Run to the Shrine participants on the course above Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs city views below.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO

Few things bond a family like an adventure, and our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado call exercise the best medicine for many things. Exercise helps improve sleep, stress, mood and concentration, and they say it can treat and prevent some medical problems. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Run to the Shrine, on Sat., May 9 and Sun., May 10, could be the perfect way to combine exercise and bonding by preparing for the race and achieving a goal as a family unit!

Registration for Run to the Shrine is open now at cmzoo.org/run.

Run to the Shrine participants on the course above Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Run to the Shrine is the only event where participants can hand-feed a giraffe and walk or run up the side of a mountain! The 4-mile round trip up-and-back course offers breathtaking views of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, and parts of the Front Range. The unique route winds by Rocky Mountain goats, African lions and African elephants through the Zoo, up to Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and back into the Zoo.

The evergreen-forested course, with a nearly 1,000-foot elevation gain, is good practice for competitive runners gearing up for summer races and a fun challenge for weekend warriors and families. Run to the Shrine is the only time of the year foot traffic is allowed on the picturesque route through and above the Zoo to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, and back down.

Run to the Shrine participants on the course above Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Participant and spectator tickets are available. Spectators can explore the Zoo from 5 to 8 p.m. when the event ends, but do not get access to Shrine Road.

Registration includes Zoo admission for the evening, a commemorative performance running T-shirt featuring a giraffe, and access to a post-event celebration at the Zoo’s Lodge at Moose Lake.

Run to the Shrine helps CMZoo – one of the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited nonprofit zoos that doesn’t receive any tax support – fund Zoo operations, improvements, animal care and conservation. Run to the Shrine’s 2025 partners, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers and Colorado Springs SCHEELS, help make this tradition possible.

Back to The Waterhole

It’s a big year at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! In 2026, CMZoo is celebrating its centennial year, welcoming a new President & CEO and opening a brand-new Giraffe Center.

Archive photo family admiring giraffe

Celebrating the Centennial
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was established in 1926 by Colorado Springs legend, Spencer Penrose. Having earned considerable wealth from mining enterprises, he expanded his entrepreneurial endeavors in the early 1900s to help develop the Pikes Peak Region. Spencer opened The Broadmoor Hotel in 1918, and over the next several years, he was gifted and purchased exotic animals to impress his visitors.

Spencer’s first wild animals were a black bear and a small herd of black-tailed deer and elk. He kept them at his Turkey Creek Ranch, about 20 miles south of The Broadmoor. Bears, mountain lions, monkeys and more lived in enclosures that lined The Broadmoor golf course, where hotel guests could visit them. This foundational association with the hotel sparked a long-standing misconception that Spencer’s zoo, later Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, was owned by The Broadmoor. But, CMZoo is an independently operated Zoo, and one of the only facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that receives no tax support.

Archive photo - Spencer Penrose with camel

In 1926 and 1927, Spencer’s exotic animals were relocated from The Broadmoor golf course to the Zoo, not because of a notorious monkey bite as some histories claim, but to make way for a major golf tournament at The Broadmoor. So, if you have no other reason to be a fan of golf, you can thank the sport for contributing to the early beginnings of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

In 2026, CMZoo is celebrating a mountain of memories, and 100 years of growth in animal care, conservation, education and community. Throughout the year, the Zoo will share its legacy and historical fun facts. Plus, the Zoo is inviting the public to share their CMZoo stories for a chance to be featured on the Zoo’s social channels.

In summer 2026, the Zoo will host a weeklong celebration alongside the grand opening of the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe. More details to come!

Portrait of Bob Chastain, President & CEO Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 2025

Welcoming a New CEO
In May 2024, CMZoo announced that 20-year President & CEO, Bob Chastain, is retiring after 30 years of service to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. During his tenure, Bob has represented CMZoo in the modern zoo and conservation professions. He has served as Chair of the Safety Committee for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), on the AZA and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums boards and locally on the Colorado Springs Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee.

The Zoo’s executive search for a new President & CEO is making great progress, so stay tuned for an exciting announcement in the coming months.

The Zoo plans to honor Bob’s contributions to the Zoo and Colorado Springs as his retirement date grows closer. In Bob’s final six months at the Zoo (he retires in June!), he’ll share a series of letters in The Waterhole. Bob’s letters will focus on the themes of ‘past, present and future.’ He’ll share anecdotes and memorable milestones that helped make Cheyenne Mountain Zoo a local treasure, a national destination and an international leader in animal care and conservation.

Opening the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe
The historic International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe (the Giraffe Center), along with a new admissions experience, Quarters for Conservation plaza, gift shop and café, are on schedule to open this summer!

International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe front entry rendering

The $40 million dollar project, funded through Zoo revenue and donations, will increase the giraffe herd’s outdoor space by 25 percent and expand their indoor space with a 12,000-square-foot giraffe barn. Keep up with the latest construction updates by watching Bob’s Blueprints, a video series that highlights the progress and incredible elements included in the Giraffe Center.

It’s hard to believe, but the Zoo’s African Rift Valley habitat, home to the Zoo’s iconic 16-member giraffe herd, was built more than 20 years ago. In that time, giraffe professionals have learned a lot about providing world-class care. Home to the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe, established in 2022, CMZoo is a recognized leader in the professional field of giraffe care. This exhibit will reflect that expertise. The Giraffe Center is a concentrated effort to connect giraffe experts, to expand educational programs, and to improve and enrich the lives of giraffe in human care throughout the world.

International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe internal view rendering

The new giraffe habitat’s expanded yard will have additional spaces for giraffe to discover, including a new feeding tower to encourage giraffe to navigate the hills of CMZoo for the first time. The new giraffe barn is all about choice for giraffe and guests. Giraffe will have opportunities to interact with guests in new and exciting ways, and engage in enriching activities independent of keepers and guests. The goal is to fill each giraffe’s day with positively reinforcing activities, such as exploring new spaces, munching on leaves and twigs or taking advantage of quiet time. It will have 11 feeding zones, in comparison to the three zones available in the former giraffe exhibit – and guests can feed them from each location!

The new giraffe barn has natural substrate floors and an ETFE roof that floods the interior space with natural light. This innovative material is low maintenance and fire- and hail-resistant. It will bring the outdoors inside on cooler days, keeping guests and giraffe comfortable in Colorado Springs’ famous 300 days of sunshine.

For more information, and to be part of something BIG, visit cmzoo.org/giraffeproject.

Back to The Waterhole

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s highly competitive Summer Teen Program will begin accepting applications on Sun., Feb. 1. Applications will close on Tues., Feb. 10 at 11:59 p.m. MT. Designed for sixth through twelfth graders, this immersive, three-month summer program empowers teens to become confident leaders, wildlife advocates and dedicated stewards of the natural world.

The Summer Teen Program runs from Tues., May 26 through Fri., Aug. 7, 2026. Teens will work alongside Zoo staff, engage with guests and animals, and build meaningful connections with peers who share a passion for wildlife. Teens gain hands-on experience in animal care, interpretation, public speaking and leadership, while developing real-world life skills in a supportive, mentorship-driven environment.

Beyond Zoo grounds, the program offers transformative experiences in Colorado’s wild spaces, inspiring teens to connect with nature and take an active role in protecting wildlife and wild places. Through mentorship from staff and fellow teens, participants grow in confidence and life skills, they discover their strengths and learn how to turn passion into action.

There are three opportunities during the Summer Teen Program:

Teen with lizard
Junior Zoo Keeper
High school students work alongside animal keepers to assist with daily animal care tasks and behind-the-scenes responsibilities throughout the Zoo. This track builds leadership, responsibility and hands-on experience while connecting participants to careers in animal care and conservation.

 

Teen Zoo Crew at education table with artifacts at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Zoo Crew
Middle school students develop leadership skills through meaningful work that supports the Zoo’s mission of conservation, education, and animal husbandry. Zoo Crew members gain confidence, teamwork and communication skills while engaging with guests and supporting Zoo programs.

 

Junior Camp Educators talking to campers at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Junior Camp Educator
High school students support Zoo summer camps by working alongside camp staff to help facilitate engaging, educational experiences for younger campers. Participants build leadership, communication and teamwork skills while serving as positive role models in a fast-paced camp environment.

Applications are available for only 10 days and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. MST on February 10. An application fee of $25 is required, and scholarships are available. Approximately 100 teens will be selected to participate.

Learn more and apply at cmzoo.org/teenprograms. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

Back to The Waterhole

Electric Safari was voted #2 Best Zoo Lights in the U.S. — come see why! Explore our mountainside winter wonderland nightly through Thurs., Jan.1, 2026 – except Christmas Eve. Electric Safari is free for Zoo members – and members can get early entry, from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Electric Safari ends at 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required for members and the general public, and some nights will sell out. Get tickets at cmzoo.org/electric.

Is your preferred night sold out? Rideshare tickets are always available! Get them at cmzoo.org/electric.

Please help us thank our Electric Safari 2025 partners, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Toyota, Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. and US Bank.

Back to The Waterhole

ZOO LIGHTS CONTINUE NIGHTLY THROUGH JAN. 1, 2026 (*EXCEPT CHRISTMAS EVE)! – Electric Safari just matched its highest ranking ever in a national contest for Best Zoo Lights. Dedicated Cheyenne Mountain Zoo supporters voted daily for nearly a month to earn the annual holiday event second place among accredited zoos throughout North America.

This is the seventh year in a row Electric Safari has ranked in the top three Best Zoo Lights by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

The 2025 Top Ten Best Zoo Lights in North America are:

1. PNC Festival of Lights at Cincinnati Zoo

2. Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

3. Lights Before Christmas at Toledo Zoo

4. Zoo Lights at San Antonio Zoo Powered by CPS Energy

5. Memphis Zoo Lantern Festival

6. Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

7. Saint Louis Zoo Wild Lights presented by Commerce Bank

8. Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

9. Christmas at the Zoo at Indianapolis Zoo

10. Wild Lights at Detroit Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has prepared the mountainside with hundreds of thousands of lights for the 35th year of Electric Safari. Twenty-seven nights of mountainside lights started on Fri., Dec. 5, and continue through Thurs., Jan. 1, 2026 – except on Christmas Eve.

This year, attendees can expect more than 50 acres of twinkling lights, 90+ hand-made light sculptures, giant illuminated animal inflatables, a holiday-safari drone show, plus breathtaking nighttime city views from the side of the mountain.

Zoo members can get early entry, from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Electric Safari ends at 8:30 p.m. Electric Safari is free for CMZoo members, and members can attend as often as they’d like! To manage on-site parking throughout the popular event, advance timed tickets are required for members (including Individual Plus, Family Plus and Grandparent members) and the general public. Capacity is limited and some nights will sell out. Get tickets and more details at cmzoo.org/electric. Guests can save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak night or by purchasing rideshare tickets on peak nights, detailed on the Pricing Calendar at cmzoo.org/electric.

Attendees will enjoy lit trees, structures and sculptures, installed by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s grounds and events team. Larger-than-life illuminated animal inflatables and a nightly holiday-safari themed drone light show will light up the Zoo, making the perfect setting for extra-special holiday memories. If all of those beautiful lights don’t un-Scrooge even the Grinchiest of holiday grumps, a cup of hot cocoa and a visit with Santa ought to do the trick.

Kris Kringle will be in Safari Lodge through Dec. 23 to hear holiday wishes, collect lists and pose for free photos. Take a spin on the historic carousel for $2 per ride, or hop on the Mountaineer Sky Ride for incredible once-a-year views of the holiday nighttime glow of Colorado Springs from the mountainside.

Electric Safari wouldn’t be complete without scheduled animal demonstrations and keeper talks! Guests can also visit select animal exhibits. Electric Safari offers paid feeding opportunities with CMZoo’s famous giraffe herd and budgie flock. See an animal schedule, feeding prices and open animal exhibits at cmzoo.org/electric.

Grizzly Grill, Cozy Goat, Pizza with a View and Elson’s Café will be open to serve food and beverages. The Gift Shop is open every night for Zoo-themed gifts and hot cocoa.

Electric Safari is supported by our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Sturgeon Electric, U.S. Bank and Toyota. For more information, visit: cmzoo.org/electric.

Electric Safari Fast Facts

– Electric Safari is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. nightly from Fri., Dec. 5 through Thurs., Jan. 1, 2026 – except on Christmas Eve. Early entry for members and their paying guests starts at 4 p.m.
– Advance timed tickets are required for members and the general public.
– Tickets are limited and some nights will sell out in advance. Rideshare tickets never sell out, and are available on peak nights at a $5 discount (free for members).
– Electric Safari is free for Zoo members. Members must reserve timed tickets, and can attend as often as they please.
Santa will greet Electric Safari guests nightly through Tues., Dec. 23. Bring letters and take photos!

Electric Safari features:
• more than 50 acres of twinkling lights
• more than 90 hand-made light sculptures
• giant illuminated animal inflatables (weather permitting)
• a nightly holiday-safari themed drone show (weather permitting)
• access to the Mountaineer Sky Ride (weather permitting; $4 for members; $5 for general public)
• access to the historic carousel (weather permitting; $2 per person)
• access to most of the Zoo’s animal exhibits, including paid giraffe and budgie feedings
• nightly scheduled animal keeper talks and demonstrations
• get more information and tickets in advance at cmzoo.org/electric

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2025, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #2 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #2 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Since 2008, CMZoo’s Quarters for Conservation program has raised more than $6 million dedicated to frontline conservation efforts around the world. Of the 237 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

27 NIGHTS OF ELECTRIC SAFARI START ON FRI., DEC. 5 – AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is preparing the mountainside with millions of lights for the 35th year of Electric Safari. Twenty-seven nights of mountainside lights starts on Fri., Dec. 5, and tickets are available now at cmzoo.org/electric.

Electric Safari is nominated for ‘Best Zoo Lights in North America’ – and Zoo fans can vote daily through Mon., Dec. 1 at cmzoo.org/lights. Electric Safari was ranked in the top-three Best Zoo Lights in North America for the last six years by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

Fans of the Zoo can vote once a day at cmzoo.org/lights until the contest ends, at 10 a.m. MT on Mon., Dec. 1. Top-ten national rankings should be announced the following week!

This year at Electric Safari, attendees can expect more than 50 acres of twinkling lights, 90+ hand-made light sculptures, giant illuminated animal inflatables, a holiday-safari drone show, plus breathtaking nighttime city views from the side of the mountain.

Electric Safari opens on Fri., Dec. 5 and runs through Thurs., Jan.1, 2026 – except Christmas Eve. Zoo members can get early entry from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Electric Safari ends at 8:30 p.m.

Electric Safari is free for CMZoo members, and members can attend as often as they’d like! To manage on-site parking throughout the popular event, advance timed tickets are required for Individual Plus, Family, Grandparent, and Family Plus member guests (including age 2 and under). Capacity is limited and some nights will sell out. Get tickets and more details at cmzoo.org/electric. Guests can save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day, detailed on the pricing calendar at cmzoo.org/electric.

Attendees will enjoy lit trees, structures and sculptures, installed by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s grounds and events team. Larger-than-life illuminated animal inflatables and a nightly holiday-safari themed drone light show will light up the Zoo, making the perfect setting for extra-special holiday memories. If all of those beautiful lights don’t un-Scrooge even the Grinchiest of holiday grumps, a cup of hot cocoa and a visit with Santa ought to do the trick.

Kris Kringle will be in Safari Lodge through Dec. 23 to hear holiday wishes, collect lists and pose for free photos. Take a spin on the historic carousel for $2 per ride, or hop on the Mountaineer Sky Ride for incredible once-a-year views of the holiday nighttime glow of Colorado Springs from the mountainside (both are weather permitting).

Electric Safari wouldn’t be complete without scheduled animal demonstrations and keeper talks! Guests can also visit select animal exhibits. Electric Safari offers paid feeding opportunities with CMZoo’s famous giraffe herd and budgie flock. See an animal schedule, feeding prices and open animal exhibits at cmzoo.org/electric.

Grizzly Grill, Cozy Goat, Pizza with a View and Elson’s Café will be open to serve food and beverages.

Electric Safari is supported by our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Sturgeon Electric, U.S. Bank and Toyota. For more information, visit: cmzoo.org/electric.

ELECTRIC SAFARI FAST FACTS
• Electric Safari is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. nightly from Fri., Dec. 5 through Thurs., Jan. 1, 2026 – except on Christmas Eve.
• Early entry for members and their paying guests starts at 4 p.m.
• Advance timed tickets are required for members and the general public.
• Tickets are limited and some nights will sell out in advance.
• Electric Safari is free for Zoo members. Members must reserve timed tickets, and can attend as often as they please.
• Santa will greet Electric Safari guests nightly through Tues., Dec. 23. Bring letters and take photos!

Electric Safari features:
– more than 50 acres of twinkling lights
– more than 90 hand-made light sculptures
– giant illuminated animal inflatables
– a nightly holiday-safari themed drone show
– access to the Mountaineer Sky Ride (weather permitting; $4 for members; $5 for general public)
– access to the historic carousel (weather permitting; $2 per person)
– access to most of the Zoo’s animal exhibits, including paid giraffe and budgie feedings
– nightly scheduled animal keeper talks and demonstrations
– get more information and tickets in advance at cmzoo.org/electric

Vote for Electric Safari, nominated in USA TODAY’s Best Zoo Lights in North America, daily at cmzoo.org/lights through Mon., Dec. 1.

For nearly 100 years, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has actively worked to connect guests of all ages to wildlife and wild places. Starting next year, CMZoo’s EdVenture team will take people into the wild to experience wildlife in a whole new way.

Alaska moose Atka enjoying the pond.

Experiences like feeding giraffes at the Zoo, getting to observe animal demonstrations and training sessions with keepers, and off-site ZOOMobile programs help people learn about the existence and importance of the animals that we share this planet with, and feel inspired to help conserve their wild counterparts.

Now, the EdVenture team at CMZoo is offering a new opportunity for guests to connect with wildlife and wild places, by taking them into the natural environments, with a brand-new program that launches in April 2026! Edventure Excursions will provide a fun and educational journey to local wildlife projects that they might not be aware are happening right here.

Wyoming toad in a wetland area up-close

The program’s inaugural adventure into the wild is a 5-day expedition to northern Colorado and southern Wyoming to learn about the importance of prairie ecosystems and the animals that call them home. Guided by CMZoo staff, the group will explore the wild habitats of critically endangered animals, like black-footed ferrets, Wyoming toads and sage grouse.

Each reservation supports funding to provide free classroom programming for schools in the Front Range region. The EdVenture team receives dozens of requests every year to bring Zoo animals to schools, and this program will help fund even more of those opportunities.

Black-footed ferret peering out

Sign up for the first-ever EdVenture Excursion, Sage Grouse Annual Display, at cmzoo.org/excursions.

Sage Grouse Annual Display Trip Details

Dates: April 20 – 24, 2026
Group size: 8
Cost: $1,250 per person / $2,100 per pair (shared bed)**
Transportation: provided; leave from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Not included in cost: meals


Accommodations:

● 2 nights at a bed-and-breakfast in Laramie, Wyoming (multi-bedroom house shared with other program participants)
● 1 night at hotel in Walden, Colorado (separate rooms)
● 1 night at hotel in Fort Collins, Colorado (separate rooms)

Back to The Waterhole

It’s that magical time of year when many people search for the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family. Whether you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience or a truly unique stocking stuffer, these options are sure put a smile on every face on your list. Plus, all gifts purchased from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, support important work. As a nonprofit that doesn’t receive any tax support, the Zoo relies on admission, memberships, events and special programs like these to fund animal care, conservation, Zoo improvements and operations.

Skunk holiday Animal Art ornament

Animal Art Holiday Ornaments

The Loft animals and their keepers have been painting the perfect stocking stuffers or gifts for your holiday party gift exchange. These 3” x 3” canvases with twine hangers are one-of-a-kind, because they were painted by an animal ambassador! Skunks, reptiles and other small animals from The Loft will add their artistic touches to the ornaments by participating in voluntary training with their keepers. Some animals walk through paint and onto the canvasses, leaving their adorable footprints in a variety of flashy colors while others slither through the paint! These ornaments are only available for purchase for $15 each in The Loft. They’ll be available from Thanksgiving through the end of Electric Safari. (Additional Animal Art may be available online.)


VIP Tours, mountain tapir with guest meeting

V.I.P. Tours

If you really want to spoil someone, give them the up-close animal experience of a lifetime: a CMZoo V.I.P. Tour! During this private tour, your group of up to five people will experience three behind-the-scenes animal encounters of your choosing, plus a meet-and-greet with one of our ambassador animals in The Loft and a super-sized giraffe feeding. You can help train our lion pride, get up-close with the grizzly bears, say hello to the hippos, or choose from our many other animal encounter options. Along the way, one of our experienced guides will tell you all about the Zoo, our animals and our conservation impacts around the world. When your tour ends, enjoy the rest of the day at the Zoo, because admission is included. To see animal encounter options, all the details and to sign-up, visit cmzoo.org/viptour


Family enjoying Budgie Buddie feeding in Australia Walkabout

CMZoo Annual Membership

How about a gift that keeps on giving all year long? Memberships can be purchased as gifts! CMZoo members can take advantage of free daytime admission (with advance ticket reservations), discounts on programs and merchandise, free members-only summer nights, free Electric Safari visits in the winter and more. Visit cmzoo.org/membership or email [email protected] for more information.


Couple dancing at Electric Moonlight evening holiday adult 21+ event at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Tickets to Electric Moonlight and Electric Safari

Give the gift of memories made by purchasing tickets to a holiday special event at the Zoo, and be early to the gift-giving season! In December, Electric Moonlight offers an adults-only date night (there will be a lot more than milk and cookies on the menu) or choose Electric Safari tickets for a festive evening on the mountain for the entire family. Electric Moonlight returns to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Thurs., Dec. 4 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This event is just for 21-and-up guests, complete with holiday lights, live music, food and drink samples, a drone show and access to most animal areas. Plus, an elf told us that jolly old Saint Nicholas will be there to hear holiday wishes from the grown-ups! Tickets are available now at cmzoo.org/em.

Group of guests at Electric Safar evening holiday light eventi at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Starting Fri., Dec. 5, the Zoo opens its gates in the evenings for Electric Safari, where guests of all ages can explore the Zoo and enjoy the wonder of 50 acres of twinkling lights, illuminated enormous inflatable animals, a drone show and more than 80 handmade light sculptures on display throughout the Zoo. Until Dec. 23, Santa Claus will be at Electric Safari to meet guests and listen to holiday wishes. This event is a magical way to get into the holiday spirit on the side of Cheyenne Mountain, where the views of the city lights below the Zoo can’t be beat. Electric Safari runs Dec. 5-23 and Dec. 25-Jan. 1, 2026 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. CMZoo members have access to early-entry by reserving tickets between 4 and 5 p.m. Get all the details and reserve timed entry at cmzoo.org/electric.


Small group events and programs also make great gifts! See all of our options at cmzoo.org/events.


Adopt an Animal Wild Adoption Gift Packages make great holiday gifts and include a cuddly plush!

Adopt an Animal

Lions, tigers, and bears – oh my! Gift a hippo, giraffe, moose or another CMZoo animal to be mailed directly to you or a loved one. Depending on the level of adoption package chosen, it could include a plush animal toy! All adoption packages include a certificate of adoption, an animal fact sheet and a photo of the animal at CMZoo. Each adoption directly supports the care of Zoo animals. Find an array of adoption packages at www.cmzoo.org/adopt.


Water's Edge: African tile program wall, example of tiles available to purchase with custom engraving

Tile Program

Searching for a meaningful holiday gift that makes a lasting impact? Imagine visiting CMZoo and seeing your very own commemorative tile alongside your favorite animals! Our tiles offer a beautiful way to honor and celebrate loved ones while creating cherished memories. Our Water’s Edge: Africa tiles will be installed inside the hippo building, and there are six animal engraving options: hippo, lemur, penguin, warthog, crane and pelican. Each purchase directly supports the care of our animals. This season, give a gift that lasts – a beautiful tribute that brings joy and remembrance to your loved ones! More information about our tiles can be found at cmzoo.org/tiles

View more gift options in our Zoo Store

Back to The Waterhole