Cedar Point was not alone. Four other major U.S. amusement parks made the same call the same day: Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor Chicago in Gurnee, Illinois closed at 3 p.m.; Michigan’s Adventure and Valleyfair closed for the entire day; and Kennywood in Pennsylvania closed at 6:30 p.m. under a statewide air quality alert. The smoke originated from more than 850 active wildfires burning across Canada, with monitors in parts of the Chicago area registering air quality index readings above 500 — off the standard 1-500 scale.

Stats at a Glance

• What: Cedar Point and four other U.S. amusement parks closed early or for the day due to hazardous air quality
• Where: Sandusky, Ohio (Cedar Point), plus Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania parks
• When: Thursday, July 16, 2026
• Cause: Smoke from over 850 active Canadian wildfires drifting into the U.S. Great Lakes and Northeast regions
• Why it matters: A rare, multi-park coordinated closure driven by air quality rather than weather or mechanical issues, affecting outdoor attractions nationwide

The Story

Canada was contending with 859 active wildfires as of July 16, 2026, part of a season that had already burned an estimated 5.9 million acres nationwide. Prevailing winds carried thick smoke plumes south into the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, turning skies over Sandusky a deep yellow-orange and prompting air quality alerts from Chicago to Cleveland to Detroit to Minneapolis. Local health officials in the Cleveland area warned that conditions had reached a point where, as one public health expert put it, “nobody should spend time outside.”

In response, Cedar Point and sister Six Flags-operated parks Michigan’s Adventure and Valleyfair, along with Six Flags Great America near Chicago and Kennywood outside Pittsburgh, all announced early or full-day closures on the same day — a coordinated response rarely seen outside of severe weather events like hurricanes or tornado warnings.

What It Means for Visitors

For guests holding tickets or hotel packages for July 16, the affected parks pointed visitors to their standard weather-closure policies, which typically offer rain-check vouchers or refunds for significantly shortened operating days. Children, older adults, and anyone with asthma or other respiratory conditions faced the greatest risk from prolonged outdoor exposure, and parks encouraged guests to monitor official air quality indexes before planning return visits.

The closures serve as a reminder that outdoor entertainment venues are increasingly factoring wildfire smoke into operational planning alongside traditional weather risks. Fans heading to any of the affected parks in the days following should check each park’s official app or social channels for updates, since air quality conditions tied to distant wildfires can change quickly.

Explore more: more roller coaster and theme park news.

Cedar Point FAQs

Why did Cedar Point close early on July 16, 2026?

Cedar Point closed at 7 p.m., about three hours early, because smoke from more than 850 active Canadian wildfires pushed regional air quality to hazardous levels.

Which other parks closed due to the wildfire smoke?

Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor Chicago (3 p.m.), Michigan’s Adventure and Valleyfair (closed all day), and Kennywood in Pennsylvania (6:30 p.m.) all announced closures the same day.

Will Cedar Point offer refunds or rain checks for the shortened day?

Cedar Point directs affected guests to its standard weather-closure policy, which generally provides a rain-check voucher or refund; guests should check the park’s official website for specifics tied to July 16.

Get More from Cedar Point

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Cedar Point, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Cedar Point, Four Other Parks Close Early Amid Wildfire Smoke appeared first on ThrillZing.

At 146 feet tall with a 3,125-foot-long track, Silver Bullet was billed as the longest inverted coaster on the West Coast at its debut. Its signature moment is a 105-foot vertical loop that swoops directly over a water feature, adding a visual thrill to match the physical one as trains race through six inversions in just two and a half minutes.

Stats at a Glance

• Park: Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California
• Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
• Opened: December 7, 2004
• Height: 146 feet
• Top speed: 55 mph
• Length: 3,125 feet
• Inversions: 6

The Ride Experience

Riders board Silver Bullet’s suspended trains in Knott’s Ghost Town before climbing the 146-foot lift hill. The layout unleashes a vertical loop, a cobra roll, a zero-g roll, and two corkscrews in quick succession, all delivered with the smooth, floorless-leg sensation typical of B&M inverted coasters.

Engineers filled sections of the track with sand to dampen the clatter often associated with steel coasters, giving Silver Bullet a quieter ride than many of its inverted contemporaries while still hitting speeds up to 55 mph across its 3,125-foot circuit.

Design and Legacy

Silver Bullet was Bolliger & Mabillard’s first inverted coaster built with magnetic braking, a technology that has since become standard across the manufacturer’s lineup. The ride’s 105-foot loop passing over water became one of its most photographed features.

Since its 2004 debut, Silver Bullet has remained a fixture among Knott’s marquee attractions, once ranking as high as 99th in Mitch Hawker’s Best Steel Roller Coaster Poll in 2010, a reflection of the enduring popularity of B&M’s inverted coaster formula.

Explore more: Explore more roller coasters.

Silver Bullet FAQs

Who manufactured Silver Bullet at Knott’s Berry Farm?

Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), a Swiss manufacturer known for inverted, floorless, and hyper coasters, built Silver Bullet as a custom inverted coaster.

When did Silver Bullet open?

Silver Bullet opened to the public on December 7, 2004, following an announced budget of about $16 million.

How many inversions does Silver Bullet have?

Silver Bullet features six inversions: a vertical loop, a cobra roll, a zero-g roll, and two corkscrews.

Get More from Silver Bullet

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Silver Bullet, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Martin Lewison from The Hague, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Silver Bullet: Knott’s Berry Farm’s Inverted Coaster Classic appeared first on ThrillZing.

The facility’s centerpiece is the Nordschleife (‘North Loop’), a brutally demanding 20.8-kilometer (12.9-mile) circuit with over 70 corners and dramatic elevation changes. After Scottish F1 champion Jackie Stewart won a fog-shrouded, rain-soaked race there in 1968, he dubbed it ‘the Green Hell,’ a nickname that has stuck for more than half a century and is now used worldwide to describe the track’s fearsome reputation.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
• Opened: 1927
• Capacity: About 150,000 spectators
• Nordschleife Length: 20.8 km (12.9 mi)
• GP-Strecke Length: 5.148 km (3.2 mi)
• Signature Event: 24 Hours Nürburgring (annually since 1970)
• Nickname: “The Green Hell”

The Nordschleife: The Green Hell

The Nordschleife’s combination of blind crests, off-camber turns, and rapidly changing weather across its long, forested lap made it one of the most feared circuits in motorsport. Its danger became tragically clear during the 1976 German Grand Prix, when Niki Lauda crashed and was badly burned; that race was the last Formula 1 World Championship event held on the full 10-plus-kilometer circuit, after which F1 shifted to the shorter, purpose-built GP-Strecke.

Despite losing top-tier F1 competition, the Nordschleife never went quiet. It remains a proving ground for automakers testing production and performance cars, and on non-event days the track opens to the public for paid ‘Touristenfahrten’ (tourist laps), letting everyday drivers experience the same corners that have humbled professional racers for generations.

A Century of Motorsport History

The Nürburgring hosted the German Grand Prix intermittently from 1951 through 2013 and the European Grand Prix in the 1980s and 1990s, with Michael Schumacher recording the most Formula 1 victories at the venue, five wins between 1995 and 2006. The complex also includes the modern GP-Strecke, built in 1984, which continues to host Grand Prix racing and other international series.

Since 1970 the track has been home to the 24 Hours Nürburgring, an endurance race combining the Nordschleife and GP-Strecke into a single 25.4-kilometer combined circuit that draws roughly 200-plus cars and hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. In 2014, Russian businessman Viktor Kharitonin acquired a majority stake in the facility, which continues to operate as both a working race track and a tourist attraction.

Explore more: Explore more legendary stadiums and arenas.

Nürburgring FAQs

Why is the Nürburgring called the ‘Green Hell’?

F1 champion Jackie Stewart coined the nickname after winning a rain-and-fog-plagued race on the Nordschleife in 1968, and it has described the circuit’s unforgiving reputation ever since.

How long is the Nürburgring Nordschleife?

The Nordschleife measures about 20.8 kilometers (12.9 miles) and includes more than 70 corners and significant elevation changes.

Can the public still drive the Nürburgring today?

Yes. On days without scheduled racing, the Nordschleife opens to the public for paid tourist laps, and the separate GP-Strecke still hosts professional racing events.

Get More from Nürburgring

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Nürburgring, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Sports Fan at English Wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Nürburgring: Germany’s Legendary ‘Green Hell’ Race Track appeared first on ThrillZing.

For decades Hampden was the largest stadium in the world, with a capacity that peaked at around 150,000 between 1927 and 1937, a record only surpassed when Brazil’s Maracanã opened in 1950. Today, following a major late-1990s renovation into an all-seater ground, Hampden holds roughly 51,866 spectators and continues to serve as the centerpiece of Scottish football, having also hosted the 2002 UEFA Champions League final and matches at UEFA Euro 2020.

Stats at a Glance

• Team(s): Scotland national football team
• Location: Mount Florida, Glasgow, Scotland
• Opened: 31 October 1903
• Capacity: About 51,866
• Historic Peak Capacity: About 150,000 (1927-1937)
• Notable Fact: Hosted a European-record crowd of 149,415 for Scotland vs England, 17 April 1937

The Stadium Experience

Hampden Park’s twin grandstands were originally designed by noted stadium architect James Miller, and the ground has been continuously used for major football since the early 1900s. A National Lottery-funded renovation completed in 1999, costing around £59 million, converted the terraced bowl into an all-seater stadium holding just under 52,000 fans, giving it UEFA Category Four status for hosting top-tier European fixtures.

Beyond hosting Scotland’s home internationals, Hampden is the traditional venue for the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup finals, and its offices house both the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League. The Scottish Football Museum is also located within the stadium complex.

A Record-Setting History

Hampden held the world attendance record for a football match for decades, a legacy of Scottish football’s massive early-20th-century crowds. Its 1937 European-record attendance of 149,415, set for a Scotland vs England match, still stands as the largest crowd ever recorded for a European football fixture.

In the modern era, Hampden has hosted top European club football, including the 2002 UEFA Champions League final where Real Madrid defeated Bayer Leverkusen. It also staged matches during UEFA Euro 2020, including group-stage games and a round-of-16 match, cementing its status as one of Europe’s most storied football venues.

Explore more: Explore more legendary stadiums.

Hampden Park FAQs

Who plays home matches at Hampden Park?

The Scotland national football team has played its home matches at Hampden Park since 1906. Queen’s Park F.C. was long associated with the ground historically, though the club now plays at the smaller Lesser Hampden nearby.

What is Hampden Park’s capacity today?

Hampden Park currently holds about 51,866 spectators, following its conversion into an all-seater stadium as part of a renovation completed in 1999.

Why was Hampden Park historically significant?

Between 1927 and 1937, Hampden was the largest stadium in the world, with a capacity of roughly 150,000. It set a European attendance record of 149,415 for a 1937 Scotland vs England match that still stands today.

Get More from Hampden Park

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Hampden Park, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Thomas Nugent / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Hampden Park: Scotland’s Historic National Stadium in Glasgow appeared first on ThrillZing.

For its first few decades the venue hosted elaborate aquatic musicals, including productions by Guy Lombardo that ran from the 1950s into the late 1970s. Since the 1980s it has operated primarily as a concert amphitheater, expanding from an original 8,200 seats to its current 15,000-seat capacity, and today operates under naming-rights sponsorship from Northwell Health with shows booked by Live Nation.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Wantagh, New York (Jones Beach State Park)
• Type: Outdoor amphitheater
• Opened: June 26, 1952
• Capacity: About 15,000
• Designer: Robert Moses
• Operator: Live Nation Entertainment
• Famous for: Stage built over Zachs Bay

A Stage Built Over the Water

What sets Jones Beach Theater apart from most amphitheaters is its setting: the stage sits partially over Zachs Bay, a design feature dating back to its 1952 origins as a venue for water-based musical productions. That unusual waterfront layout, combined with open-air seating that climbs steeply from the stage, gives concertgoers ocean breezes and bay views alongside the show.

The venue has been expanded and renovated several times, most notably in the early 1990s when a second seating level was added, and again in 1998 when capacity reached its current 15,000. After Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage in 2012, the theater underwent a $20 million rehabilitation and reopened in May 2013.

From Aquacades to Rock Concerts

In its early decades the venue was best known for lavish aquatic revues, including productions overseen by bandleader Guy Lombardo that continued into 1977. As audience tastes shifted, the theater transitioned toward mainstream concerts through the 1980s and beyond, becoming one of the busiest summer touring stops in the New York metropolitan area.

The venue has carried several corporate names over the years, including Tommy Hilfiger and Nikon, before Northwell Health acquired naming rights in 2017. It remains a state-owned facility within Jones Beach State Park, with concerts booked and promoted by Live Nation.

Explore more: Explore more Music Venues.

Jones Beach Theater FAQs

Where is Jones Beach Theater located?

It’s located within Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, New York, on Long Island, about 41 miles southeast of New York City.

How many people does Jones Beach Theater hold?

The amphitheater has a capacity of about 15,000 seats, all open-air, reached after several expansions since its 1952 opening with 8,200 seats.

Why is the stage built over water?

The theater originally opened in 1952 as a venue for elaborate aquatic musical productions, so its stage was built extending over Zachs Bay — a feature the venue retains today even though it now hosts standard concerts.

Get More from Jones Beach Theater

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Jones Beach Theater, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: (R. Sullivan) / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Jones Beach Theater: Long Island’s Iconic Waterfront Amphitheater appeared first on ThrillZing.

Over more than a century, the venue has hosted an extraordinary run of performers, from The Rolling Stones in 1964 to Madonna, Prince, and Coldplay, who used it to launch album releases in the 2000s. A serious fire during renovation work in January 2020 severely damaged the roof, but KOKO reopened in April 2022 following an extensive rebuild, with Arcade Fire playing the venue’s comeback show.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Camden Town, London, England
• Type: Concert venue (former theatre)
• Opened: 1900 (as Camden Theatre); reopened as KOKO in 2004
• Capacity: About 1,500
• Architect: W.G.R. Sprague
• Famous for: Album launch shows by Madonna and Coldplay; post-fire reopening with Arcade Fire

From Edwardian Theatre to Music Landmark

Before it became a byword for London’s live music scene, the building spent decades as the Camden Theatre, then a cinema, and later a BBC studio used for radio recordings including The Goon Show. It found a second life as a nightclub and gig venue in the late 1970s under the name The Music Machine, then as Camden Palace through the 1980s and 90s, hosting early performances from punk and new wave acts.

The venue was renamed KOKO after a multimillion-pound restoration completed in 2004, which restored much of its ornate Edwardian interior, including tiered balconies and a domed ceiling, while keeping it functioning as a working concert hall.

The 2020 Fire and Rebuild

On the evening of 6 January 2020, a large fire broke out at KOKO during roof renovation work, drawing around 60 firefighters and eight fire engines to Camden High Street. The blaze significantly damaged the building’s roof and dome, forcing an extended closure.

Owner Mint Entertainment used the closure to carry out a larger renovation, adding new performance and event spaces around the historic auditorium. KOKO reopened in April 2022, with Arcade Fire performing the venue’s first show back.

Explore more: Explore more iconic music venues.

KOKO FAQs

What is KOKO’s capacity?

KOKO holds about 1,500 people, making it a mid-sized venue between London’s small clubs and its large arenas.

Was KOKO always a music venue?

No. It opened in 1900 as the Camden Theatre and has also operated as a cinema, a BBC studio, and the nightclub Camden Palace before becoming KOKO in 2004.

Did KOKO close after the 2020 fire?

Yes. A fire in January 2020 damaged the roof during renovation work, closing the venue until it reopened in April 2022 with a concert by Arcade Fire.

Get More from KOKO

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate KOKO, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: APK / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post KOKO Camden: London’s Historic Music Venue Reborn appeared first on ThrillZing.

The venue officially opened on March 30, 1968, as Cosmisch Ontspanningscentrum Paradiso (‘Cosmic Relaxation Center Paradiso’), drawing around 1,300 people to its debut event. Less than two months later, Pink Floyd played the hall, kicking off a run of legendary performances that has continued for decades. Its stained-glass windows and church-like main hall have earned Paradiso the nickname ‘Pop Temple,’ and in 1980 the building was added to the Rijksmonumentenregister, the Netherlands’ national monuments registry, permanently protecting it from demolition.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Weteringschans 6-8, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Type: Converted church / concert hall
• Opened: March 30, 1968
• Main hall capacity: About 1,500
• Upper floor stage capacity: About 250
• Monument status: National monument since 1980
• Famous for: Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Nirvana, and David Bowie performances

From Church to Pop Temple

The building that houses Paradiso was constructed in 1879-1880 as a religious meeting hall for De Vrije Gemeente, a liberal Amsterdam congregation. After the group relocated in 1965, the space stood mostly unused until a wave of squatters and music enthusiasts occupied it in October 1967, part of Amsterdam’s broader countercultural movement of the era. Their vision transformed the former sanctuary into one of Europe’s most storied concert halls, with the original stained-glass windows still rising behind the stage as a reminder of the building’s origins.

A Stage for Rock History

Since opening in 1968, Paradiso’s main hall has hosted an extraordinary run of acts, including Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Nirvana, David Bowie, Prince, Metallica, and Black Sabbath, with many shows preserved on official live recordings. Until the 1990s it was the largest concert club in Amsterdam, and it remains a central fixture of the city’s music scene today, still booking touring acts across genres in its main hall, smaller upstairs stage, and basement café.

Explore more: Explore more legendary music venues.

Paradiso FAQs

Was Paradiso really a church?

Yes. The building was constructed in 1879-1880 as a religious meeting hall for De Vrije Gemeente (The Free Congregation) before being converted into a music venue in the late 1960s.

How many people does Paradiso hold?

The main hall holds about 1,500 people, with a smaller upstairs stage accommodating around 250, plus additional performance space in the basement café.

When did Paradiso open as a music venue?

It officially opened on March 30, 1968, as Cosmisch Ontspanningscentrum Paradiso, and Pink Floyd played there less than two months later.

Get More from Paradiso

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Paradiso, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Paradiso: Amsterdam’s Legendary Church-Turned-Concert-Hall appeared first on ThrillZing.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the zoo is home to more than 2,400 animals representing over 340 species, including one of the largest bonobo populations outside the Democratic Republic of Congo. Popular exhibits like the Taylor Family Humboldt Penguin Pool, the Stearns Family Apes of Africa building, and the vintage Safari Train, which has run since 1958, help draw over a million visitors annually.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Opened: 1892 (Washington Park); moved to current site in 1961
• Size: About 190 acres
• Species/Animal Count: Over 2,400 animals, 340+ species
• Annual Visitors: About 1.1 to 1.3 million
• Famous for: One of the largest bonobo populations outside the DRC

The Zoo Experience

Visitors can explore themed areas spanning primates, big cats, an African savanna-style Adventure Africa exhibit with elephants and hippos, and the Herb and Nada Mahler Family Aviary, home to more than 60 bird species. The Taylor Family Humboldt Penguin Pool and the Stearns Family Apes of Africa building, which opened in 1992, are among the zoo’s most visited habitats.

A ride on the Safari Train, a miniature railway that has circled the grounds since 1958, remains a favorite for families, while seasonal events add extra draws throughout the year.

History and Legacy

The zoo’s earlier Washington Park location was notable for hosting the second polar bear birth ever recorded in captivity and for Gertie the Duck, a wild mallard that became a local celebrity during World War II. Samson, a western lowland gorilla who lived at the zoo from 1950 to 1981, remains one of its most famous former residents; his skeletal remains are now displayed at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Operated by Milwaukee County with support from the nonprofit Zoological Society of Milwaukee, the zoo continues to participate in species conservation breeding programs, including recent successes with red panda cubs, giraffe calves, and river otter pups.

Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.

Milwaukee County Zoo FAQs

How big is the Milwaukee County Zoo?

The zoo covers about 190 acres in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

How many animals live at the Milwaukee County Zoo?

The zoo is home to more than 2,400 animals representing over 340 species.

When did the Milwaukee County Zoo open?

The zoo originated in Washington Park in 1892 and relocated to its current, larger site in 1961.

Get More from Milwaukee County Zoo

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Milwaukee County Zoo, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Milwaukee County Zoo: Wisconsin’s 190-Acre Wildlife Park appeared first on ThrillZing.

In 1996, the Indianapolis Zoo became the first institution in the country to earn triple accreditation as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden, a distinction tied to its adjoining White River Gardens. The zoo is also home to the Indianapolis Prize, a biennial award recognizing major achievements in animal conservation, and draws roughly 1.2 million visitors each year.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: White River State Park, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Opened: June 11, 1988 (original site opened 1964)
• Size: 93 acres
• Species: About 244 species, roughly 1,553 animals
• Annual visitors: About 1.2 million
• Famous for: Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center

The Zoo Experience

Visitors move through indoor and outdoor habitats organized by biome, including areas for deserts, forests, and oceans. The Dolphin Pavilion features an underwater viewing dome where guests can watch bottlenose dolphins swim overhead, one of the zoo’s longest-running signature attractions.

The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center opened over Memorial Day weekend 2014 after a $21.5 million construction effort and has become one of the largest orangutan habitats at any U.S. zoo, housing around a dozen orangutans as of 2025, including a baby born that February. The adjoining White River Gardens adds more than 50,000 plants representing over 5,000 species to the campus.

Exhibits and Conservation Work

The zoo participates in Species Survival Plans coordinated through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and its orangutans have been part of AZA-recommended breeding pairings, including the new orangutan birth announced in February 2025. The Indianapolis Prize, established by the zoo, awards conservationists working to protect endangered species worldwide.

Beyond its animal collection, the zoo grew in 2019 when it acquired about 28 additional acres south of Washington Street, expanding its footprint from the original 64-acre riverside site to its current 93 acres and giving the campus room for future exhibit development.

Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.

Indianapolis Zoo FAQs

When did the Indianapolis Zoo open?

The zoo’s original Washington Park location opened April 18, 1964. It moved to its current White River State Park site on June 11, 1988.

How many animals live at the Indianapolis Zoo?

The zoo houses roughly 1,553 animals representing about 244 species, according to figures reported on its Wikipedia entry.

What makes the Indianapolis Zoo unique?

In 1996 it became the first zoo in the country to hold triple accreditation as a zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden, and it’s home to the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, one of the largest orangutan facilities in the U.S.

Get More from Indianapolis Zoo

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Indianapolis Zoo, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: IU Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Indianapolis Zoo: America’s First Triple-Accredited Zoo appeared first on ThrillZing.

Spread across roughly 75 acres, the zoo is home to more than 500 species and around 3,000 varieties of plants in its botanical collection. It carries a heavy legacy in conservation history: it was the last home of Martha, the final passenger pigeon, who died there in 1914, and of Incas, the last known Carolina parakeet, who died in 1918. More recently, the zoo drew national attention with the 2017 birth of Fiona, a premature Nile hippopotamus whose against-the-odds survival became a global media sensation.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: Cincinnati, Ohio (Avondale)
• Opened: 1875
• Size: About 75 acres
• Species: 500+ animal species, ~3,000 plant varieties
• Annual Visitors: About 1.5-2 million
• Famous For: Second-oldest zoo in the U.S.; birthplace of Fiona the hippo

A Living Piece of Conservation History

Few zoos carry the historical weight of Cincinnati’s. It was the site of the last known passenger pigeon, Martha, and the last known Carolina parakeet, Incas, whose deaths marked the extinction of their species and helped spur the American conservation movement. That legacy continues today through the zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), founded in 1986, which maintains a ‘Frozen Zoo’ preserving genetic material from dozens of endangered animal and plant species.

The zoo has also become known for hand-raising and celebrating individual animal stories, most notably Fiona the hippo, born six weeks premature in 2017 and nursed to health by the zoo’s animal care team, becoming a viral symbol of the institution’s veterinary expertise.

What Visitors Can See Today

Beyond its historic pedigree, the zoo functions as a full modern animal park and botanical garden, combining themed animal habitats with extensive plant collections and seasonal horticultural displays. It has repeatedly ranked among the top zoos in North America, including a 2019 USA Today readers’ choice honor naming it the best zoo on the continent.

The zoo’s dual identity as both a zoo and botanical garden sets it apart from many peer institutions, with landscaped gardens and plant displays woven throughout the animal habitats rather than treated as a separate attraction.

Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden FAQs

Is the Cincinnati Zoo the oldest zoo in the U.S.?

It is the second-oldest zoo in the United States, having opened in 1875, just a few years after the Philadelphia Zoo.

What happened to Fiona the hippo?

Fiona was born six weeks premature at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2017 and survived thanks to round-the-clock veterinary care, becoming internationally famous.

How big is the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden?

The zoo covers about 75 acres and is home to more than 500 animal species alongside roughly 3,000 varieties of plants.

Get More from Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.

Photo: Original uploader was Mind meal at en.wikipedia / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: America’s Second-Oldest Zoo appeared first on ThrillZing.