ZooMontana Executive Director Jeff Ewelt said Eggart Engineering and Construction donated 100 percent of the labor. The Montana Home Builders Association teamed up EEC with ZooMontana. Dozens of community members provided donations to help make the pavilion a reality.

Ewelt said it enhances what's already happening at ZooMontana.

"The great part about this pavilion, it's going to allow us to bring in so many new different events, from weddings to corporate picnics to of course our special events," Ewelt said. "We estimate, in 2017, we'll have about 20,000 to 30,000 people that will actually utilize this pavilion through our many events we have here at the zoo."

"We're really proud and excited to have this going. And Jeff, great job, keep up the good work," Home Builders Association Executive Officer and CEO Kim Welzenbach said.

Ewelt said the ZooPavilion took about four months to build once all the pre-planning was done. He said ZooMontana special events were held in a tent the zoo staff would set up prior to the construction of the new pavilion.