Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been named a top 10 zoo in the United States by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website.

The top 10 zoos were chosen from the TripAdvisor Popularity Index, which ranks hospitality businesses worldwide, said TripAdvisor’s Julie Cassetina.

Check out our photo gallery of the zoo.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo placed ninth. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium was ranked No. 1 and the St. Louis Zoo was No. 2. This is the first year TripAdvisor has put together the list.

“It’s got everything the large zoos have but in a smaller space on the side of a mountain,” according to a TripAdvisor reviewer.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo spokesperson Katie Borremans said she hopes the top 10 honor will attract even more people during the busy summer vacation season.

Borremans said the zoo’s location on the side of Cheyenne Mountain­ is a huge draw.

And then there’s the wide variety of animals.

There are 20 reticulated giraffes, which is the most at any zoo in the world, and visitors are allowed to feed them lettuce and crackers. There’s also the Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit with grizzly bears and other animals unique to the Rocky Mountain region.

“Our zookeepers are working hard to connect kids with wildlife and wild places,” Borremans said. “To be recognized like this is pretty amazing.”

Top 10 List

1. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

2. Saint Louis Zoo

3. Cape May County Park & Zoo, Cape May Court House, N.J.

4. Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, Columbia, S.C.

5. Memphis Zoo

6. San Diego Zoo

7. Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kan.

8. Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, Fla.

9. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

10. Audubon Zoo, New Orleans

(The Gazette file) Photo by