This new KC attraction is among the best in the US, ranking says — for its bathrooms
A new addition to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is already earning national praise. But this time, it’s for the zoo’s bathrooms.
A contest sponsored by national cleaning company Cintas asked readers for the best bathrooms in the United States, and the all-gender restrooms inside the zoo’s Sobela Ocean Aquarium, which opened in September 2023, were named to the top 10 list.
The “America’s Best Bathroom” list is in its 23rd year, and a CNN Travel post says the contest “highlights some of the country’s cleanest, most innovative and most decorative places to take care of personal business.” The voting on the top 10 nominations was held in summer 2024, with the winner was announced Tuesday, Oct. 14.
While the contest was won by service station chain Maverik’s location at the Salt Lake City International Airport, the Kansas City Zoo received praise for its toddler seats and baby-changing stations. Sean Putney, the zoo’s CEO, said the nomination was unexpected for him and the rest of the zoo staff.
“We were taken by surprise a bit, but I am so proud that we were chosen to end up in the top five,” Putney said in a statement. “Our staff does an incredible job ensuring that our bathrooms are well taken care of throughout the Zoo and our architectural and construction teams put a great deal of energy into the specified bathrooms at Sobela Ocean Aquarium to make sure that every experience in the new Aquarium was a great one.”
The zoo had numerous discussions with the architects to ensure that the aquarium bathroom would be a good experience for all guests, Putney said. Designers also used guidance from visitors to create an environment with full privacy, like adding individual stalls for everyone to use.
They also added adult changing tables in private rooms for people with disabilities to be changed easily and added a mother’s room that sits beside the restrooms to allow nursing mothers to nurse in private.
“While universal bathrooms are still relatively new, we have received positive feedback from those who have actually used them,” Putney said. “They certainly provide our guests with much more privacy than most bathrooms do, and the additional amenities make them much more inclusive.”
Other bathrooms that made the top 10 include:
Hop Shops in Florence, Kentucky
Indiana Caverns in Corydon, Indiana
Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
MAD in Houston
Maximilian Motorsports in Chehalis, Washington
Morning Glory in San Diego
Natchez Trace State Park Visitor Center in Wildersville, Tennessee
Throne Restrooms in Brentwood, Maryland
