Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia has set an all-time attendance record.

Zoo officials said Tuesday the attraction welcomed 1,029,492 visitors during the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The previous record was set in 2002, after the zoo had a major expansion. Last year, the zoo had 1,000,224 people come through the turnstiles.

"Riverbanks is the only zoo in a city with a population this size that consistently pulls in one-million plus visitors each year," said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, in a statement. "Much of this success may be attributed to our nearly 40% of guests who traveled 50 miles or more from outside of Columbia to have a fun and affordable family outing at the Zoo."

Riverbanks was recently named the 4th best zoo in the United States by TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site.

Earlier this year, the zoo opened its latest attraction, a Sky-High Safari ropes challenge course.