Zoo Knoxville welcomed 495,055 visitors in 2017, setting a new attendance record for the third year in a row and exceeding the record set in 2016 by 21,376 people.
While more than 255,000 zoo-goers came from Knoxville and the surrounding counties, almost half of all visitors (49%) were tourists whose impact to the local economy amounted to $28 million.
“With the opening of Tiger Forest at the Boyd Family Asian Trek in 2017, we completely changed the way our guests experienced the zoo with the most immersive habitat for tigers and cranes in the country,” said Zoo Knoxville President and CEO Lisa New. “These beautiful and complex habitats emphasize our commitment to saving these animals from extinction as part of a collaborative effort with accredited zoos nationwide. I believe our record attendance reflects the desire our visitors have to connect with wildlife and their support of the conservation work being done here in Knoxville.”
“As an anchor destination for the Magnolia Avenue Corridor Plan, we are happy about bringing more people to East Knoxville,” said Pete Claussen, Chair of Zoo Knoxville’s Board of Directors. “Zoo Knoxville continues to be Knoxville’s most visited attraction, and it is our strategic goal to continue to bring more tourists to Knox County.”
The attendance for 2017 exceeded the zoo’s previous record, set the prior year in 2016, when 473,679 guests visited the zoo.
Zoo Knoxville is open year-round and October was the highest attended month with 76,331 visitors. According to zip code data, visitors came from four continents and as far away as New Zealand.
In March 2018, Zoo Knoxville will open new habitats for silvered-leaf langurs and white-handed gibbons in the Boyd Family Asian Trek that will allow guests to explore their habitats on multiple levels.
Learn more at
www.zooknoxville.org.