Minnesota Zoo attendance tops 1.1 million

Lunch time
The new Russia's Grizzly Coast exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo features a stream and pond where the bears can try to nab live fish.
Photo courtesy Bob Cole, Minnesota Zoo

(AP) - The Minnesota Zoo is coming off its best year for attendance since 1999. Attendance for the fiscal year ending June 30 topped 1.1 million.

Zoo memberships are at an all-time high of 36,538 households, which represents more than 150,000 individuals.

The zoo, located in Apple Valley, says its strong attendance gains began last summer with the opening of the renovated Medtronic Minnesota Trail.

The opening of a new $24 million exhibit, Russia's Grizzly Coast, on June 7 also boosted attendance.

Attendance for the month topped 221,000 -- second only to June 1978, the first full month the zoo was open 30 years ago.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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