Cleveland Zoo announces new Primate Forest opening date

Sam Allard

Exterior of a curved brick building with large glass windows, beside a "Primate Forest" sign with a gorilla. A large gorilla statue sits on a brick pedestal in a landscaped area under a blue sky. — Photo: Courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's new Primate Forest opens to the public Thursday, Oct. 22, at noon.

Why it matters: The opening has been long in the works. It's the first phase of the zoo's largest capital improvement project, transforming the former Rainforest into a 140,000-square-foot indoor destination.

Zoom in: The new attraction features an expanded orangutan habitat, a tropical forest and a two-story entrance with interactive technology and play structures incorporated throughout.

The project includes renovations to more than 63,000 square feet of the former Rainforest and 33,500 square feet of new construction.

What's next: A second phase will create a new habitat for the zoo's growing gorilla troop, with the entire project scheduled for completion by the zoo's 150th anniversary in 2032.

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Cleveland Zoo announces new Primate Forest opening date

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