Minnesota Zoo Wins Award for Unique Attraction

In 2023, the Minnesota Zoo opened a new attraction that people have been loving. It also holds a record and has now won a few awards!

I still haven't been to see this attraction yet, so hopefully this is the year I get to check it out because I hear it's pretty awesome.

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Minnesota Zoo Monorail Turned into Treetop Trail

Do you remember the monorail at the Minnesota Zoo? I grew up going to the zoo so when I was a kid, my brother and I absolutely loved riding the monorail and seeing the animals from above.

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Sadly, the monorail was decommissioned in 2013, and for nearly 10 years it sat there doing nothing.

But then, work began on a new project, and in 2023, the Treetop Trail opened for visitors.

Minnesota Zoo's Treetop Trail

They utilized the existing path of the monorail and turned it into a walkable path. So you can still see the animals from above, but if you want to stop and admire a particular animal, you can.

The Treetop Trail is also now considered the world's longest elevated pedestrian loop at 1.25 miles long.

Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail Wins an Award

The Treetop Trail continues to be recognized for its uniqueness and how cool it is. Just recently, Engineering News-Record gave their award for 'Best Specialty Construction' to the Minnesota Zoo for the Treetop Trail.

The way they were able to utilize the already existing monorail tracks and turn it into this one-of-a-kind trail for visitors is pretty incredible.

The zoo has also been recognized with the following for the Treetop Trail:

• Top Project of 2023 Honoree by Finance & Commerce
• 2024 General Design Honor Award Winner by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
• American Public Works Association’s Public Works Project of the Year
• Blooloop Innovation Award – 1st Place in Sustainability
• Commendation for Excellence in Design for Integration by the American Institute of Architects Minnesota