The entrance and interior of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s Tropical Rainforest Aviary as it appeared near its 1988 opening, left, and in 2026, right. The aviary, which cost $2.2 million to build, will close July 5 after 38 years. / Fresno Chaffee Zoo
published on May 14, 2026 – 1:48 PM
Written by Ben Hensley
Then: A $2.2 million vision
When the Fresno Chaffee Zoo opened its Tropical Rainforest Aviary on May 14, 1988, it was a landmark moment for the institution. The project, spearheaded by zoo director and namesake Dr. Paul Chaffee, gave visitors an immersive, up-close encounter with rainforest birds inside a 55-foot-high, half-acre structure covered in netting.
Chaffee, who died in 1990, formed a docent group called the Rain Forest Rangers to guide guests and protect animals inside the exhibit. His wife Jean Chaffee recalled the experience on social media after the closure announcement.
“We alerted guests to keep their mouths closed when looking up at the birds,” she said.
Now: Standards have changed
Thirty-eight years later, the zoo says the aviary no longer meets its standards for bird welfare and safety. The exhibit will close July 5, 2026, with birds relocated to other aviaries within the zoo or placed at other institutions.
The space won’t sit empty. The zoo plans to reopen it as a new, non-animal feature, though details have not been announced.
“As animal care and building standards continue to evolve, it is important that our institution evolve with them,” said Fresno Chaffee Zoo CEO Jon Forrest Dohlin. “The Rainforest has been a large part of the Zoo’s history, and we recognize that guests have made many memories here.”