Zoo Adds Downtown Stops for Zoofari Shuttle Service

The Buffalo Zoo has added two downtown stops to the Zoofari shuttle service schedule to tap into the Buffalo tourism market.

Last month, the Zoo announced partnerships with Medaille College and Nichols School to make ancillary parking lots available for patrons. The Zoo also unveiled a new Zoofari shuttle bus which will run between the Medaille lot and the Zoo’s main entrance.

In addition to the Medaille parking lot to manage overflow parking, the shuttle will now make morning and afternoon pick-ups at the Hilton Garden Inn Buffalo in Lafayette Square, and the Hyatt Regency at Fountain Plaza. Zoo officials hope that these two stops will be accessible to tourists staying at many of downtown’s most popular hotels.

“Tourism in Buffalo is expanding rapidly,” noted the Zoo’s marketing manager, Todd Geise. “We want to be a part of that expansion and excitement. We’re adding shuttle stops downtown for tourists who are looking for a nice way to spend an afternoon in Buffalo with their families, in addition to whatever else has brought them to visit our city.”

The Zoo has also made Zoo admission tickets available for purchase at hotels including the Hilton Garden Inn, Comfort Suites, Embassy Suites, Courtyard Mariott, Hyatt Regency, and the Hampton Inn.

The Zoofari Shuttle runs Friday through Sunday. A complete schedule for the Zoofari Shuttle follows.

For additional information about parking options at the Zoo, or the Zoofari schedule, visit www.buffalozoo.org or the Zoo’s Facebook page.

Time	Location		Time	Location
10:15	Hilton Garden Inn		2:00	Zoo
10:20	Hyatt Regency		2:10	Medaille
10:40	Zoo		2:20	Zoo
11:00	Medaille		2:30	Medaille
11:10	Zoo		2:40	Zoo
11:20	Medaille		2:50	Medaille
11:30	Zoo		3:00	Zoo
11:40	Medaille		3:10	Medaille
11:50	Zoo		3:20	Zoo
12:00	Medaille		3:30	Medaille
12:10	Zoo		3:40	Zoo
12:20	Medaille		3:50	Medaille
12:40	Zoo		4:00	Zoo
12:50	Medaille		4:10	Medaille
1:00	Zoo		4:20	Zoo
1:10	Medaille		4:30	Medaille Drop-off FINAL
1:20	Zoo		4:40	Zoo FINAL
1:40	Hilton Garden Inn		4:55	Hilton Garden Inn
1:45	Hyatt Regency		5:00	Hyatt Regency

Zoo Choo Train will Offer Rides to Mall Shoppers This Winter!

The Buffalo Zoo’s “Zoo Choo Train” ride has been moved to the Eastern Hills Mall for the winter season.

The Zoo acquired the new train ride for the 2014 season, and it quickly became a favorite among Zoo visitors. The Wattman mini-express train features five cars, including a turn-of-the-century style engine and caboose. Zoo officials have teamed up with the Eastern Hills Mall to give the community an opportunity to enjoy the train during winter months.

The Zoo Choo Train will be open to mall visitors beginning on Wednesday in front of one of the mall’s anchor tenants, in the family attraction corridor. It will operate there until the end of March 2015.The cost per ride will be $2, and 100% of proceeds will be retained by the Buffalo Zoo.

“We are excited to partner with the Buffalo Zoo this holiday in welcoming the Zoo Choo train to the Eastern Hills Mall,” said Brandon Salinas, Business Development Manager for the Eastern Hills Mall. “It’s a wonderful added value for our guests, and supports a cultural icon of the Western New York Community.”

The Zoo Choo Train ride became a favorite among Zoo visitors this season!

“The ride became very popular among visitors this summer, and it seemed a shame that it would be put away for winter,” said Donna Fernandes, President & CEO of the Buffalo Zoo. “The Eastern Hills Mall has graciously allocated space for us and offered to give all of the proceeds from the train back to the Zoo. We’re grateful for their partnership, and hope that families in Western New York will continue to enjoy the Zoo Choo Train at the mall until it comes back to the Zoo in the spring.”

Family Valentine's Day at the Zoo - This Weekend!

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Family Valentine’s Day event this weekend, as part of the Zooper Saturdays series.

Spend some quality time together at our Family Valentine’s Day event! Enjoy animal demonstrations and enrichment activities. You can even make a Valentine card for a family member, friend, or your favorite Zoo animal! The event runs from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 2. Activities are free with Zoo admission. A full schedule of activities follows:

• 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Make a Valentine's Day card in the TOPS EcoStation
• 11 a.m – 1 pm. Face painting in the TOPS EcoStation
• 11 a.m. Sea lion feeding at NOCO Sea Lion Cove
• 11:30 a.m. River otter enrichment at Otter Creek
• 12 p.m. Wallaby enrichment in the TOPS EcoStation
• 1:30 p.m. Hellbender keeper talk in the reptile house
• 2 p.m. Rainforest enrichment in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls
• 2:30 p.m. Tiger enrichment at the tiger exhibit

For more information about the Zooper Saturday event, call (716) 995-6133 or visit www.buffalozoo.org