Special to 1808Delaware
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has reported that attendance in 2022 exceeded 2 million guest visits.
“With rising costs and increased financial pressure on the families who visit us, we anticipated that 2022 would be down significantly. Fortunately, we experienced strong attendance, particularly during the fall and winter seasons. We are grateful for our wonderful community support. Revenue generated from ticket sales, membership and other purchases allows us to offer enriching educational experiences that also contribute to making a difference for wildlife locally and globally,” said Tom Schmid, President and CEO.
According to the consultant firm, ZooAdvisors, 2022 zoo attendance was projected down 9% nationwide from the previous year. The Columbus Zoo is right on par with this national trend as attendance reached 2.2 million guest visits in 2021. 2022 came in above our five year average of 1.95 million visits.
Operating revenue for the Columbus Zoo is projected to come in at approximately $75 million. With expenses tracking very close to, or under budget, the institution is anticipated to end 2022 with about $10 million in net income.
“Although we are a not-for-profit conservation institution, generating yearly net income allows us to augment our philanthropic efforts, providing much needed capital to re-invest in all of our facilities. In addition, these funds help support our wildlife rescue work, such as manatee rehabilitation efforts in Florida and hellbender recovery right here in Ohio. As we approach our centennial in 2027, re-investing will continue to be a priority, right along with adding new programming and experiences for guests, and supporting new conservation initiatives all over the world,” Schmid said.
The Zoo will share more information about upcoming capital projects and improvements and job creation in all of its properties (the Zoo, The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club) in the coming weeks.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, events, and more, be sure to follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
