Attendance surpassed 1 million visitors for the 18th straight year in 2010, once again making Cleveland Metroparks Zoo the No. 1 year-round attraction in Northeast Ohio.
Despite the continuing weak economy, and 20 days when temperatures reached 90 degrees or higher, the Zoo saw only a 2 percent decrease in attendance from 2009, with 1,130,518 total visitors.
More than 322,700 of those visitors also walked through the popular DINOSAURS! exhibit, which made its fifth appearance at the Zoo during the summer months.
"Cleveland Metroparks Zoo remains a fun, educational and affordable place to visit at any time of year," said Zoo Director Steve Taylor. "And we are poised to have our biggest year yet in 2011 with the opening of African Elephant Crossing."
Free Mondays at the Zoo, featuring free admission to the Zoo for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township, continued to be popular, netting the Zoo its highest attendance of the year, 22,212, on July 26. However, due to a blizzard, the lowest attendance day of the year also was a Monday -- December 13. Only 44 visitors braved the weather to catch a glimpse of the Zoo under a fresh blanket of snow that day.
The busiest month of the year was July, with 183,502 visitors, followed by June with 177,978.
Boo at the Zoo continued its popularity, drawing 37,242 evening visitors over its eight night run in October, for an average of more than 4,600 visitors per night. Noon Year’s Eve, another event increasingly popular with families, saw its second highest attendance in 2010 with 10,645 joining in the midday celebration.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Discounted winter admission through March 31 is just $7 per person, $5 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for children younger than 2 and Zoo members. Parking is free. Located at 3900 Wildlife Way, the Zoo is easily accessible from Interstates 71, 77, 90 and 480.
To learn more, visit clemetzoo.com or call (216) 661-6500.