Susie's Bear Hollow Opens at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The new exhibit offers interactive fun for animals and humans alike

 Susie’s Bear Hollow – a new habitat designed by VAA in tandem with WDM Architects – is now officially open at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo . The $8.5 Million, 18,600 square foot space replaces the original Tropical Bears habitat which was nearly half the size and one of the oldest exhibits at the zoo.

The exhibit has undergone a significant transformation, featuring notably larger and more intricate habitats and thoughtful design to encourage the natural behaviors of bears. These enhancements include the addition of climbing structures, elevated resting areas, and dig pits.Behind-the-scenes improvements have also been made to support nesting bears, with the inclusion of multi-level resting areas. Moreover, visitors can now enjoy an up-close experience with the bears through new glass viewing opportunities, allowing guests to come face-to-face with these magnificent creatures. An immersive treehouse has been created, offering guests nearly 360-degree views of the bear habitats. At the heart of the treehouse, there is a unique climbing structure that allows children to mimic the bears' climbing behaviors and provides a special vantage point into the habitats below.

Additionally, a separate viewing area has been established to allow visitors to observe animal care and veterinary staff up close as they engage in training and monitor the health and well-being of the bears.

The space, located in the Zoo’s Wilderness Trek destination, is home to the zoo’s male Andean bear and male and female sloth bears.