Audubon Zoo is set to unveil a brand-new train Thursday, and the very first passengers won't be paying customers at all — they'll be patients from Manning Family Children's Hospital, treated to an inaugural ride complete with a live performance from Kermit Ruffins. The new attraction, called the Audubon Wonders of Nature Express, will roll along a route with stops at the African lions, the giraffes, and the sea lions.
The rollout was first reported by WGNO, which detailed the new train's debut and the guest list for its first trip around the 58-acre Uptown park. In the future, the train is expected to extend its route beyond the current stops, running through the zoo and then out to the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit, though an exact timeline for that expansion has not been announced. The swamp exhibit recreates South Louisiana bayou ecosystems with cypress trees, Cajun fishing camps, and rare white alligators, according to Foresyte Travel, making it a natural next destination for the new line.
An Aging Train Heads to Auction
The Audubon Wonders of Nature Express replaces a 2009 Dotto trackless train with three passenger coaches that had been plagued by mechanical trouble and wear. That retired train was listed for public auction on GovDeals this month, a detail confirmed on a Reddit thread discussing the listing. The auction of the old equipment effectively marks the formal handoff to the new attraction, closing out an era for the zoo's rail-style ride.
Financially, the new train and an accompanying carousel replacement were budgeted in part through donor contributions and insurance payouts tied to damage from Hurricane Ida in 2021, per the same Reddit discussion. The investment arrives not long after a bruising public debate over Audubon Nature Institute's finances: in December 2025, the institute temporarily reinstated its former membership prices after backlash over a proposed increase that would have pushed family membership fees to $425 for 2026, according to WWL-TV. The institute has said membership revenue helps support local community access programs and conservation efforts.
A Charitable Tradition Continues
Choosing Manning Family Children's Hospital patients for the first ride continues a long-running relationship between the hospital and the zoo, which has previously donated proceeds from events like Boo at the Zoo to pediatric care programs, according to the Alder Hotel blog. The hospital itself was renamed in February 2025 following a transformational gift from Archie and Olivia Manning and their family, per the National Football Foundation. It stands as the Gulf South's only freestanding comprehensive pediatric facility.
The new train's debut also lands during a transitional stretch for the Audubon Nature Institute's leadership. Michael J. Sawaya took over as President and CEO in January 2025, succeeding Ron Forman after his 53-year tenure running the organization. Sawaya previously served as CEO of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center before stepping into the Audubon role.
Trains Have Deep Roots at Audubon Park
Rail history at Audubon Park stretches back decades before this week's unveiling. Southern Pacific steam engine No. 745 sat on display at the park from 1956 until 1984, when it was relocated to accommodate zoo expansion, according to Wikipedia. That engine is recognized as the last surviving steam engine built in Louisiana, a bit of local rail heritage tied directly to the ground where the new express now runs.
Audubon Zoo remains one of the top ten zoos in the country, spanning 58 acres and home to more than 1,700 animals representing over 350 species beneath its 200-year-old live oak trees, per the Audubon Nature Institute. Before pandemic-era disruptions, the zoo and the neighboring Audubon Aquarium together drew roughly 1.48 million visitors annually, a figure that dropped to a projected 783,000 in 2021 during recovery efforts, according to a Louisiana State Legislature report. The new train arrives as part of the institute's broader push to rebuild those visitor numbers and modernize its attractions.
