Despite the poor press it has gotten in recent years, today I was shocked by the number of improvements made at the Chattanooga Zoo since my last visit in the spring. The new Forest and Desert buildings are beautiful and feature Chinese Alligators, foxes, a Komodo Dragon, bobcats, vipers, boas, poison dart frogs and merekats.
My kids got to watch a sloth eat while hanging upside down from a tree. A staff member was walking the property showing off a giant millipede. An outdoor prairie dog site has been set up near the peacocks. A new double-gated entrance has been installed at the petting zoo. Some of the markings on the sidewalk - like the distance a Cheetah can jump vs. a deer - had been repainted. The bathrooms were pristine, and some new carved animals had been added to the carousel.
A giant giraffe sculpture is being put up near the camel rides, where staff members told me an actual giraffe exhibit will be added in a few years. For the first time ever, I am actually considering a family membership.
So kudos to our zoo for pushing past tough times and making it a nicer place to visit.
Camille Platt
East Brainerd