Nancy Kluge, President and CEO · Tucson, AZ
Visit Reid Park Zoo ↗Reid Park Zoological Society runs a wheelchair accessible zoo train as a signature family attraction at its lakeside grounds in Tucson, Arizona. Families have ridden the loop around the lake for nearly twenty years, with grandparents, parents, and grandchildren returning across generations. When the original train reached the end of its service life, the Society set out to find a replacement that could carry every guest who wanted to climb aboard.
The decision came down to one feature. The new Wattman Maxi Express arrives with an ADA caboose that accommodates wheelchairs, so any visitor can board and ride with ease. Adult sized seating keeps grown riders comfortable, and an onboard microphone lets drivers narrate a live tour as the train circles the park. Steam effects, a bell, and a whistle complete the feel of a real train. As a certified amusement ride built to ASTM F2291, it operates daily from 9 AM to 4 PM at $4 per lakeside loop, and it remains the only train of its kind in Tucson.
“what really put us over the edge was when we realized that the last car, the caboose, will accommodate wheelchairs.”
- Nancy Kluge, Reid Park Zoological Society, Tucson AZ
The community response was immediate. Word of a new train spread quickly, and opening day drew a steady line of riders eager to take the first loop. Every ticket on the wheelchair accessible zoo train now supports the Society directly, with proceeds funding the conservation programs that protect wildlife around the world. For Reid Park Zoological Society, the result is a renewed attraction that welcomes every guest and turns each ride into measurable support for its mission.
