COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been ranked the ninth best zoo in the U.S. by TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel community and website.

TripAdvisor analyzed millions of real and unbiased reviews before making its list. Officials with the travel company said the zoo made the list because of the natural habitats of more than 800 animals, and the unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy mountain views in the open air chairlift rides.

“It's got everything the large zoos have but in a smaller space on the side of a mountain," one critic said.

They specifically cited the giraffe, meerkat and grizzly bear exhibits as being especially impressive.

Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb. came in at number one, followed by the St. Louis Zoo, the Cape May County Park & Zoo in New Jersey, the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden in Columbia, S.C. and the Memphis Zoo.

The famous San Diego Zoo was #6.