Plans Reveal New Access to Upper Canopy with New Plants and Animals
Galveston, TX… One of the state’s top tourist attractions has announced plans to improve one of its most popular exhibits. Moody Gardens will begin work on a $25 million enhancement project to the Rainforest Pyramid project October 5, 2009.
A new entrance will lead guests into the upper canopy areas of the rainforest for a whole new perspective on the plant and animal life that live in areas that are not typically seen in the Rainforest Pyramid or in the wild. Guests can also expect to see new plants and animals, as well as some of the favorites that visitors have enjoyed through the years since the exhibit opened in 1993.
It began as a breathtaking tribute to the world’s rapidly vanishing rainforests; an exotic yet peaceful place where primitive palms, broad-leafed ferns and twisting vines could exist in gentle balance with tropical birds and other animals. The signature pyramid has shared the wonders of the Asian, African and American rainforests with millions of enchanted visitors and helped to focus worldwide attention on rainforests and critically endangered species and habitat and added a stunning new destination point to the nation’s recreation compass.
Currently, beneath the 55-foot-tall canopy, visitors can explore a Mayan Colonnade, see over 2,000 species of tropical plants, rain forest fish, tropical birds and turtles. Other animals were temporarily displaced when Hurricane Ike struck Galveston Island in September 2008. The animals were moved to other zoos and aquariums as repairs were made inside the Rainforest Pyramid. The Rainforest Pyramid reopened in April 2009 with an Earth Day celebration.
“Most people do not get the chance to visit an actual rainforest,” said John Zendt general manager for Moody Gardens, who added that the Rainforest Pyramid may be the closest replica of a real rainforest. “As beautiful as it is, we will only see the Forest Floor and Understory Levels. The plants, birds and other wildlife that reside in the dense Canopy Level are hidden by branches and leaves here.”
Zendt added that same issue has been true in the Rainforest Pyramid. This enhancement will enable guests to experience the rainforest in a whole new way. In addition to a new entry, a walkway will lead guests through the canopy level. They will see the exhibit from a new vantage point, but they will also see new plants, birds, animals, fish and butterflies. They will also have access to the lower levels of the exhibit as in the past.
“The Rainforest Pyramid has always been a very unique exhibit. It helps to convey a very important conservation message,” said Zendt. “These improvements will enable Moody Gardens to communicate this message even more effectively while providing a very special guest experience.”
The enhancement will be revealed in multiple phases. The Rainforest Pyramid will close October 5 and reopen for the Summer 2010 vacation season. Some of the upper canopy work will be visible at this point and will remain as a botanical exhibit with some birds and fish as in its current state. In Fall 2010, the Rainforest Pyramid will close again to complete the transition with the anticipated final grand opening scheduled for Spring of 2011.
“Although it would be easier, to keep the Rainforest Pyramid closed and keep working through the summer of 2010, we felt we would be serving our guests better to have the exhibit open when the majority of our visitors are on vacation,” said Zendt.
Following a rigorous application process, the Rainforest Pyramid was granted accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2008 for the third time. This was the first Moody Gardens exhibit of its type to achieve such distinction, which was followed by the Aquarium Pyramid’s accreditation.
For more information, please call 800-582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.
|
