 ROANOKE (WSLS) -
A popular attraction is back at the Mill Mountain Zoo.
Ruby, the life-like statue returned better than before Wednesday. She's now on display in a prominent spot at the entrance of the zoo.
Kids and other visitors did not waste any time climbing on the fiberglass tiger for pictures. That's part of the reason zoo officials put her across from the ticket stand, to give them access to her, said Chriss Davies Ross.
Ruby was sent to Hannabass and Rowe in Roanoke for a facelift back in July. The actual restoration process took nearly four weeks.
MILL MOUNTAIN'S RUBY STATUE TO GET A FACELIFT
Damage to Ruby's back and tail from years of children sitting on the display over the years needed to be repaired. Part of the restoration included being air-brushed with a matte finish, her face being hand painted to give her a more realistic look.
"I felt honored to have a part restoring Ruby," said Rachel Holdren, the student artist who painted Ruby's face. "I remember visiting her as a child. I think it's a really good opportunity."
Ruby was added to the zoo in October 2007 in memory of the real Ruby the tiger who died the December before after spending 18 years at Mill Mountain.
Hannabass and Rowe donated the time and work to restore Ruby.
"We did try to look at old pictures of her and really tried to make her realistic looking and make her features known and shown," Holdren said.