"We're just looking forward to seeing everybody," Nik Dehejia, CEO of the Oakland Zoo said.
This comes after a 40-foot sinkhole caused by a collapsed culvert from recent storms was blocking the vehicle entrance to the zoo, forcing the zoo to close their doors until they could find a new pipe for the culvert and get it patched up.
RELATED: Oakland Zoo reopening this week after month of sinkhole repairs, Glowfari extended
Oakland Zoo reopening this week after month of sinkhole repairs, Glowfari extended
"Hundreds of thousands of dollars, just in terms of repairing that culvert, not to mention all of the other costs that the zoo had to take care of in terms of the property and the lost revenue, a half a million dollars a week, unfortunately, of lost revenue," Dehejia said.
And visitors from across the Bay Area couldn't wait to get back inside to see the animals.
"Any of the bears, the bears are always fun, right Gideon?" visitor Kayley Berger said.
RELATED: Sinkhole temporarily closes Oakland Zoo until at least Jan. 17
Oakland Zoo temporarily closes due to sinkhole until at least Jan. 17
The Berger family just bought an annual pass last night to get ready for opening day.
"We were waiting for about a month, we wanted to go in January with friends and family for his first trip and then they reopened and we didn't know if that was going to happen before I go back to work so we were very excited," Berger said.
Because of the closure, the Oakland Zoo has also extended its Glowfari from now until March 4.