[Columbia, SC] - This week, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden estimates that the park will welcome its 20 millionth guest, a notable accomplishment for the state's largest tourist attraction.

"When Riverbanks opened thirty-two years ago, we couldn't imagine reaching such a milestone," said Satch Krantz, executive director for Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. "Twenty million is a number that's almost beyond comprehension. Just imagine how many positive experiences that adds up to."

Riverbanks officials plan to award the park's 20 millionth guest with unlimited visits to the Zoo for one year. Guest services anticipate that they'll sell their 20 millionth ticket sometime mid-week, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday.

Just under 900,000 guests typically visit Riverbanks each year. The park broke the million visitor mark in 1990 and again in 2002 after completing major renovations that brought a state-of-the-art Bird House as well as the African Ndoki Forest and Koala Plaza to the Zoo.

Four animals at Riverbanks have greeted all 20 million visitors. One flamingo, a male Siamang named Solo, a female white-faced saki named Sterling and Montgomery the hippopotamus have all been residents at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden since the park opened its gates in 1974.

Twenty million visitors adds up to lots of activity at a zoo the size of Riverbanks. Visitors have enjoyed roughly 14.6 million hotdogs, hamburgers and soft drinks, put on 100,000 pairs of 3-D glasses since the 3-D Theater opened three years ago, and taken 2.5 million tram rides across the Saluda River to Riverbanks Botanical Garden since the Garden opened in 1995.