ROYAL OAK, MI – The opening date for the Detroit Zoo’s highly anticipated new 7-acre interactive trail has been revealed.
The trail will allow guests to touch goats, get up-close to burrowing owls and prairie dogs, pet stingrays and be at an elevated level for immaculate views.
The Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails will officially open to the public on Saturday, May 23.
“This is a place where guests can touch, climb, play and explore while making meaningful connections with animals and the natural world,” said Dr. Hayley Murphy, executive director and CEO of the Detroit Zoological Society. “And every person who enters this space will come away with a new appreciation for the world around them.”
Other animals who will call this area of the Zoo home include alpacas, anteaters, bamboo sharks, burrowing owls, bush dogs, chickens and donkeys.
There will also be a Canopy Trail which will elevate guests 14-feet off the ground.
“That sense of connection is at the heart of Erb Discovery Trails,” added Randi Hamilton, the DZS’s Chief Experience Officer. “It invites guests to slow down, look closer and be active participants in their experience, creating moments that are fun, memorable and meaningful. We believe those moments can inspire a deeper appreciation for animals, nature and conservation.”
The trail will also have places for people to rest, including sensory-friendly quiet spaces away from the pathways and play areas.
When it’s all said and done, the project’s total cost is around $20 million, with the majority of funds coming from gifts and grants.
