TETON TREK FAQs

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Construction has begun on Teton Trek, the Zoo's next world-class exhibit. Here are some responses to the questions we've been answering about the development of this exhibit.

Q. When did construction begin and when will it be completed?
A. The Zoo began construction in January 2008, and the estimated date of completion is summer 2009.

Q. How much does the exhibit cost?
A. Nearly $16 million. The majority of the funds raised for this exhibit were donated by corporate partners and private citizens.

Q. How many acres are included in Teton Trek, and where is it located?
A. The exhibit is approximately four acres, and it is located southeast of the Northwest Passage exhibit.

Q. Did the Zoo "clear cut" the entire four acres?
A. No. While trees were removed from the land on which the exhibit will reside, the Zoo was able to protect trees that could be included in the construction plans.

Q. How long has the Zoo planned on developing this land?
A. The Zoo's master plan has included this land for development since 1986. It has remained in the master plan for more than 20 years.

Q. How does the Zoo decide what exhibits to build next?
A. The Zoo's master plan provides guidance for exhibit renovations. Many factors determine how and where exhibits are built, but the biggest factor is providing appropriate, updated environments for our animals.

Teton Trek completes the Zoo's goal to bring back the bears. The bears' original homes were demolished in 2003 because they were substandard compared to today's methods for animal husbandry. Black bears and polar bears were included in Northwest Passage, and grizzly bears will return to the Zoo with Teton Trek.

Each new exhibit's plans are reviewed and approved by the City of Memphis' Office for Planning and Development. The Zoo also requires approval by the its board of directors.

Q. Does Teton Trek involve the Zoo's land near Rainbow Lake?
A. Teton Trek only involves the four acres of land east of Northwest Passage. The 17 1/2 acres of Zoo land near Rainbow Lake has never been planned for major development. The Zoo's master plan has reserved this area for a minimal impact forest trail exhibit. 

We’ve planned a low-impact forest trail to bring more people into the forest to experience it. But before we start the real design process, we've been doing our homework by partnering with forestry experts to perform an extensive survey of all the trees in this area. Our vision is to provide a safe path through the forest while maintaining its delicate ecosystem.  Click here to see our plans.

Q. What's next on the Zoo's master plan?
A. The next exhibit on the plans after Teton Trek is a new home for hippos called Zambezi River Hippo Camp. The Zoo plans to remove existing outdated exhibity to make room for this exhibit.

Read more about the Zoo's master plan.