Community Corner

Turtle Back Zoo a Top Place to Visit, Travel Site Reviews Say

Zoo receives Certificate of Excellence for the second year in a row.

The Turtle Back Zoo has been rated among the top travel sites, according to TripAdvisor.com.

The zoo received a Certificate of Excellence from the website for the second straight year. Turtle Back's overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 placed the zoo in the top 10 percent of travel sites rated.

"Receiving this award for the second consecutive year is true testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of dedicated staff. Each day, we aim to be better than the last, and we will continue to strive for even greater accomplishments in the future," Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said.

“I would like to thank the public for their positive reviews. Our goal is to provide visitors with a quality place of recreation and education, and make Essex County a destination where people want to visit. This shows we are making strides in the right direction."

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site that features reviews and advice on hotels, resorts, flights, vacation rentals, vacation packages, travel guides and more. The Certificate of Excellence recognizes the top performing businesses on TripAdvisor and is based solely on visitors’ reviews.

During the past 12 years, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo has undergone a major transformation. Attendance has increased from 168,739 in 2002 to 621,828 in 2013 and revenue topped $4 million for the first time in 2012.

This has enabled the zoo to operate as a self-sustaining facility with revenue collected exceeding operating expenses for the last four years. In addition, Turtle Back earned its second five-year accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2011. It also has been named the Best Zoo in New Jersey by NJ Monthly magazine in each of the last three years.

DiVincenzo and Gov. Chris Christie marked the opening last week of the zoo's 12,000-square-foot education building.

“This is another great resource that Essex County is making available to its residents and families," Christie said. "New Jersey needs more places like this."

The zoo current hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $11 for adults, $8 for children and senior citizens, and free for children younger than 2 years. For more information, call 973-731-5800 or visit www.essexcountynj.org.


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