This Mountain Zoo Is Spending $40 Million to Rethink How Giraffes Live in Human Care

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is celebrating 100 years in 2026, and they’re ringing in this milestone in a major way. The construction of a new welfare-focused facility is underway, which the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is calling the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe.

Scheduled to open in summer 2026 alongside a new entry plaza, this upgrade has attracted attention from both locals and other zoos—especially given its $40 million price tag. Today, we’ll take a look at what the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has planned for the upgrade, as well as why they’re opting to go all-in on this project. Let’s dive into the details of the zoo’s plan to enhance the already beloved giraffe experience within its boundaries.

How One Mountain Zoo Became a Colorado Springs Institution

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo traces its unique origins to philanthropist Spencer Penrose, a gentleman who began collecting animals after receiving a bear in 1916. The zoo’s historic timeline explains that these animals were kept at Penrose’s Turkey Creek Ranch and near The Broadmoor before the collection began moving to its current mountainside site in 1926–1927.

By 1938, after expanding his collection, Penrose deeded the zoo as a non-profit public trust for the people of Colorado Springs, making it a business that operates without local tax support, leaning on admissions, memberships, and various donations to fund its major upgrades and animal care.

This makes upgrades for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo all the more difficult to fund. This particular renovation is a major one, with funds saved and raised over the years; here’s what’s currently in the works.

What’s New in 2026 For the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?

The zoo’s centennial announcement emphasizes the importance of their planned giraffe center, noting it is only part of a larger group of new openings. Other updates are planned, including a new admissions experience, a Quarters for Conservation plaza, and new guest amenities, such as a gift shop and cafe. All of these upgrades are scheduled for summer 2026 and are completely funded through zoo revenue and donations.

The giraffe center’s upgrade is especially important. Here’s what the new enclosure will include and what visitors can expect:

• More space outside for the herd. The zoo states the project expands the giraffe outdoor space by 25%, growing the yard westward after relocating the zoo’s main road.
• A much larger indoor barn. A 12,000-square-foot giraffe barn is in the works, and it’s set to be nearly triple the prior indoor space available for the zoo’s giraffe population.
• Feeding and movement are built into the layout. The zoo says the new habitat will have 11 feeding zones, a huge upgrade from their typical three stations. The nine new feeding stations will also be located throughout the yard and barn to reduce crowding and spread out both guests and giraffes for better viewing opportunities.
• A choice-driven barn and daily routine. The zoo says the giraffes will have access to varied spaces and enrichment opportunities.
• Materials that support light cycles and comfort. The barn is set to include natural substrate floors and an ETFE roof, one designed to flood interior spaces with natural light and additional durability against hail and fire.

The Giraffe Center’s Primary Goal, Once Updated

There are a number of goals that the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has in mind by funding this upgrade. In fact, the giraffe center is meant to be a better way to house their animals, connect giraffe experts, expand educational opportunities, and improve giraffe lives in human care, both at this zoo and beyond. It is intended to serve as a benchmark renovation for other zoos to follow.

The zoo also describes the project as part of a broader professional and conservation mission. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo established The Giraffe Center as a resource for giraffe caregivers worldwide in 2022, with the full public-facing International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe set to open in 2026 as part of the centennial project.

When construction is complete, this new giraffe facility is intended to be a public-facing hub for a specialty the zoo already possesses, making it even more special.

This Zoo’s Centennial Celebrates Animals Beyond Its Borders

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is treating its centennial as a special occasion, prioritizing upgrades that haven’t always been feasible. A modern, globally focused giraffe center will change how much good one zoo can do for animals everywhere—not just those within its care.

If the project succeeds, the new giraffe center will become a visible statement about what the zoo aspires to be in its second century: a place that still draws crowds for giraffe feedings, but also builds facilities that reflect the evolution of animal care—and will continue to evolve with the right people at the helm.