Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Is Reimagining Its Giraffe Exhibit from the Ground Up

Recently named the No. 2 zoo in the U.S., Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is marking its Centennial Celebration with a new giraffe exhibit, an entry refresh, a new gift shop and café and improved accessibility for more visitors.

“We are truly excited to offer more accessible paths throughout the zoo,” says Dave Ruhl, the zoo’s executive vice president and incoming CEO. “As a mountain zoo with varied terrain, this is an important milestone. Our wider paths and gentler grades mean more visitors can experience this iconic place. And the paths mimic Colorado’s canyons, but not as steep.”

Even the windows in the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, along with the gift shop and café, are “bird-safe,” designed to prevent migratory species striking the glass.

After more than a year of construction and almost two and a half years of planning, the highly anticipated Giraffe Center is finally nearing its debut. Set to open this summer, the project represents one of the most innovative animal habitat transformations in the zoo’s 100-year history.

Flanking the new exhibit, guests will be treated to six full-size bronze giraffe sculptures created by Antonia Chastain, the zoo’s longtime sculptor. Named The 200 Project, the installation represents the 200-plus giraffe calves born at the zoo since the 1950s, when giraffes first arrived.

Rather than retrofitting a traditional enclosure, zoo leadership focused on replicating how giraffes move, eat, rest and interact in the wild, while still offering a unique experience for guests. The result is a 12,000-square-foot indoor habitat with a 25% expansion of outdoor space and 11 areas where guests can hand-feed giraffes, compared to three in the previous habitat.

One of the most striking features of the new exhibit is its roof, a first-of-its-kind design for a major U.S. zoo. “Zookeepers are traditionally in charge of the time of day for the animals,” Ruhl notes. “Now, instead of turning the lights on and off, our structure allows giraffes to experience natural daylight, moonlight and shifting cloud cover throughout the day.”

Clear panels maximize sunlight, while strategically placed “cloud” sections provide shade. As the sun moves, those shaded areas move too, creating a changing environment overhead.

Multiple feeding systems have been built into the exhibit, including elevated browse feeders that can be raised and lowered throughout the day depending on how much lettuce the giraffes have consumed from zoo guests. A rain system is built into the ceiling, which some giraffes will wander under and others will avoid.

The space also offers “microclimates” including heated walls, cool zones and varied flooring textures of sand, mulch and gravel, allowing each giraffe to choose where it is most comfortable.

Another notable change is the addition of switchbacks in the outdoor area. Giraffes will be able to roam uphill pathways for the first time at the zoo. “In the wild, giraffe will often walk in straight lines, which they will be able to do on the switchbacks and in other locations,” Ruhl explains.

The guest experience has been elevated as well. Visitors will still enjoy the beloved face-to-face giraffe feeding experience, but now with more variety. In addition to new feeding locations and vantage points, the exhibit offers elevated walkways, ground-level encounters and an adventure play area with rope bridges and climbing features that take guests into the middle of the barn.

Event space has also expanded around the exhibit. In warmer months, glass garage doors will open to an outdoor plaza for excellent giraffe viewing. A new event pavilion will host private parties and meetings, where guests may be treated to some unexpected visitors peering through windows above the space.

On the sustainability side, on-site hydroponic farming will allow the zoo to grow up to 80% of the lettuce needed for giraffe feeding and about half of its overall animal produce supply. The project is already fully funded through a combination of community support and long-term financial planning, a testament to the deep connection between the zoo and Colorado Springs residents.