Building Elephant Trails
Making a new home for our elephants requires some heavy lifting! Construction on Elephant Trails began in March 2008, when crews began clearing the way for our expanded elephant habitats, new barn, and renovated historic elephant house. These improvements will greatly expand the National Zoo’s elephant care facilities, making an even better home for our Asian elephants.
We hope that you’ll excuse our mess as construction continues. Phase One is now open! It has four elements: a new elephant barn, two new outdoor yards, the Elephant Exercise Trek, and the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Elephant Outpost. 
Read about Phase One. | 
Take a virtual tour.
Enjoy our slideshow of construction progress.
Construction Schedule
Phase One (opened Labor Day weekend 2010): Barn (an addition to the Elephant House), Habitat 2 (the area behind the current Elephant House), Habitat 3 (the area that will reach down to the top of Beaver Valley), the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Elephant Outpost (which will be located at the top of Beaver Valley), and the Elephant Trek (a path that replaces the road to the Bird House).
Phase Two (2009–2012): Elephant Community Center (the renovated Elephant House), Habitat 1 (the area to the left of the Elephant House, when viewed from Olmsted Walk), and plaza (the front of the Elephant Community Center).
Can Visitors See the Elephants?
Visitors will be able to see the Zoo's three elephants whenever they're in their new yards.
How Are the Elephants Adjusting to Their New Home?
In preparation for that momentous event, the Zoo began acclimating its three Asian elephants to their new home in late June. They have been busy this summer getting familiar with their new home, transitioning little by little from their original habitat of the Elephant House and yards and to their new state-of-the-art barn and yards, comprising the first phase of Elephant Trails. Frequent keeper updates reveal how the got used to their new home. Read the updates.
Help Us Build Elephant Trails
