Capacity Crowds Cause Temporary Closing at NC Zoo

Asheboro, NC - For only the second time in its history, the North Carolina Zoo closed its gates temporarily this afternoon when parking lots reached overflow capacity and visitor facilities additionally began to reach capacity.
By mid-afternoon, as visitors began to leave the park, other guests were allowed to enter.

Spring temperatures in the high 60s and days off for the Easter weekend and spring breaks for students helped swell the park's attendance to one of its busiest days on record. Monday's attendance was 12,775 guests by 4 p.m. The park's one-day attendance record is 17,499--a free-admission day in 1994. The park's paid-admission attendance record is 15,041, set in September 1994.
New gorilla babies and the opening of "Dinosaurs," the zoo's new animatronic-dinosaur exhibit featuring 15 computer-controlled, life-like creatures, undoubtedly added to visitor interest.

The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, John E. Skvarla, III, Secretary; Pat McCrory, Governor.

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