The Dallas Zoo set an all-time attendance record for a single day with Dollar Day Thursday.
The zoo says 41,422 guests went through the gates, breaking last year's summer Dollar Day record by more than 6,000.
"This was certainly a day we’ll remember," said Gregg Hudson, Dallas Zoo's president and CEO. "Last year's record of 35,000 was incredible, but exceeding 40,000 for the first time in our 127-history is astounding. Our staff is wiped out, but we're extremely proud to be able to give back to our community and offer this day at the zoo to guests who wouldn’t otherwise be able to visit."
The zoo said all parking lots, including auxiliary lots, were filled by 11 a.m. which left some guest waiting for folks to leave in order to get in.
"We very much appreciate our guests' patience," Hudson said. "Despite the numbers we saw today and the warm temperatures, the vast majority of visitors were friendly and polite, as befits one of the nation's best cities."
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[UPDATED 12-10] 2015 Southern California Animals in the News
Dollar Day guests were treated to $1 admission, of course, and other dollar deals, including $1 hot dogs, sodas, chips and water as well as $1 nectar to feed the lorikeets.
Parents said the heat is also a concern as they walk around to see the animals Thursday. Many of them brought coolers packed with ice, juice and Gatorade for their children.
"We luckily have a lot of good overgrowth of the trees," Sean Greene, VP of Guest Experiences said on ways for people to stay cool at the park. "But we do have misting fans and some cooling stations."
