Shortly after it's release in 2004 my two boys began playing Zoo Tycoon 2. I remember teaching them how to navigate the game and complete the different challenges. We anxiously awaited each expansion pack and the new opportunities and adventures they provided. Early on they found it difficult to complete some of the challenges due to the slow economic functions of the game. I first created the money tree in about 2008 using a sugar maple and changing the costs components of the tree without any other modifications. 

Early this year, a desire for nostalgia struck and my oldest wanted to play the game again. I was tasked with recreating the money tree, this time I decided to try and make it with a little more panache. I've been on nearly all the different modding pages and forums and never seen this simple modded item that can essentially turn a challenge game into sandbox mode.  

To install: Move the The_Money_Tree.z2f  folder to Zoo Tycoon 2 directory, which is “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Zoo Tycoon 2” by default. Do not unzip Z2F files.

You have a couple of options on how to use The Money Tree. The first way to use it is as a continuous income stream, for each tree you plant you gain $500 in income. Leave them alone and watch the money roll in. If you are in need of quick cash the second method is for you. Plant one tree for each $10,000 you want, when you have planted as many as you need simply recycle them and get the instant boost you need. Animals should interact with the tree as well.