The Great Northwest!    

Taking you from the Crest of the Cascades . . .
                . . . to the Pacific Coast!





Why a Northwest Exhibit?
Community members and zoo staff involved in this project saw a tremendous opportunity for the zoo to shape the future of the region. The sustainable future of healthy river and forest ecosystems depends upon the wisdom of human decisions. The zoo has an established track record in providing quality educational experiences for children and is well-positioned to help Oregonians make the necessary connections between awareness and responsible action.

Artist's Rendering of
The Great Northwest Exhibit
Entry Village
(Now Open)
Your zoo adventure begins at the Cascadian-style entry village. Here you'll find all the services you need: ticket and membership sales, restaurant, lockers, a bike park, phones, stroller rental, restrooms, gift store, lost and found, first aid and security. The Entry Village is a great place to meet friends, or relax after your visit to the zoo.

Restaurant
Where can you look out over alpine rocks and hear the sounds of exotic animals while you eat a nice meal? The Oregon Zoo's new Cascade Grill! The spacious dining roomit seats 190has a high, open-beam ceiling arching over cozy wooden booths. Both carpet and metalwork chandeliers are commissioned art pieces, reflecting the Great Northwest. When the sun is out, the large outdoor deck is the place to be, or, for a more intimate party, reserve the private dining room with a view of the train and lower exhibits.

Banquet Center
From the restaurant's lobby, a grand stairway sweeps down to the private lower floor reception area and banquet room. Perfect for banquets, parties or meetings, the high-ceilinged banquet room seats 450 or can be divided with acoustical partitions. It is wired to serve your audio-visual needs, as is the reception area which can also accommodate live bands for receptions or weddings. The reception area opens onto a small terrace that overlooks the Zoo train tracks and the Steller Cove exhibits. Local wines and micro brewery beers are available as is outstanding food.

Cascade Crest
(Now Open)
Your journey through the Northwest's ecosystems will begin just past the zoo's new entrance plaza with mountain goats in an alpine meadow setting. You can learn about the Cascade mountains, who lives there, and how they survive through the harsh winters.

Steller Cove
(July 2000)
This exhibit will be home to Steller's sea lions, sea otters and a variety of ocean fish. There are both above and under-the-water views for both species. Exiting this area, you encounter a large tide pool, sea stars, sea anemones and other creatures.

Bear Crossing, Wy'east Trail & Eagle Canyon
(2001 - 2005)
For most zoo exhibits, we must artificially create the natural habitat of the animals. However, the setting for this exhibit is an existing 90-year-old forest on the north edge of the zoo where the "natural setting" will be the real thing. A stream meanders, leading to underwater views of a school of salmon, trout and bald eagles. A clearing in the forest is home to American black bears and cougars. At the edge of the forest, a family farm provides opportunities to pet farm animals, opossums and other friendly creatures. Near the farm, a herd of elk graze in a spacious meadow.

Community involvement
The zoo recognized the importance of involving outside experts as well as zoo visitors in the messages and focus of the new exhibit. Participation included the following federal, state, and private partners:

• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
• Bonneville Power Administration
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• Oregon Department of Agriculture
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Oregon Department of Water Resources
• Oregon Department of Forestry
• Nature Conservancy, Oregon Chapter
• Oregon Trout
• Defenders of Wildlife
• Portland Audubon Society
• 1,000 Friends of Oregon
• Oregon Forest Resource Institute
• United States Geological Survey
• A Citizens Advisory Committee, composed of members of the community and
• Members of the Oregon Zoo.