On Wednesday, December 21st, Essex County Executive Joseph
N. DiVincenzo, Jr. welcomed the Vickers family from Bloomfield as the
755,240th visitors to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo during 2016. This breaks
the annual attendance record set last year and is the 12th consecutive year
that a new annual attendance record as been established.
“We have made tremendous improvements to Turtle Back Zoo and the large
turn-out of visitors each year shows how popular our Zoo has become.
Introducing new natural habitat exhibits like the African Adventure
featuring giraffes, along with our Carousel, Treetop Adventure Course,
miniGOLF Safari and Train Ride attractions, make coming to Turtle Back Zoo a
fun, learning adventure for children and families,” DiVincenzo said. “We
would not be here without the continuing support of our loyal visitors,
sponsors, volunteers and staff. We look forward to seeing everyone next year
for even more adventures, excitement and family fun,” he added.
Shortly before 6:30 p.m., Larisa Vickers, her two daughters, Sophia, 2½
years, and Christina, 9 months, and her mother Nadya Ziboreva arrived to
view the Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular and helped Turtle Back Zoo
reach a new attendance milestone. “We come to the zoo a few times a year. My
children are still young and the zoo is the right size for them,” Larisa
said. “We came to enjoy the Holiday Lights, but this is an amazing
surprise,” she added.
In recognition of the milestone, DiVincenzo presented the Vickers family
with a gift basket filled with toys, stuffed animals and merchandise from
Turtle Back Zoo, along with a one-year membership to the Essex County
Zoological Society.
The previous attendance record was 755,239 set last year. A new annual
attendance record has been set every year since 2005. The 500,000 milestone
was first reached in 2010, 600,000 was first reached in 2013 and 700,000 was
first reached in 2015.
During the winter, Turtle Back Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Regular admission is $10 for children and senior citizens, $12 for adults
and free for children under 2 years. For additional information, please call
973-731-5800 or visit www.essexcountynj.org/turtlebackzoo.
