Riverbanks Zoo Celebrates Its Golden Anniversary

Riverbanks Zoo marks its 50th birthday with a Golden Ticket giveaway

Located in the heart of the Midlands, the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is gearing up to celebrate half a century of wildlife conservation and education with an exclusive Golden Ticket giveaway. The lucky ticket could be in the hands of one reader, offering a mystery windfall that is sure to raise excitement and anticipation to a fever pitch.

Diving into History: The Saga of Riverbanks Zoo

Opened to the public on April 25, 1974, the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has grown into one of the most successful mid-sized zoos in the country. The grassroots thought of a local group of businessmen desiring a children’s zoo in the early 1960s has blossomed into a wildlife haven that sees over one million visitors each year and support from more than 45,000 member households.

Zoo director John Mertans examining plans in 1970 | Photo via Richland Library Digital Archive

Today: The Making of An Immersive Experience

The past 50 years have seen the Riverbanks Zoo continually innovate and evolve. The recently opened Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center, funded by The Boyd Foundation, offers visitors an immersive experience, allowing them to explore temperate and tropical forests, traverse the desert, and voyage from land to sea.

Rendering of a new restaurant that would overlook the orangutan exhibit + the Saluda River | Photo provided by Riverbanks Zoo

Looking into the Future: The Bridge to the Wild Expansion

The Riverbanks Zoo is not resting on its laurels. The homegrown zoo has big plans to expand its Bridge to the Wild project into Phase 2, following its induction in 2019. The expansion promises newcomers like a new restaurant with panoramic views of the Saluda River, a showcase of orangutans, a South Carolina nature and history preserve, as well as interactive exhibits featuring habitats for black bears, red wolves, and bald eagles. The infrastructure improvements and brand new aerial trams and walkways are also keys to the future blueprint.

The Golden Opportunity: Win the Golden Ticket!

An interesting twist to the Riverbanks Zoo’s half-century milestone is a Golden Ticket Giveaway quiz. Answer three questions correctly and stand a chance to win a money-can’t-buy-experience – everything from family four-packs of general admission tickets to behind-the-scenes tours, and rare opportunities to engage with the wide range of amazing creatures at the zoo, like creating enrichment activities for meerkats and witnessing up-close animal interactions.

Join the Riverbanks Zoo in its Golden Anniversary Celebrations, delving into the past, exploring the present and looking forward to an illustrious future – all while having a great time with family and friends and helping support wildlife conservation efforts.