Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium broke another record this weekend. The zoo hit the major milestone on Sunday when it welcomed its 25 millionth member visitor through the gates.
Along with attendance, the amount of Zoo membership holders have grown substantially throughout its history. In 1972, the Zoo had 900 memberships, and today that number has grown to more than 89,000.
The zoo's director of membership and guest services, Sue Lyons, says this is an incredible milestone for Nebraska's top attraction. “We are very grateful to our community for being so supportive of the Zoo and to our staff and volunteers who spread their passion to our guests.”
In 2017, almost 59 percent of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium visitors were Zoo members, compared to only 4 percent in 1972. Lyons credits the membership volunteers for the expansion of the zoo membership program.The volunteers help sell memberships each year during the annual membership drive. “Not only do they help us by selling memberships, but they are very enthusiastic about the Zoo and what it has to offer. We appreciate all of the time and hard work they put into helping us reach the community.”
Omaha’s Zoo and Aquarium’s membership outreach has come a long way since 1972, where their efforts consisted of only one newspaper ad. The following year, the Zoo increased membership sales by seeking the support of its board members’ corporations.