Knoxville Zoo welcomed 440,115 visitors in 2015, the highest annual attendance in the zoo’s 67-year history and a new record. 

While more than 205,000 zoo-goers came from Knoxville and the surrounding counties, slightly more than half of all visitors (53%) were tourists whose impact to the local economy amounted to more than $27 million.  The zoo also saw an increase in the percentage of local visitors compared to 2014.      

Knoxville Zoo President and CEO Lisa New attributes the surge in attendance primarily to the popularity of the zoo’s two baby Western lowland gorillas, who were born in the spring of 2015.  “The Knoxville community has a strong history of celebrating our successes, and there was a lot of interest in the first gorillas ever born in Knoxville and the first in the state in 30 years,” says New. “We’ve also made it our top priority to enhance our guests’ experience, which we have done through interactions with our staff and animals and ongoing beautification throughout the zoo.”

The attendance for 2015 exceeded the zoo’s previous record, set in 2007, when 430,088 guests visited the zoo.

Knoxville Zoo is open year-round and in 2015, October was the highest attended month with 68,619 visitors closely followed by May with 65,292 visitors.  According to zip code data, visitors came from all 50 states and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.

Knoxville Zoo is Knoxville’s largest year-round attraction.  Located off exit 392 from Interstate 40, the zoo is open every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Knoxville Zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. For more information, please call 865-637-5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxvillezoo.org.