Powell, OH – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is reporting the highest attendance over a Memorial Day Weekend since 2017.
Nearly 50,000 visited over the four-day weekend from May 26-29, 2023, this marked a 7 percent increase in attendance for the Zoo.
Several factors led to the attendance bump, including new experiences at the Zoo, a strong marketing initiative, and great weather.
“Our teams have worked hard to ensure that our guests can experience a variety of new and exciting opportunities this summer. From opening the new weedy seadragon habitat to adding all-new food and beverage options and bringing in one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the Midwest for guests to enjoy, 2023 will be a year to celebrate. The strong attendance over Memorial Day Weekend is a great way to kick off our busy summer season,” said Columbus Zoo and Aquarium President and CEO Tom Schmid.
In 2022, the Zoo welcomed a total of over 2 million guests and came in above its five-year average of 1.95 million visits. The Zoo’s performance over this year’s Memorial Day Weekend mirrors predictions by the AAA travel agency, which estimated a 7 percent increase in travel compared to 2022.
According to Experience Columbus, tourism numbers are rebounding with remarkable resilience, approaching benchmark figures set in 2019.
“Travelers from all corners of the globe are taking note of our city's amazing offers, finding themselves drawn to its unique blend of cultural experiences, diverse attractions, and warm hospitality,” said Experience Columbus President and CEO Brian Ross. “We could not be prouder of our world-class attractions, like the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, that continue to elevate the allure of our city.”
“For almost 96 years, the Columbus Zoo has been a treasured institution in Central Ohio. We are proud that our guests are enjoying our new offerings this summer, and we remain committed to identifying more opportunities for our community this year and well into the future,” said Schmid.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, animals, events, and more, follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide to continue the mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
