City leaders unveil plans for Expedition Rainforest at Greensboro Science Center

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) – A hands-on, one-of-a-kind experience is coming to the Greensboro Science Center.

City and state leaders gathered Wednesday morning to unveil Expedition Rainforest. The goal is to bring a tropical rainforest to the Triad.

You’ll walk into the greenhouse and see animals like sloths, exotic birds, monkeys and leopards. It’ll be an immersive experience. It’ll be 84 degrees inside, making it seem like you’re in a rainforest.

“It is basically a complete and saturation into that wild,” said Glenn Dobrogosz, CEO of Greensboro Science Center. “It’s hard to believe we’re actually going to be able to accomplish here in Greensboro.”

When construction is complete, the tropical biodome will be a five-story tall greenhouse as long as a football field. It’s the newest project the Greensboro Science Center is taking on.

“The day it opens, it’s going to be a game changer for our city,” said Emily Hinton, who’s part of the build and design team for the project.

These are a small fraction of the exhibits you’ll see inside the biodome.

“The first thing you’re going to encounter is technology,” Dobrogosz said. “That technology is going to be called naked eye 3D where it’s going to look like you’re being attacked by a piranha straight at you, so in other words, ”Welcome to the jungle.’ Get ready.”

There will be several types of animal species, including tortoises, clouded leopards, macaws and more.

“What will be one of the biggest hits of the space is the sloth island,” Dobrogosz said. “Sloth will be in the vines, in the trees all around you.”

Crews will also build a replica of a Central American Pyramid, which will house primates.

Once you leave the rainforest, you’ll move into the Aquatic Rehabilitation and Care Complex where experts will work to protect and breed species.

“Twenty years ago, I’d have probably said this is not possible,” Dobrogosz said. “Greensboro wasn’t focused on tourism in the same way … Now, everything has changed. Everything has transformed, and Greensboro is becoming Science City, USA.”

Dobrogosz expects the biodome will bring in 750,000 guests per year and have a $130 million economic impact per year on the community.

Crews will break ground on this project in the fall of 2024 and hope to have it finished by Sept. 2026.

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