Humboldt Zoo Receives $1.7 Million for America’s First “Canopy Skywalk”

The canopy walk will allow visitors to walk on a suspended bridge 60 feet above the mountain lions, black bears, and coyotes in the park.

At a news conference on Tuesday, the Sequoia Park Zoo announced it has received $1.7 million in funding from three local lodging alliances to build its long planned and anticipated “Redwood Canopy Skywalk.”

The canopy walk, the first of its kind in America, will allow visitors to the zoo to walk on a suspended bridge 60 feet above the mountain lions, black bears, and coyotes in the park.



The Humboldt Lodging Alliance donated $500,000, the Arcata Lodging Alliance donated $200,000 and the Eureka Lodging Alliance donated $1 million to the project.

The canopy walk is part of the Phase II of the Zoo Master Plan, a long-term and ambitious plan to update the Sequoia Park Zoo. Construction on the canopy walk will begin this fall, with plans to open the exhibit in 2020.

The lodging alliances asked for terms from the city of Eureka in exchange for the money they’ve pledged. They want the skywalk to go at least 60 feet above ground, and preferably around 95 feet. They also want to sign off on the final design, which is being provided by Greenway Partners.



This project will certainly become a mainstay in the already robust tourism industry in Humboldt, with incredible marketing potential. Here is the press release sent out by the Sequoia Park Zoo:

“The Sequoia Park Zoo will hold a press conference to officially announce new funding that has been awarded by the Humboldt Lodging Alliance, the Eureka Lodging Alliance, and the State of California in support of Phase II of the Zoo Master Plan, which includes the Redwood Canopy Walk and Native Predator exhibits. This tremendous local and regional support showcases the importance of the Zoo Master Plan and in particular the Redwood Canopy Walk to become a premier tourist destination in the region.

This will be an opportunity to learn about the project and its importance from the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation, the City of Eureka, representatives from the local Lodging Alliances and project managers Greenway Partners. Please join us!

This Phase II expansion, combining species native to the area and featuring the only redwood canopy walk in North America, is poised to deliver an unparalleled experience that will drive attendance growth from across the United States and internationally. An integral part of the Zoo experience and anchored in the Native Predators zone, the Redwood Canopy Walk will educate and engage tourists and regional residents in an eco-adventure like no other. See attached conceptual drawing. The adjacent Native Predators exhibits will be funded concurrently through the Zoo Foundation’s capital campaign of generous local and regional contributors, thus adding to this one-of-a-kind experience.”

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