SOUTH BEND, Ind-- After more than two decades the Potawatomi Zoo has a new mode of transportation. This new train is fully electric replacing a gas train that faced many obstacles due to its old age. The train costs around $650,000 and the funding is coming from the Indiana Michigan Power Foundation. 

Although this train comes with many upgrades, Executive Director Josh Sisk explains many will miss the memories the old train held. "People remember bringing their kids here when they were just, you know, babies and to be 25-year-old train. You can imagine it was starting to show its wear and tear. But people love this train."

With the 2026 spring/summer season right around the corner, there are also some other new additions coming to the zoo! Visitors can expect the Big Cat Tracks to open towards the end of summer along with a concert series throughout the summer months.

One of the most popular new additions coming in April is Frankie the rhino! Josh Sisk, Executive Director, says, “A big thing that's coming soon is our new Rhino. So, Massamba, our southern white rhino, he left last year for breeding purposes, because we are about conservation and sustainability. And we're really excited to introduce our new Rhino, Frankie; he's coming to us from Florida. He'll be up here in April. He's 1000 pounds heavier than Massamba was.” 

The Winter Days season comes to an end March 8 and then the zoo will reopen March 28.