Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is running its Military Appreciation Week from September 14 through September 20, 2026, offering 50% off base admission for active-duty military, veterans, retired personnel, and all household dependents. For Colorado Springs families connected to the military community, that's a meaningful discount at one of the city's most visited family destinations — and one with a time-sensitive caveat: advance tickets are required and they do sell out.

Why This Is a Genuinely Good Deal

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sits at 6,800 feet above sea level on the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain, which gives it a setting unlike most zoos in the country. The elevation means thinner air and cooler temperatures than the city below, and the terrain itself — winding paths, varying elevation changes, views of COS from the hilltops — makes it feel less like a flat zoo visit and more like a half-day hike with animals.

Standard admission prices at CMZ are among the higher-end zoo rates in Colorado, which reflects both the quality of the collection and the cost of maintaining a mountain facility. At 50% off, a family outing that might otherwise run $60-80 for a family of four becomes significantly more accessible. Military families in COS — particularly those on enlisted pay grades — often skip CMZ for budget reasons, and Military Appreciation Week is specifically designed to close that gap.

Colorado Springs and Its Military Community

COS has one of the largest and most concentrated military communities in the United States. Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, NORAD/USNORTHCOM headquarters, and the U.S. Air Force Academy all operate here. A significant percentage of Colorado Springs families have at least one household member who is active-duty, a veteran, or a military retiree.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Military Appreciation Week is a long-standing tradition that recognizes that community. It runs the week before the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow (September 19-20), which means the mid-September window shapes up as a solid stretch of local events and activities specifically worth noting for military families in the area.

Planning Your Visit

A few logistics worth knowing before booking:

Timing: CMZ is best visited in the morning when temperatures are cooler and animals are more active. The zoo's elevated location means afternoon sun can feel intense in September. Plan to arrive as close to opening as your timed entry allows.

Accessibility: The zoo's mountain terrain means there are slopes and uneven paths throughout. Strollers can navigate most areas, but it's worth checking the zoo's accessibility map in advance if you have family members with mobility considerations.

Duration: A full CMZ visit runs two to four hours for most families, depending on how long kids want to linger at specific exhibits. The giraffe feeding deck, the Australian Walkabout, and the Rocky Mountain Wild section tend to be the longest stops for families with young children.

Book early: The September 14–20 window includes a weekend (Sept 19–20), when demand for time slots is highest. Saturday and Sunday morning slots will likely fill first. If your schedule is flexible, a mid-week visit will be easier to book and less crowded.

What's Next

Head to cmzoo.org/military to check available time slots and purchase advance tickets. Military ID is verified at the gate, so have it ready on the day of your visit. If tickets for your preferred time are already gone, check back — the zoo occasionally releases additional slots closer to the date as capacity is recalculated. Military Appreciation Week runs through Saturday, September 20, which aligns with the first day of the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow at Peterson SFB — a potential two-event weekend for families looking to make the most of mid-September in COS.