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Mar 18, 2009 6:54 pm US/Central
Crowds Swarm Fort Worth Zoo; Cause Traffic Tie-Up
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Wednesday afternoon Fort Worth police asked motorists to avoid Interstate 30, at University Drive, as families stampeded to the Fort Worth Zoo.
Thousands of packed cars struggled to get into the zoo parking lots - that were full by mid-morning. Crowds were attributed to children on spring break and some families waiting for the Wednesday half-off ticket offer to make the trip.
"We had no idea it would be like this," explained zoo visitor Konnie Evans. "We didn't want to disappoint the kids, so we thought we'd wait over in the park area for the two hours you know and then try to get in and that's what we're trying to do now."
Fort Worth police confirm "numerous" minor car accidents. Traffic backed up from the zoo entrance, down University and onto I-30, with cars at a standstill for miles.
Hundreds of cars even parked in what is normally a vacant soccer field. The field is a quarter of a mile from the zoo parking lots.
Thousands swarmed the zoo entrance. There were so many people in the area that cell phone towers were overloaded, making communication tough for the zoo workers inside.
As customers were allowed in, and the zoo reached occupancy capacity, eager visitors were told they'd have to wait outside.
To help those who had to wait to enter, the zoo extended park hours to ensure that visitors have enough time to get through the exhibits.
Zoo officials say they've seen similar crowds, but nothing this large, this year.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the Fort Worth Zoo reported that an all-time single day attendance record was set. Zoo officials said at least 23,000 guests visited the park. The previous single day attendance record of 17,274 was set on Good Friday in March of 2008.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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