San Antonio Zoo unveiled The Ralston, its new event space, named by Shannon Ralston in honor of her mother, with a historic $10M donation.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Zoo opened its new large event space over the weekend in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The venue, the Ralston, was named by philanthropist Shannon Ralston in honor of her mother, Laurie Ralston. Shannon donated $10M to the zoo for this project, which was the largest gift in the zoo’s history.
The Ralston is designed to accommodate events of up to 500 people, and can be used for weddings, galas and other formal functions.
The event space is situated overlooking the entire zoo and San Antonio skyline. It is directly above the future home of the new gorilla exhibit, Congo Falls, which will eventually be home to eight Western lowland gorillas.
“The Ralston is more than a venue, it’s a destination,” said Tim Morrow, President and CEO of San Antonio Zoo. “Whether planning a gala, fundraiser, wedding, or corporate gathering, we are proud to offer a new event space which is sure to elevate any special celebration and help support the zoo.”
According to the zoo, the organization offers a 20 percent discount for nonprofits to book the Ralston for their events.
At least one major event is already on the Ralston calendar. The zoo plans to host “New Year’s at the Ralston” on Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., with live music, culinary stations, animal ambassador interactions and more.
Congo Falls and the gorilla exhibit are set to open in late 2025, the zoo says.
To learn more about The Ralston and book an event, visit sazoo.org/ralston