Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s new $40 million giraffe center now open

If you’ve ever fed a giraffe at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and if you grew up in Colorado, you almost certainly have, the experience just got a massive upgrade. The zoo’s brand-new International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe officially opened to the public today, and it’s unlike anything the zoo has done in its 100-year history.

The $40 million Giraffe Center features a 12,000-square-foot indoor barn with a clear roof that lets in natural sunlight and moonlight, because giraffes live by the sun and moon cycle, even indoors. The outdoor yard is 25 percent bigger than the old one and now includes switchbacks that allow the giraffes to explore up the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain for the first time. Inside, giraffe-sized garage doors connect the indoor and outdoor spaces, and guests can feed the herd from a rope bridge, a central feeding island or along the entire walkway, expanding the feeding zones from three to 10. There are also heated walls, because even the staff appreciates a little warmth during a Colorado Springs winter.

“The most important feature is not one you can measure in square feet,” CEO Dave Ruhl said. “It’s choice. This new space gives each giraffe more choice about where to stand, who to be near and whether to engage with our guests.” The whole design philosophy centers on letting the giraffes decide how they spend their day, exploring, munching on leaves, hanging with visitors or just vibing in a quiet corner.

The timing couldn’t be better: the Giraffe Center is the centerpiece of CMZoo’s centennial celebration. The zoo was founded in 1926 by Colorado Springs legend Spencer Penrose, and it was recently voted the No. 2 Best Zoo in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It’s about an hour and 15 minutes south of Denver, and if you haven’t been in a while, this is your sign. Just be warned, feeding a giraffe from a rope bridge is going to be hard to top on your next family outing.