ASHEBORO, N.C. (WBTV) – The North Carolina Zoo recently took the No. 1 ranking in Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

In Newsweek’s report featuring the top 10 zoos in the U.S., Asheboro’s NC Zoo takes the top spot, excelling beyond well-known competitors like the Bronx Zoo and the San Diego Zoo.

“From the Endangered Species Carousel and Air Hike Ropes Course to zookeeper talks and guided golf-cart tours, there’s a lot to experience at the North Carolina Zoo,” Newsweek said in their report.

This win comes just in time as NC Zoo celebrates its 50th anniversary. This year has been marked with new wildlife conservation expansions extending over 130 acres and with sculpture installations of the zoo’s first Galapagos tortoises.

The zoo is not standing idle in this victory, however, as they plan for more expansions in their Asian Continent exhibit. The zoo plans to open in Asia in 2026.

Also read: North Carolina tourists spent record $35.6 billion in 2023