Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Sets Attendance Record

11,500 Guests Spent Saturday, March 7 at the Zoo

[Columbia, SC] – The tickets have been counted, the results are in and it is official…on Saturday, March 7, a new attendance record was set at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden – 11,500 visitors spent the day enjoying the park.

“This record-setting day is testament to Riverbanks’ continuing popularity,” said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “Riverbanks has served South Carolina as a top-tier attraction for more than 35 years, and it continues to be a draw for people from across the state as well as people from all over the country.”

In addition to record-breaking attendance, Riverbanks Society also sold a record number of memberships at the front gate. Nearly 200 households joined Riverbanks Society during their visit to the Zoo on Saturday, March 7. Society members receive a number of benefits, the most notable being free admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for a year.

A driving force in the community, Riverbanks offers great value as an affordable and quality source of entertainment and education. A day spent at the Zoo and Garden provides families with unforgettable experiences and a multitude of memories.

“There are not many things that compare to feeling the tongue of a giraffe slide across your fingers as it gobbles greens from the palm of your hand or the look on a child’s face when a lorikeet lands on her head,” said Krantz. “Riverbanks is proud to share these experiences and many more with our community.”

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More about Riverbanks Society: Established in 1976 by a group of concerned citizens, Riverbanks Society continues today as the private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting the needs of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. The Society has evolved from an original membership base of 200 households to more than 33,000 households today, representing more than 140,000 individuals and boasting one of the largest zoo societies per capita in the United States. Riverbanks Society members and donors provide important resources for the research, education and conservation efforts of the Zoo and Garden, strengthening Riverbanks' position within the community as the premier family choice for education and recreation.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is located at I-126 and Greystone Boulevard near downtown Columbia. The Botanical Garden entrance is located in West Columbia off Hwy. 378 at Botanical Parkway. Hours are 9am – 5pm and the Zoo is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $9.75 for adults, $7.25 for children ages 3 – 12 and free for children under three. Group rates and other discounts may apply. For more information, call Riverbanks at 803.779.8717 or visit www.riverbanks.org.