest, it is more of an exhibit house that features some tropical animals in small enclosures with some live plants to accent the exhibits. It has four main exhibits, including an aracari aviary, a cramped gibbon and asian otter enclosure, a saki and capybara and crested screamer glazed exhibit, and another for blue monkeys. It was pleasant but forgettable.
I've only been to 2 on the list: Cleveland and Brookfield. I liked Cleveland's Rain Forest. I've been to it twice, the first time 6 years ago, and the second time Labor Day weekend. I don't remember the Mayan Ruin theme (I thought it was more like a Bhutan/Burma Ruin theme) 6 years ago and I thought it added a lot to the exhibits especially the langurs w/ the Prevost Squirrel. I thought the dark open pool was kind of creepy, too, and didn't hang around long enough to see chevrotains. I really liked the bat exhibit. The keepers put whole fruit at the end of a long spear and it was fun watching the bats eat. There was a monkey exhibit (Goeldi's?) with mesh instead of glass near the entrance and the odor was very pungent. I thought it was very cool to allow the public to really smell a monkey. I loved seeing the reticulated python and the large number of reptiles and amphibians. I have mixed feelings about some of the mammal exhibits. I really didn't care for the animal cards chained to the banisters.
I don't like Brookfield's Tropic World at all. Too much concrete and I don't like the height. Cleveland's Rain Forest is much, much better than Brookfield's IMO.
The rear of Lincoln Park Zoo's Small Mammal Reptile House was originally conceived as an ecosystem featuring mammals, reptiles and birds from Africa, Asia and Australia. With the death of the last koala, the zoo began introducing more South American species. When I began as a volunteer, I use to avoid the ecosystem because it was so humid, it made my hair frizzy, and it was so hot back there! The SMRH is really a mini-zoo and works really well, I think, with the ecosystem's natural lighting, plants and mixed-species exhibits. You can walk upstairs to the 2nd floor for a better view of the plants (there's several eucalyptus trees which were intended to be an emergency supply for the koala in case her shipment didn't come in) and also view the migratory birds in the waterfowl lagoon which the building faces thru the very large viewing window. If you have only an hour or less to visit the zoo, I would recommend visiting the Small Mammal Reptile House.
I don't like Brookfield's Tropic World at all. Too much concrete and I don't like the height. Cleveland's Rain Forest is much, much better than Brookfield's IMO.
The rear of Lincoln Park Zoo's Small Mammal Reptile House was originally conceived as an ecosystem featuring mammals, reptiles and birds from Africa, Asia and Australia. With the death of the last koala, the zoo began introducing more South American species. When I began as a volunteer, I use to avoid the ecosystem because it was so humid, it made my hair frizzy, and it was so hot back there! The SMRH is really a mini-zoo and works really well, I think, with the ecosystem's natural lighting, plants and mixed-species exhibits. You can walk upstairs to the 2nd floor for a better view of the plants (there's several eucalyptus trees which were intended to be an emergency supply for the koala in case her shipment didn't come in) and also view the migratory birds in the waterfowl lagoon which the building faces thru the very large viewing window. If you have only an hour or less to visit the zoo, I would recommend visiting the Small Mammal Reptile House.
Last edited:
A few people asked about Sedgwick County, which I saw in 2001. Basically an indoor aviary, but the one really cool thing was having large fruit bats hanging from the trees with no barriers between them and visitors.
I've only been to a couple rainforest buildings (Minnesota and Bronx plus Sedgwick and DC), but the thing that bothers me is you can see the posts and ceiling and tell you're obviously in a building. There's one indoor exhibit (not a zoo) that I have loved since childhood that actually makes you feel like you are outdoors even though the ceilings are fairly low - Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. Especially the opening area where you board the boats that looks like dusk on the bayou - why can't some zoo do something like that?
I've only been to a couple rainforest buildings (Minnesota and Bronx plus Sedgwick and DC), but the thing that bothers me is you can see the posts and ceiling and tell you're obviously in a building. There's one indoor exhibit (not a zoo) that I have loved since childhood that actually makes you feel like you are outdoors even though the ceilings are fairly low - Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. Especially the opening area where you board the boats that looks like dusk on the bayou - why can't some zoo do something like that?
arizona docent, your comment about ceilings is observant, what comes to mind in a less effective but still atmospheric way is the swamp section of Kingdoms of the Night at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. Also, Penguin and Puffin Coast at St. Louis Zoo has an atmospheric ceiling that changes lighting schemes and is believable enough to remind me of what you are suggesting here. It would be interesting to see a nocturnal exhibit complex with a central space large enough to have a similar effect to Pirates...maybe Disney's Animal Kingdom could have such a space in its South American exhibit complex if it ever gets designed and built! I would love to see tamanduas scampering through tree branches below a waning moon.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Live plantings and themed ceilings do not, in general, go well together.
But in planted exhibits, if the planting is done well and is sufficiently grown up, the ceiling ought not to intrude (except when you are above the tree canopy)
ANyhuis
Well-Known Member
The main reason Disney is so successfully able to make you feel like you're outside is because it's a dark "exhibit". You can't see the ceiling because it's dark! (It helps that they use little twinkling "stars" too.) As Geomorph has pointed out, Omaha does this quite well with its Kingdoms of the Night. But this can't be replicated well in a brightly-lit rain forest exhibit.
I don't recall Pirates of the Caribbean having any "stars", it does however have fireflies. The effect that is the most effective is the clouds overhead at the "bombarding the fort" scene.
This thread was referenced in a thread about tropic halls in Europe. Looking through this thread is an interesting history and critique of the major rain forest exhibits in North America.
Interestingly the major rain forest exhibits that have been built in North American zoos since this thread was last active in 2009 have been the outdoor ones in Miami and Los Angeles.
Are there any major indoor rain forest exhibits in the planning stages for North American zoos or aquariums? Is the era of major indoor rain forest exhibits largely over?
Interestingly the major rain forest exhibits that have been built in North American zoos since this thread was last active in 2009 have been the outdoor ones in Miami and Los Angeles.
Are there any major indoor rain forest exhibits in the planning stages for North American zoos or aquariums? Is the era of major indoor rain forest exhibits largely over?
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Well there are small ones coming at the Texas State Aquarium, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Brandywine Zoo and elsewhere
I believe there may be a huge one in very early planning stages at another zoo. I hear others may be in the works. The high energy costs of past decades killed the idea. Recent drops in energy costs may revive it.
Last edited:
This thread has gave me the idea to create a poll on the best tropic houses.
Go and cast your vote.
Best Tropic building in America
Go and cast your vote.
Best Tropic building in America
There was a boom in the 1990's when it came to massively expensive rainforest buildings and just in 1992 alone there was Cleveland, National Zoo, Omaha and Woodland Park that all opened to the public almost at the exact same time. Jumping forward to more recent times, Buffalo and Mesker Park both opened large, costly structures in 2008 but since the financial meltdown there doesn't seem to have been much impetus in designing and building grandiose indoor jungles. Kansas City Zoo opened its 5-exhibit Tropics complex in 2009 but that was simply a revamp of a century-old building and European zoos have caught up and in many ways passed American zoological collections when it comes to building indoor jungles.
Here is a list of 20 Rainforest Buildings that I have visited in American zoos. I typed up the overview several years ago and it is not a comprehensive list but I thought that I'd re-post it anyway. I've visited all 20 of these zoos and many others with "rainforest type buildings" (Montreal Biodome, Topeka Zoo, etc.) but I do not have the inclination to add another group of mini-reviews as the total below is fairly comprehensive.
Alphabetical Order:
Bronx – JungleWorld (opened in 1985) now has a separate entrance fee, which is a major flaw, but this excellent recreation of an Asian rainforest is still one of the best around after around 30 years of operation. There are 3 separate environments that visitors are immersed in, and the zoo chose to showcase one continental area (Asia) really well rather than multiple continental areas haphazardly.
Brookfield – this massive structure opened in stages in the early 1980’s and with African, Asian and South American zones there is an excellent variation of species (particularly primates) on display. At the time it was probably magnificent but the decades have not been kind to it and now there is the sense that the football-field-sized interior is outdated and due for an overhaul. The sheer “fakeness” of the surroundings overwhelms even cursory zoo fans, and the gorilla and orangutan exhibits with zero outdoor areas are extremely poorly regarded these days.
Buffalo – a relatively new complex that is 18,000 sq. ft. in size and opened in 2008. An extremely pleasant environment containing modern exhibitry showcasing South American animals, and there is a great overview of the rainforest from a high observation deck.
Central Park – a two-level rainforest with smaller side exhibits but many free-roaming animals, and overall it is a decent recreation of a jungle atmosphere in the middle of New York City.
Cleveland – this absolutely enormous building, 85,000 sq. ft. in size and with reportedly 2 acres of floor space, features animals from Asia and South America and opened in 1992. Two large levels are expansive and the majority of the exhibits are top-notch, particularly the large gharial/turtle pool and the otter, small cat and numerous reptile habitats. The major downside is an all-indoor orangutan exhibit that is subpar for such an intelligent species. I seem to like this building more than most zoo fans, but for the most part almost all of the exhibits are of a fairly high quality.
Denver – Tropical Discovery opened in 1993 and while there are only 10 major exhibits (including at one time the largest indoor Komodo dragon habitat in the world) everything is well done and the idea of mini-biomes from around the planet is modern and informative.
Fort Wayne – the Jungle Dome contains an excellent walk-through aviary that is lush and thick with vegetation, and it technically could qualify as a rainforest building due to the presence of an all-indoor orangutan exhibit. Unfortunately that enclosure is dire, dim and badly in need of a swift overhaul.
Jacksonville – not a true rainforest building but the Mayan Temple area in Range of the Jaguar includes numerous indoor exhibits in a ruined temple-themed zone. The highlights of this area are the outdoor habitats for jaguars, capybaras, tapirs and a large walk-through aviary.
Kansas City – the Tropics building is more than a century old but features a new, modern, innovative area (gibbons and otters in the same exhibit and having overhead and below ground passageways) but ultimately average due to the fact that there are only 5 exhibits and there is not really any attempt at immersion.
Louisville – again not a true rainforest building but the Islands Pavilion has a walk-through aviary, numerous animal exhibits and serves as the backdrop for the Asian rotational habitats of 5 major mammals species.
Mesker Park – a 10,000 sq. ft. structure that opened in 2008 and is easily the newest, biggest and best part of an otherwise nondescript zoo. Amazonia: Forest of Riches is top-notch in almost all compartments, it uses modern exhibitry methods, and the focus on South American animals is impressive and thus the limits of this mid-sized zoo were not stretched during construction.
Minnesota – a 1.5 acre Tropics Trail building featuring animals from Africa, Asia and South America, as well as an excellent coral reef habitat. The scope of the building is impressive, particularly for Minnesotans keen to escape the winter blues in the northern city, but the size of the exhibits for many of the larger animals leaves a little to be desired. Much improved in recent years due to the switching of certain species and the opening of the permanent African area.
National – Amazonia is 15,000 sq. ft. in size and very well done as it focuses on South American animals, opened in 1992 and is two levels. The lack of large popular mammals is its downfall and also its greatest asset as the focus is on accomplishing one thing and doing that with expertise.
North Carolina – the African Pavilion used to be teeming with all sorts of rare animal species, but these days it is animal-free and the empty exhibits have been left standing and are somewhat eerily packed with dense undergrowth as the zoo has allowed the plant life to reign supreme. Now closed.
Omaha – the Lied Jungle opened in 1992 and is considered by many to be the premier rainforest building in North America. The dirt pathway on the lower level adds to the thrill, but the downside is that several of the enclosures for larger animals are definitely too small.
Rio Grande – this tropical American building features a series of well-designed visitor pathways, but many of the animal exhibits are simply average at best.
Roger Williams Park – borderline terrible building that is small, poorly designed and full of wires and ventilation pipes that remain unhidden and disconcerting to visitors. This Tropical American complex is tiny and only worth seeing for the decent, outdoor giant anteater exhibit.
Sedgwick County – this building opened in 1977 and its half-acre area holds up well 40 years later. Age has added to the aroma of the thick vegetation, and the dirt pathway and muddy signs actually create an effective immersive experience that makes this one of the better rainforest complexes in existence.
Tulsa – a showcasing of Central and South American animals in a vast building is the best complex at an otherwise disappointing zoo. The idea to focus on one continental area adds to the richness of the exhibitry.
Woodland Park – this tropical rainforest building opened in 1992 and it is smaller than many other American behemoths, but it features a decent set of indoor exhibits for South American animals. The real gems are the outdoor areas: 2 trend-setting gorilla habitats, Jaguar Cove, colobus monkeys, red-flanked duikers and red ruffed lemurs.
Here is a list of 20 Rainforest Buildings that I have visited in American zoos. I typed up the overview several years ago and it is not a comprehensive list but I thought that I'd re-post it anyway. I've visited all 20 of these zoos and many others with "rainforest type buildings" (Montreal Biodome, Topeka Zoo, etc.) but I do not have the inclination to add another group of mini-reviews as the total below is fairly comprehensive.
Alphabetical Order:
Bronx – JungleWorld (opened in 1985) now has a separate entrance fee, which is a major flaw, but this excellent recreation of an Asian rainforest is still one of the best around after around 30 years of operation. There are 3 separate environments that visitors are immersed in, and the zoo chose to showcase one continental area (Asia) really well rather than multiple continental areas haphazardly.
Brookfield – this massive structure opened in stages in the early 1980’s and with African, Asian and South American zones there is an excellent variation of species (particularly primates) on display. At the time it was probably magnificent but the decades have not been kind to it and now there is the sense that the football-field-sized interior is outdated and due for an overhaul. The sheer “fakeness” of the surroundings overwhelms even cursory zoo fans, and the gorilla and orangutan exhibits with zero outdoor areas are extremely poorly regarded these days.
Buffalo – a relatively new complex that is 18,000 sq. ft. in size and opened in 2008. An extremely pleasant environment containing modern exhibitry showcasing South American animals, and there is a great overview of the rainforest from a high observation deck.
Central Park – a two-level rainforest with smaller side exhibits but many free-roaming animals, and overall it is a decent recreation of a jungle atmosphere in the middle of New York City.
Cleveland – this absolutely enormous building, 85,000 sq. ft. in size and with reportedly 2 acres of floor space, features animals from Asia and South America and opened in 1992. Two large levels are expansive and the majority of the exhibits are top-notch, particularly the large gharial/turtle pool and the otter, small cat and numerous reptile habitats. The major downside is an all-indoor orangutan exhibit that is subpar for such an intelligent species. I seem to like this building more than most zoo fans, but for the most part almost all of the exhibits are of a fairly high quality.
Denver – Tropical Discovery opened in 1993 and while there are only 10 major exhibits (including at one time the largest indoor Komodo dragon habitat in the world) everything is well done and the idea of mini-biomes from around the planet is modern and informative.
Fort Wayne – the Jungle Dome contains an excellent walk-through aviary that is lush and thick with vegetation, and it technically could qualify as a rainforest building due to the presence of an all-indoor orangutan exhibit. Unfortunately that enclosure is dire, dim and badly in need of a swift overhaul.
Jacksonville – not a true rainforest building but the Mayan Temple area in Range of the Jaguar includes numerous indoor exhibits in a ruined temple-themed zone. The highlights of this area are the outdoor habitats for jaguars, capybaras, tapirs and a large walk-through aviary.
Kansas City – the Tropics building is more than a century old but features a new, modern, innovative area (gibbons and otters in the same exhibit and having overhead and below ground passageways) but ultimately average due to the fact that there are only 5 exhibits and there is not really any attempt at immersion.
Louisville – again not a true rainforest building but the Islands Pavilion has a walk-through aviary, numerous animal exhibits and serves as the backdrop for the Asian rotational habitats of 5 major mammals species.
Mesker Park – a 10,000 sq. ft. structure that opened in 2008 and is easily the newest, biggest and best part of an otherwise nondescript zoo. Amazonia: Forest of Riches is top-notch in almost all compartments, it uses modern exhibitry methods, and the focus on South American animals is impressive and thus the limits of this mid-sized zoo were not stretched during construction.
Minnesota – a 1.5 acre Tropics Trail building featuring animals from Africa, Asia and South America, as well as an excellent coral reef habitat. The scope of the building is impressive, particularly for Minnesotans keen to escape the winter blues in the northern city, but the size of the exhibits for many of the larger animals leaves a little to be desired. Much improved in recent years due to the switching of certain species and the opening of the permanent African area.
National – Amazonia is 15,000 sq. ft. in size and very well done as it focuses on South American animals, opened in 1992 and is two levels. The lack of large popular mammals is its downfall and also its greatest asset as the focus is on accomplishing one thing and doing that with expertise.
North Carolina – the African Pavilion used to be teeming with all sorts of rare animal species, but these days it is animal-free and the empty exhibits have been left standing and are somewhat eerily packed with dense undergrowth as the zoo has allowed the plant life to reign supreme. Now closed.
Omaha – the Lied Jungle opened in 1992 and is considered by many to be the premier rainforest building in North America. The dirt pathway on the lower level adds to the thrill, but the downside is that several of the enclosures for larger animals are definitely too small.
Rio Grande – this tropical American building features a series of well-designed visitor pathways, but many of the animal exhibits are simply average at best.
Roger Williams Park – borderline terrible building that is small, poorly designed and full of wires and ventilation pipes that remain unhidden and disconcerting to visitors. This Tropical American complex is tiny and only worth seeing for the decent, outdoor giant anteater exhibit.
Sedgwick County – this building opened in 1977 and its half-acre area holds up well 40 years later. Age has added to the aroma of the thick vegetation, and the dirt pathway and muddy signs actually create an effective immersive experience that makes this one of the better rainforest complexes in existence.
Tulsa – a showcasing of Central and South American animals in a vast building is the best complex at an otherwise disappointing zoo. The idea to focus on one continental area adds to the richness of the exhibitry.
Woodland Park – this tropical rainforest building opened in 1992 and it is smaller than many other American behemoths, but it features a decent set of indoor exhibits for South American animals. The real gems are the outdoor areas: 2 trend-setting gorilla habitats, Jaguar Cove, colobus monkeys, red-flanked duikers and red ruffed lemurs.
@snowleopard : Thanks for the re-post. Based on the comments that you have made, would you say that indoor rain forest exhibits are typically more successful when they stick to one regional focus (ex. South America) than when they try to cram 2 or 3 continents together?
On a related note, I think it's interesting how many American indoor rain forests focus on Central & South American species.
On a related note, I think it's interesting how many American indoor rain forests focus on Central & South American species.
I've always been disappointed that the National Zoo chose the Amazon for this exhibit, given that the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute operates the longest-running tropical study site in the world in Panama. A Central American themed exhibit could have included many common zoo species and showcased this work to visitors.
Thanks for the write-ups.
Has the Africa Pavilion at North Carolina Zoo been bulldozed? I remember reading that they were planning to knock it down and build some kind of new exhibit to replace it.
Why did NCZ stop using the Africa Pavilion in the first place?
To answer a few questions:
I think that in general it works much better if zoos stick to a single geographical area when it comes to indoor jungles. However, from a zoo director's position I can see how having several continents represented might make things easier in terms of shifting the animal collection and providing visitors with an overview of the Earth's rainforests.
At North Carolina Zoo the Africa Pavilion opened in 1984 and was at one time filled with many animals (crocodiles, various monkeys, reptiles, amphibians, etc.) but it has been a plant-filled oasis lacking animals for many years now. At this point in time all of the plants have been removed and the zoo has been awaiting funding to demolish the structure. However, the indoor holding area for the very large troop of Hamadryas Baboons is within the building and so once the baboon exhibit is redesigned and finished then the Africa Pavilion will be bulldozed.
North Carolina Zoo has extremely high expectations, with many multi-acre animal habitats and arguably not a single poor enclosure in what is advertised as the "world's largest walk-through zoo". Apparently the Africa Pavilion did not meet the standards of what is without a doubt one of North America's 10 best zoological facilities and the pavilion was closed for minor renovations on numerous occasions. State bond money has been given to the zoo to the tune of $25 million and a proposed Amazon/Australian/Asian zone will open in stages beginning in 2020. Until then, the 750,000 annual visitors will have to be content with a revamped Polar Bear exhibit (2014), an Ocelot exhibit (2016), Air Hike ropes course (2016) and "Zoofari", a safari ride into the 38-acre hoofstock/rhino paddock (2016).
I think that in general it works much better if zoos stick to a single geographical area when it comes to indoor jungles. However, from a zoo director's position I can see how having several continents represented might make things easier in terms of shifting the animal collection and providing visitors with an overview of the Earth's rainforests.
At North Carolina Zoo the Africa Pavilion opened in 1984 and was at one time filled with many animals (crocodiles, various monkeys, reptiles, amphibians, etc.) but it has been a plant-filled oasis lacking animals for many years now. At this point in time all of the plants have been removed and the zoo has been awaiting funding to demolish the structure. However, the indoor holding area for the very large troop of Hamadryas Baboons is within the building and so once the baboon exhibit is redesigned and finished then the Africa Pavilion will be bulldozed.
North Carolina Zoo has extremely high expectations, with many multi-acre animal habitats and arguably not a single poor enclosure in what is advertised as the "world's largest walk-through zoo". Apparently the Africa Pavilion did not meet the standards of what is without a doubt one of North America's 10 best zoological facilities and the pavilion was closed for minor renovations on numerous occasions. State bond money has been given to the zoo to the tune of $25 million and a proposed Amazon/Australian/Asian zone will open in stages beginning in 2020. Until then, the 750,000 annual visitors will have to be content with a revamped Polar Bear exhibit (2014), an Ocelot exhibit (2016), Air Hike ropes course (2016) and "Zoofari", a safari ride into the 38-acre hoofstock/rhino paddock (2016).
This article says that the African Pavilion needs to be replaced because it is deteriorating.
State bond money won’t arrive overnight at N.C. Zoo