The Assiniboine Park Zoo closed Sunday in order to put the finishing touches on their Journey to Churchill exhibit.
When the zoo reopens in 10 days, it will feature the brand new polar bear exhibit, and many in Winnipeg are anxious to see if it lives up to the hype and the hefty price tag.
Large crowds took advantage of beautiful weather to check out the final day of operation before zoo takes a temporary hiatus.
The Maron family uses their annual membership to visit the zoo several times a week. They're looking forward to seeing the new Journey to Churchill exhibit when the park reopens July 3.
"It looks like it's going to be absolutely beautiful,” said Cheryl Maron. “And it's been long overdue for the zoo to do something like this. It's been since I was little. They haven't changed anything."
One thing they're not looking forward to, is a nearly 100 per cent increase in prices. Adult admission will be $19.43, seniors and youth $15.55, children $10.50.
A family membership now costs $189 a year.
"The fact that they're bumping it so much right away, it would have been nice to have it gradually happen," said Cheryl.
The zoo says the $90 million Journey to Churchill will provide a new kind of zoo experience with large natural looking habitats and barrier-free viewing.
It remains to be seen whether that experience will be enough to draw visitors despite the new prices.
"I would have to think twice about it, because I read online on the website they were comparing to Toronto zoos, Quebec zoos, Vancouver zoos, but they've also got to consider those cities are far bigger. They have more to see," said Jake Harder.
A combination of taxpayer funding and money from private donors helped build the exhibit, which came in $4.5 million over budget, because of additional heating costs blamed on the cold winter.
"Hopefully that support from both of the sectors continues, so it doesn't fall into disarray, because sometimes the money dries up from the private side and then the public doesn't want to stay involved," said Jeremy Maron.
When the zoo reopens, it will feature a discounted rate on Tuesday nights, when admission will be just $10.
- With a report by Ben Miljure
