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The Columbus Zoo has just started a $180 million project that will expand the zoo from it’s current 90 acres to nearly 600 acres by the year 2015, making it the largest zoo in North America.
Some of the improvements include a hotel on zoo grounds, a large “African Savannah” exhibit where giraffes, hippos, and zebras will roam free coming in 2009, an Artic Frontier exhibit with polar bears coming in 2008, and the new Asia exhibit opening this summer.
Powell Road will be rerouted to the south end of the zoo opening up large areas of land to the north of the current grounds. Wyandot Lake may also be purchased from Six Flags by the Zoo, so that the waterpark proceeds may continue to fund animal operations.
They do not have any yet. Hopefully soon!
Thanks for your interest – we’re excited too!
Sincerely,
Terri M. Kepes
Associate Zoo Director, Planning and Design
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Expanded venue will be unique in animal kingdom
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Matt Tullis
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
When the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium reopens what used to be Wyandot Lake in the spring of 2008, the park will be distinctly different — with a dry side and a wet side, said the zoo’s chief operating officer, Manny Gonzalez.
Visitors also will pay no more than they do now to visit the zoo or the water park (the wet side). Zoo admission will be $10 while admission to the water park, which will include zoo entry, likely will cost $29.99. There will be no separate admission for the theme park (the dry side), but visitors will have to pay for rides there.
A season pass will be offered that includes both the zoo and water park, although the price has not been set, Gonzalez said.
When the two parks open in 2008, a new main gate will serve both them and the zoo. Within the next 10 years after that, the zoo complex will have grown more than five times its current size through expansion, new animal exhibits, the golf course and even a proposed hotel with an indoor water park.
The water park will include a new wave pool and a new waterslide complex. The Shark Attack will be refurbished and relocated, and a new signature slide, either the Tornado or the Cannon Bowl, will be added.
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I had no idea the Columbus Zoo had the resources to put something like this together. Wow. Hopefully this isn’t stretching them too thin. That said, this is a heck of a vision.
WOW!! I actually work for the Houston Zoo and we are adding a whole new “African Forrest” exhibit…but man this will be pretty huge for Columbus to get this!! I can’t wait to see some more plans!! 8) 8) 8)