I got that they'll have a red panda, which I thought the internet would be all for.

They've had the red panda forever. It's over in the older part of the zoo with those tiny pit cages near the old aquarium.

I miss the event space under the aquarium. It was cool holding an event where you could see dolphins through the windows.

I feel bad for them. I personally believe zoos can be (although not always are) good for education and conservation, as well as helping endangered species. There is so much pressure from certain groups attacking zoos though. It is becoming a political minefield.

I don't think the OKC Zoo is really subject to those pressures except for when they take on an animal from someplace like Seattle. The recent issue was that Shadid had proposed redirecting the Zoo's sales tax take to police and fire.

I miss the event space under the aquarium. It was cool holding an event where you could see dolphins through the windows.
That was a cool space. Are they ever going to redo Aquaticus?

I miss the event space under the aquarium. It was cool holding an event where you could see dolphins through the windows.

I feel bad for them. I personally believe zoos can be (although not always are) good for education and conservation, as well as helping endangered species. There is so much pressure from certain groups attacking zoos though. It is becoming a political minefield.

The viewports were cool, however, the building definitely needs a lot of work. A friend had a wedding reception there. It was humid and the HVAC system was dripping on to the floor. It was at night so you of course couldn't see into the sea lion pool which kind of defeated the purposes of the room. The price was reasonable though.

I wish the zoo would get giant pandas ��

Yeah thats was a TERRIBLE video. Not only did it not tell you anything about any of the animals that will be there, but it used videos of all the existing areas and only showed us a meeting hall so the zoo can get into the wedding reception business. That is definitely not what i'm giving the zoo money for. It's supposed to be a zoo first, come on guys.

There are a few more details at the zoo website:

https://www.okczoo.org/habitats#collection=972


OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO BREAKS GROUND ON SANCTUARY ASIA
As part of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden's strategic plan outlined in 2010, the new 6.6 acre, $22 million expansion called Sanctuary Asia will create an expansive environment where endangered animals from the Asian continent can thrive while receiving world-class zoological animal care and where a lush, stimulating natural environment can be admired by new audiences in new ways.

Sanctuary Asia is truly a refuge where Asian elephants, and other Asian animals, are protected from predators and habitat loss. Animals within Sanctuary Asia, like all those within the Oklahoma City Zoo, are safe and free to live, socialize, eat, play and explore. The animals are expertly cared for and revered by more than one million annual guests many who will be seeing these animals for the first time and may never visit Asia. Visitors to Sanctuary Asia will be inspired by these magnificent animals, informed about their urgent plight in the wild and be moved to take immediate action to protect them. Sanctuary Asia will be open to the public in Summer 2018.

Animals: Asian Elephants (adding 3.5 acres to their existing 4.5-acre habitat), red pandas, Asian rhino, langurs, Komodo dragons, raccoon dogs, cranes and cassowary birds.

Restaurant: A two-story building with vast windows will seamlessly unite animal habitats with guest services to create highly visual and memorable experiences. In addition to providing daily food service, the facility is designed for after-hours special events. The restaurant offers views into the elephant, rhino and Komodo dragon habitats.

Water Zone: A splash area for kids to play in the summer

Landscape: The landscape design will include plantings native to Oklahoma, but will resemble Asian themes.

Sanctuary Asia on track to open in May

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record January 29, 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY – Timberlake Construction has gone through a lot of sticky notes while working on the Sanctuary Asia exhibit at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden.

In the construction management trailer, a dry-erase board hangs on the wall, divided into columns and rows, spanning the next few weeks. Inside the boxes are different-colored sticky-notes, placed on top of the other, detailing which subcontractor will be on site, doing what part of the job. The subcontractors and the Timberlake team meet regularly to update the board as needed.

“This helps us to coordinate work,” said Lawrence Walker, assistant superintendent. “It helps out a great deal.”

Timberlake Construction President Bryan Timberlake said the company started implementing these practices, known in the industry as the last planner system, about two years ago. It’s part of the Lean Construction Institute’s best practices.

He said the plan at the zoo wasn’t just created by Timberlake and implemented. The subcontractors sat down and discussed it.

“The individual has made a commitment to themselves, which is a greater commitment than if someone else made them do it,” Timberlake said. “It’s a democratic process versus a dictatorship.”

The scheduling is working. The $22 million project started in February 2017 and will be completed in May. It was designed by Torre Design Consortium of New Orleans.

For the zoo, having Timberlake on track means it can start marketing the two-story, 400-seat restaurant building as an event space. The zoo’s catering company, Salt & Surrey, has been to two wedding conventions where it displayed a video about the new space, and people were awed.

Zoo Chief Executive Dwight Lawson said the main goal for the Asia exhibit was to improve the visitor experience. It provides food service at the back of the park and an air-conditioned place for families to rest. There’s also a splash pad for warm-weather enjoyment.

Lawson said the zoo didn’t specifically want to build special event spaces, such as the Asia exhibit and the updated picnic area, but any additional revenue is helpful.

“It’s never been a big part of our business, but it’s a big opportunity,” he said. “We are catching up with a number of zoos.”

The updated master plan includes more areas specifically for events.

Getting into the events business lets the zoo reach a different crowd, the group that may have aged out of their regular zoo visits, but isn’t coming back yet with their own children or grandchildren.

“Any line of revenue you can do is helpful,” Lawson said. “(Having events) helps people stay engaged. Even if they’re having fun, we can still get our message across.”

At the Sanctuary Asia exhibit, people can have a meeting on the second floor, where a large glass window overlooks the elephant area. Visitors can eat lunch on the first floor while watching the Komodo dragons.

There will be cassowary birds to see as well, which will be new to the zoo.

While in the area, visitors can see rhinos, a raccoon dog called a Tanuki, red pandas, Indian rhinos, the new langurs, and the Asian elephants. The elephants will have an additional 3.5 acres, adding on to their existing 4.5 acres.

The addition comes with pools, trees, and for guests, an upfront look at the elephants while eating or attending an event. The building and habitats are adorned with carved-rock columns, which were designed by Arizona-based Cemrock Landscapes Inc. They are one of a few subcontractors that Timberlake hired for the zoo job.

Duggan Timber Design, from Missouri, installed the timber pieces. The company works with Bass Pro Shops frequently.

The job also required a specialist in animal containment systems. Ohio-based Thermeq is doing the work.

Timberlake said his team visited all the specialty subcontractors, so they could meet them and see their work. He joked it was an especially important trip to check on Thermeq’s work.

The animal containment system is built into the new rhino house. The floor is heated. But to keep the large, thick, steel beams in place, there are 488 metal pieces embedded into the concrete.

The three specialty subcontractors are a small part of a job that has 2,500 work-hours logged a week, with 150 to 180 people on site every day.

That’s why the sticky notes are needed, Timberlake said. It takes a lot of coordination. And while he’s had some pushback from people who have been in the business for years, once they see it work, they realize it makes sense.

“The amount of sitting around and planning is the hardest part,” he said.

I couldn't find an Adventure District thread, so I thought I would post this here since it is the most recent thread. Admin: feel free to move.

Adventure District development slow to meet potential

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record March 20, 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY – Neal McGee still believes in the Adventure District, and he can’t understand why it feels like he’s one of the few who see so much development potential.

“It’s a diamond in the rough,” he said. “You’ve got people going to the zoo, the racetrack, the softball museum … but there’s not a nice hotel in the whole area.

“It’s an uphill battle, no doubt,” McGee said. “But that doesn’t mean I’ve given up. You just have to pick your battles.”

The owner of Neal McGee Custom Homes has about 14 acres at NE 36th Street and Interstate 35 that would be perfect for a 185-room hotel conference complex, he said. It’s a short drive west to Remington Park, the zoo and museums such as the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. The Frontier City amusement park is right down the interstate.

And yet, no takers. McGee said city leaders could do a better job of drawing attention to the area.

City Hall and the business community haven’t given up on the potential of tourism adventure – just the opposite, said Councilman John Pettis Jr., who represents the ward. He pointed to City Council action at the end of 2015 that established a business improvement district, or BID, to financially help improve infrastructure and curbside appeal with streetscaping and signage.

Property owners within a BID’s boundaries pay a small assessment fee toward enhancement projects that benefit everyone. They’re common in commercial districts throughout the nation and have proven to be an integral part of revitalization efforts.

And it’s not as though the district is entirely lacking momentum, said city planner and BID specialist Kim Cooper-Hart. For example, Tom Parrish, who owns the Grand Woods development just south of the Tinseltown theater on N. Grand Boulevard, has filed at City Hall for a planned urban development allowance. Cooper-Hart gave credit to Parrish for his vision in his mixed-use projects and rallying neighborhoods around them.

The Remington Park casino needed to be open 24 hours a day to lure a hotelier, she said; that’s much more likely now than a few years ago. And Oklahoma Gas & Electric chose the district to launch a big LED streetlight pilot program.

“If you look around the city at various other districts, I think you’d agree that it is hard to agree on what the tipping point is. These things take time,” Cooper-Hart said. “It’s happening maybe slower than we’d like. … We’re still in the revitalization phase, trying to help elevate or de-blight some of the properties. Some of that is remedial and not quite at a tipping point yet.”

Pettis described the effort as more of a marathon than a sprint. Like McGee, he believes in the district’s potential, even if other developers are slow to step up. He said the Adventure District marketing team is doing what they can to promote the area.

“I’m sad to say that some of the resistance is because it’s in the northeast part of the city,” Pettis said, referring to a racial mix that historically has more African-Americans. “We continue to meet with retailers and other developers almost 24/7 trying to get them in. … It’s not happening because we’re not trying.”

Jerry Hocker with Coldwell Banker Hocker & Associates said he won’t give up on the district either. He can’t really afford to, since the company holds 5 acres.

“All of the businesses already in place are doing extremely well,” he said. “I think it’s a perception issue more than anything else. It carries a stigma no one wants to talk about, but it’s there whether you want to say so or not.”

" … but there’s not a nice hotel in the whole area.”

Are there restrictions/reasons why Remingtion Park couldn't add-on/build a hotel and event center attached or next to it's existing property?

It seems every other Oklahoma Casino that has a large hotel attached to it (Hard Rock, River Spirit, Choctaw Resort Durant, Winstar, etc) seems to do well in pulling in both local and out-of-state guests. With the OKC Zoo, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Science Museum Oklahoma, softball stadium, etc, and close proximity to I-35, it would seem all parties would benefit from a resort/large hotel being built, especially in becoming a destination if additional amenities can be added to Remington Park's casino and racetrack that would compliment a resort-style hotel.

Choctaw Casino Durant has built a lot of "family friendly' activities on their casino/resort property in addition to just the casino floor. They have a huge pool/waterpark area, movie theatre, bowling alley, spa, etc to make it a destination.

The current setup of the Adventure District is a place to spend a few hours and then head back. When the main feeder for the Adventure District is OKC itself, many just head home and head back the next weekend for another activity/museum.

I could see events at the Zoo amphitheater during the summer helping fill a near by hotel if a "stay and play package" partnership could be developed.

Remington Park has been planning a nicer hotel in the northern part of their parking lot.

It's been on the board for a couple of years and I believe it is still in the works, but probably still won't happen for a while longer.

Also, there is another mixed-use project planned for the immediate area that would include at least one hotel, but I'm not 100% sure it will get off the ground.

I REALLY do not understand why this area has not taken off. Look at the 30+ years since Remington and not much has been done to improve the area as a destination other than the moniker 'Adventure District'.

I thought, long ago, that there would be several hotels built on Martin Luther King at and near the racetrack. I just can't believe there has been nothing, particularly the fact that modern facilities of this type have a hotel attached and several others nearby as aluded to earlier.

I think we all could agree that the Adventure District amenities together likely is the top destination (or at least top 3) of the entire state; yet are there ANY hotels nearby? And don't include Frontier City, it is too far disconnected from the NE 50th and MLK rough center of the "district" to try to lump that in and even then the FC motels are not much better than freeway motels you see in non-destination areas. ...

Where is the Holiday Inn Oklahoma City Adventure District? or the Hilton Oklahoma City Remington Park? or even the Hampton Inn Oklahoma City Zoo/Adventure District. .. These are the hotel brands that I have been expecting to be built and am surprised still not there. ...

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w640-d18cccbcca200fd3305c67e427b5d51c.jpg
This rendering shows plans for a feature of the planned Sanctuary Asia exhibit at the Oklahoma City Zoo. [Rendering provided]

Elephant-sized debate for the Oklahoma City zoo: http://newsok.com/article/5539219

https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/04102015-Elephants_01-1560x999.jpg
Elephant exhibits are a favorite of zoo visitors. Here, Nick Newby leads a demonstration with Rex at a crowded pavilion at the Oklahoma City Zoo. (Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times)

Question: Can anyone explain why the zoo gives out gift cards that then have to be exchanged for tokens to actually buy anything? My wife took the kids yesterday and had an extremely frustrating time. We've got $30 on a gift card but apparently that can only be used to feed the giraffes or lorikeets or pet stingrays. We can't actually used it to buy lunch or a stuffed animal in the gift shop.

Anyone have any insight into why that is? Different point of sale systems that don't talk to each other (which would be silly)? Some scheme to make you change your dollars into tokens and then not give you change on your tokens so you essentially round up to the dollar and the zoo gets to keep that?

Question: Can anyone explain why the zoo gives out gift cards that then have to be exchanged for tokens to actually buy anything? My wife took the kids yesterday and had an extremely frustrating time. We've got $30 on a gift card but apparently that can only be used to feed the giraffes or lorikeets or pet stingrays. We can't actually used it to buy lunch or a stuffed animal in the gift shop.

Anyone have any insight into why that is? Different point of sale systems that don't talk to each other (which would be silly)? Some scheme to make you change your dollars into tokens and then not give you change on your tokens so you essentially round up to the dollar and the zoo gets to keep that?

We get the Zoo Family+ pass every year and get a gift card with it. This started I believe two years ago. I was told it had something to do with a vendor agreement, but didn't press for details.

Not a big deal, I just take my gift card to customer service on my first trip of the year and have them convert it all to tokens. Actually works out perfect for us because we split the family pass with a relative and this makes it easy to split the balance of the gift card between us.

Splitting a family pass between two families is often a great way to save some money and get really good perks.

They do indeed have multiple point of sale systems which don’t talk with each other and they are as frustrated with this as you. Keep in mind that the current director has now been on the ground (I think) three years and has overseen a dramatic reshaping of legacy staff and overall operations. Many of his current staff overseeing things like visitors’ services and marketing have only been on the ground for a couple of seasons, and are working hard to improve the visitor experience and customer flow.

They are currently researching point of sale solutions that will make the whole experience more seamless, and I know this only because I spoke with them directly about it within in the past month, by chance. I referred them to the new software I’m personally implementing with a go-live of May 1. Not sure if it’s the one they will go with but they are really interested in my experience, which I’ll be sharing with them after we have some time with it. Technology is moving very quickly in this particular area.

Anyway, not sure of the specific logistics of their gift cards, but suspect it is exactly what you suggest, and just know that they are aware of some POS clunkiness and working toward a solution. Just be forewarned that you probably shouldn’t expect a changeover until after the season. I’m right up against the beginning of tourist season myself, and presently my timing decision is feeling sort of reckless. :)

Glad to hear they're working towards a resolution. I figured it was something along those lines. Frustrating but hopefully not indefinite.

Noticed they got rid of the condor exhibit completely within the last few weeks. Are the birds being relocated?

I believe that was the oldest structure at the zoo. Over 100 years old and was relocated from Wiley Post Park.

May is the opening of the new Asia area. Can't wait to see that!

I went to the Tulsa Zoo this weekend for the first time since I was a child. We should be very happy with and proud of the Zoo we have here. The difference in quality is almost indescribable.

I went to the Tulsa Zoo this weekend for the first time since I was a child. We should be very happy with and proud of the Zoo we have here. The difference in quality is almost indescribable.

:Smiley051

Glad to her you make the comparison; this is why the 1/8 cent permanent sales tax funds our zoo receives is so important. We've all seen the Zoo's transformation; they have used those capital improvements funds wisely.


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6105/6308062342_51b1e22f5f_z.jpg

Just returned from Mathis Brothers where I renewed our family membership to the Zoo. Discounts continue through May.

They've changed the membership plans up a bit.

We used to get the Family Plus plan. I think it was $90 and you got 3 adults and 5 kids who could go in each day. You also got about $30 in a gift card you could use in the gift store or for food.

They no longer offer the Family Plus plan and no plans offer a gift card any longer.

The only thing close to that is a plan that allows for 6 total people to enter the zoo (children or adults). That's $105.

We just decided to do the regular family membership - $69 and gets two adults and 5 kids. Oh, and I got a free giraffe stuffed animal for the grandbaby.

I was told they don't do the gift cards any longer because they've subcontracted out the food vendors and couldn't reach an agreement with them to take the gift cards are a reduced value to them.

Still a good value, but not nearly as good for us as it used to be.

Anyone know if the Sanctuary Asia exhibit is fully open yet?

I was at the zoo on Saturday and can report that Sanctuary Asia is not open yet. The target date is "Summer 2018". It appears as if there is still a ton of work to do to get this thing open in time. There was even work being done on Saturday when I was there. The buildings look close to being done but the landscaping has a long way to go.

I was at the zoo on Saturday and can report that Sanctuary Asia is not open yet. The target date is "Summer 2018". It appears as if there is still a ton of work to do to get this thing open in time. There was even work being done on Saturday when I was there. The buildings look close to being done but the landscaping has a long way to go.

Sounds like "May" has slid back. Perhaps this weekend?

It would be really nice if it was open by Monday for Memorial Day zoo trips.

Dropping the gift card due to incompatibility with the food vendors is a bummer. But as a whole, I think the new vendor has been a great success, and the food is a lot better than it was a few years ago.

Reading through the last Trust minutes, I noticed that it looked like they leased out the park across the lake to the Girl Scouts for them to build out a park for activities and camps.

Zoo will be taking bids for a new Galapagos Tortoise Exhibit estimated at $600K.

It will consist of one open air habitat at approx. 1,200 SF with a visitor path that runs along the side of the new tortoise holding building. The building will be approx. 845 SF.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/zoo090318a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/zoo090318b.jpg

Taking up pRt of the children’s zoo? Looks like it would replace some of the wood/grass section and the sand playground area there.

Any word on Expedition Asia opening...soon?

Any word on Expedition Asia opening...soon?

We were there this weekend and were told end of this month.

We were there this weekend and were told end of this month.

Did everything look almost done?

We're a Zoofriends family and we received some surveys from the zoo last week asking what parts of the zoo would I be most interested in seeing developed next and what areas of the zoo need to be improved the most. It also asked how often we visited the zoo, which exhibit was our favorite. What animals we'd like to see at the zoo.

The areas the zoo is considering adding and it asked me to rank them was:

New Sea Lion Exhbit
Penguin Exhbit
Ropes Course
New Reptile House
Conservation Breeding Center

Seems like they're trying to decide where to put small pieces of money for the biggest benefit to visitors. Still curious what the status on things like an all new aquatics center is.

I really wish they would expand upon the aquatics area, even if it was just giant aquariums filled with exotic fish. Would LOVE to see some sharks. :) Let's get a Great White!!! lol

I really wish they would expand upon the aquatics area, even if it was just giant aquariums filled with exotic fish. Would LOVE to see some sharks. :) Let's get a Great White!!! lol
Seconded. They need a new Aquaticus!

My recommendation:

1) New Sea Lion Exihbit
2) Penguin Exhibit
tie 3) New Reptile House
tie 3) Conservation Breeding Center

Here is my list, in this order. I dropped the ropes, sorry - not a zoo function. I agree with the others that the Aquatics should be expanded and/or re-purposed into some sort of aquarium type function full of exotic and large fish. If this is not in the cards, then refresh the Sea Lion exhibit and build a new Penguin Exhibit (they sort of could be tied together maybe). I have the other two tied but the one in worst condition should probably be the true 3.

A new aquarium area would be nice. Something that could compete against the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks would be great, and provide a lot more "bang for the buck" with all of the other zoo exhibits. Large scale aquariums seem to be going strong right now.

Penguins are a fun exhibit and are currently at Tulsa and Wichita (Sedgwick County) Zoos, so it only seems appropriate a zoo of OKC's size, should have them.

Did everything look almost done?

Actually did not get over to that part of the zoo, just heard it on the tram.

I really wish they would expand upon the aquatics area, even if it was just giant aquariums filled with exotic fish. Would LOVE to see some sharks. :) Let's get a Great White!!! lol

Great White sharks can't be kept in captivity :)

https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/heres-why-youll-never-see-a-great-white-shark-in-an-aquarium/

Actually did not get over to that part of the zoo, just heard it on the tram.

you talked me into going this past weekend. cool weather and was curious to see it almost complete. It still isn't open but they had already moved some animals over to the new part. They had signs on their old cages.

I thought the new asia area would match the elephant area in theming but the new area didn't look as nice. For example the elephant area has grass roofing and the asia part just has regular shingles. Lots of concrete instead of wood flooring. Kills the theming. I'll hold off final judgement until I can walk the full thing rather than spy on it from the elephant exhibit.

Got a letter from ZooFriends

Sanctuary Asia opening on Sept. 30th.

The Container Store is donating a percentage of their proceeds during Opening Weekend to Zoofriends.

The Great EscApe is in the foreground and new Sanctuary Asia in the center.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/zoo111118b.jpg

The Great EscApe is in the foreground and new Sanctuary Asia in the center.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/zoo111118b.jpg

So they call the elephant exhibit "The Great EscApe"?

So they call the elephant exhibit "The Great EscApe"?

Where did you get that?

Where did you get that?

Pete said the Great EscApe is in the foreground in his image, am I misunderstanding the definition of foreground?

Great EscAPE is to the right there in the foreground and the elephant enclosure is more center..

Same Shells, New Digs: Galapagos Tortoise

Habitat Under Construction at OKC Zoo

The Oklahoma City Zoo’s Galapagos tortoises are getting a new, modern habitat located just inside the Zoo’s entrance! The approximately $700,000 expansion is under construction in the former Secret Garden area of the Children’s Zoo and should be complete by late summer.

https://www.speakcdn.com/assets/2294/12_pasted_galap_habitat.png

The new Galapagos tortoise habitat consists of one indoor and two outdoor spaces. The climate-controlled 900 sq. ft. indoor habitat consists of a nesting area, an indoor pool, natural substrate floors, a vestibule for animal caretakers with a sink and utility space. It also features an open-air viewing area for Zoo guests. The outdoor spaces total 8,000 sq. ft. to roam with natural boulders, a log wall and native landscaping. A walkway for Zoo guests will also be constructed.

https://www.speakcdn.com/assets/2294/12_pasted_galap_habitat_with_yards.png

Galapagos tortoises are some of the longest living animals in the world, and the Zoo’s group of four are its oldest inhabitants. Unfortunately, spotty recordkeeping before they found their forever homes means it’s not possible to determine their exact ages. Max, Ellie, Isabela (Isa for short) and Mrs. B range from 70 to 110 years old! Max has lived at the OKC Zoo since 1974, and he’s coming up on his 75th birthday. Ellie has been with us since 1986, and she’s believed to be in her late 70s. Isa and Mrs. B arrived in 2016 and are the most senior of the group. Isa is about 90 years old and Mrs. B is between 100 and 110. The Galapagos tortoises will benefit from the new addition’s larger outdoor space and larger, modern indoor space.

https://www.speakcdn.com/assets/2294/12_pasted_galapagos_tortoise.jpg

Their current habitat at Island Life will be going away when construction begins on the Zoo’s next major project bringing its African species together. Construction on that project is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-2020.

Galapagos tortoises were on a rapid decline towards extinction, going from over 200,000 individuals in the 1600s all the way down to 3,000 in the 1970s. Due to rigorous conservation efforts, their population is on the rise! There are now about 20,000 Galapagos tortoises in the wild.

Source: Oklahoma City Zoo website: https://www.okczoo.org/blog/posts/same-shells-new-digs-galapagos-tortoise-habitat-under-construction-at-okc-zoo

Looking forward to this. Also excited about their plans for Africa.

The OKC Zoo is a World Class Zoological Park. Every Oklahoman should be proud of it.

I love our zoo, would really like to see them do an Africa themed exhibit like the new Asian exhibit. Would also like to see them build out an area in the Asian exhibit for the tigers.

I think the Cat exhibit is outdated and small for the amount of big cats they have.

The OKC Zoo is a World Class Zoological Park. Every Oklahoman should be proud of it.

^ most definitely. Something OKC does right!!

It will be nice to see the old pachyderm building gone.

I found this conceptual plan for Africa exhibit. Not sure how much of it will become a reality. I'm excited that their planning on train to actually go somewhere and not just a loop. lol

http://www.3frommedesign.com/master_ok_zoo_africa.html

I go to a zoo with every new city I visit. Many don't even come close to comparing to how great our zoo is. From the amount of activities to conservation to learning they really do a fantastic job.

I for one cant wait to go to one of the adult Date Nights in June!

What's the difference between an adult Date Night and any other date night?

What's the difference between an adult Date Night and any other date night?

Everyone there will be adult. No kids allowed. Plus, other perks such as alcohol.

https://kfor.com/2019/05/09/oklahoma-city-zoo-offering-date-nights-in-june/

It will be nice to see the old pachyderm building gone.

I found this conceptual plan for Africa exhibit. Not sure how much of it will become a reality. I'm excited that their planning on train to actually go somewhere and not just a loop. lol

http://www.3frommedesign.com/master_ok_zoo_africa.html

The Masterplan looks nice as well.

The Masterplan looks nice as well.

I saw that. Looks like they hope to turn other side of lake into campground and get rid of zoo amphitheater.

As well as turning the old bear exhibit area into an open air sea lion exhibit.