Minnesota Zoo monorail in operation
Nick Benson
APPLE VALLEY, Minn. – The Minnesota Zoo plans to dismantle the monorail that has carried visitors across the zoo’s grounds since 1979. Officials said the monorail is outdated, will cost too much to repair, and that rider interest has decreased.
Elevated 18 feet above the ground, the train moves slowly to allow visitors to observe animal exhibits from above. The monorail gained notoriety in March 2011 when it stopped mid-ride due to an electrical problem, trapping riders for two hours before the Apple Valley Fire Department rescued them one-by-one with ladders.
The monorail runs every 30 minutes when the zoo is open, except during inclement weather. It is expected to run through the summer, making its final trips on September 2.
