North Carolina Zoo: Abandoned Artificial Stream at Streamside

That is very naturalistic looking rockwork, I find it hard to believe that it is artificial. Thank you for sharing it here. What was the purpose of constructing this structure?

@UngulateNerd92 I only just noticed it on my most recent visit to the zoo. It is located in Streamside next to the Bobcat exhibit, so I assume it was supposed to represent the headwaters of a mountain stream as it flowed downhill into the other indoor exhibits featuring reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

@Breckenridge ah thank you.

@UngulateNerd92 Also, I think the North Carolina Zoo has some of the best artificial rockwork out there.

@Breckenridge yeah, I couldn't tell that this was artificial until I saw the title.

They really do. Most of the work is done in house as well. People don’t realize that the zoo has an in-house exhibit team, who have completed basically all the exhibits in recent memory.

@nczoofan very cool! I cannot say that this surprises me. Most zoos nowadays seem to contract those services out. Phoenix Zoo, case and point. Their design department used to he in house, now those services are contracted out.