Two weeks have flown by and the grand opening of Revolution Ridge, originally scheduled for May 21, is Friday, June 4 at 9 a.m.
The Greensboro Science Center is constantly expanding and adding new features, holding ribbons cuttings and openings, but this one is special.
Revolution Ridge is the largest expansion in the 63-year history of the Greensboro Science Center, formerly the Natural Science Center. When you consider what the Natural Science Center was 20 years ago versus what the Greensboro Science Center is today, the idea of the largest expansion in the history of the organization is a big deal.
Revolution Ridge features nine new animal exhibits, plus an animal hospital where you can watch animal care in action. There is also a conservation center where people can see into the research labs and find out about projects that previously took place behind the scenes.
Revolution Ridge adds more than 11 acres of public gathering and green space and an elevated boardwalk to see it all.
The two-week delay was in part caused by the normal construction delays in today’s building climate, but also – and perhaps more importantly – the opening was delayed in order to give the animals, who after all are the stars of the show, sufficient time to become acclimated to their new homes before their guests arrived.
Revolution Ridge includes habitats for the cassowary, kookaburra, okapi, pygmy hippo, Caribbean flamingo, fishing cat, sand cat, serval, black-footed cat and red pandas.
If you are a Greensboro Science Center member or someone fortunate enough to be invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony that begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 3, then you get a sneak preview of Revolution Ridge beginning at 9 a.m. Everyone else has to wait for the official opening on Friday, June 4.
With the opening of Revolution Ridge a $15.5 million expansion, ticket prices will increase by $3.50 for adults and seniors and by $2.50 for children.
The new ticket prices are (14 to 64) $19.50, seniors (65 and up) $18.50, children (3-13) $17.50, children (2 and under) free, and for groups of 10 or more $16.50 per person.
Residents of Greensboro, members of the military, college students and City of Greensboro employees are eligible for a $1 discount with proper identification.
A zoo is a wonderful thing. The tiger alone is worth the price of admission. Perhaps sooner than we think, a zoo is the only place left for them
Did the NC Zoo ever recover the two Cassowary’s that escaped a couple of years ago?
Zoos are indeed wonderful places where people and animals can come together to celebrate not only the diversity of life on Earth but to appreciate the conundrum of how to keep it so.