Cincy Zoo Building New Park near PKI

[jzarley]

Just saw this on Coasterbuzz...a story in the Dayton Daily News reports that the Cincinnati Zoo is building a "satellite" facility on 528 acres it owns near PKI. Details haven't been announced, but they hope to open by 2010. Very interesting!

Link to the story:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/cont...ly/0521zoo.html

Joel

[Gordon Bombay]

Thats interesting, the zoo needs to get out of down town, although it is the 2nd oldest zoo in the nation. It doesnt seem like it would be in competiton with PKI it seems more like another zoo if they were to build it.

[jzarley]

Actually, they're keeping the "mother" zoo (as the spokesperson referred to it in the article). This is going to offer a more "interactive" experience, and compliment the main zoo. (Although, they haven't gone into any details about what might be there...)

[Scooby_Doo]

Yeah I hope its the indoor Dolphin/Orca swim experience along with a sealife park I have been hearing about for soooooo long!

[Gordon Bombay]

I hope they put in a massive B&M that is themed to the blue footed booby, the best bird ever.

[flightoffear1996]

What if they make it like Bush Garden that would be so sweet to have Bush Gardens and PKI close to each others and should that heppen some great coaster wars may go on.

[CoastersRZ]

I highly doubt that this satelite facility will stray too far from the zoo philosophy of having animals. Yes the Cincinnati Zoo does have a Chance train and carousel, but those are merely ways in which the park suplements its operating income. Keep in mind that the Cincinnati Zoo is known for its breeding programs. It is after all the only zoo to have succesfully bred a sumatran rhino, twice.

[jzarley]

Yep, I agree with CoastersRZ 100%.

There's absolutely no reason to believe that the Cincinnati Zoo would suddenly turn into "Busch Gardens" of Ohio. (That would be a quite a feat, considering they're a non-profit scientific/research organization.) The reason why they're building the new facility near PKI is because that's where the land happens to be that someone donated to them. (It's lucky that it happens to be in a growing tourist area...)

Besides having great theme parks, Ohio is pretty lucky to have outstanding zoos as well. The Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo zoos are all outstanding. (I've heard the Cleveland Zoo is pretty good as well.) In addition, the Columbus Zoo operates "The Wilds" in eastern Ohio which is the largest "safari" facility outside of Africa!

Joel

[flightoffear1996]

Yea but what is stopping them from making a park like Buch Gardens after the success they had maybe if they did go into debt they would quickly get them selfs out of ahole.

[Oldiesmann]

I would visit the zoo more often if it weren't so expensive. It's only 10 or 15 minutes from me. I can't really afford a zoo membership at the moment ($47, $77 or $116 depending on which perks you want - you have to pay $77 just to get free parking!).

[CoastersRZ]

Because the Cincinnati Zoo is a not-for profit company. They are first and foremost a zoo, and would NOT want to sink money into things that stray that far from their mission statement. They, like all zoos, are there to educate people about endangered animals, and to try and provide protection and new breeding programs to ensure that endangered animals will still be around for future generations. Roller coasters just don`t fit into their non-profit agenda.

That being said, the Zoo does offer an experience quite similar to a theme park. Have you ever been in any of their buildings? Some of them are themed extrodinarily well. Closer to Disney than any of PKI`s rides have been, as far as the little details. Part of that is because they try and not make it look like cages, but the animals` actual habitat.

[pkifreak]

I think that it is a great idea and would draw a lot more attention to both the zoo and pki since they will be kinda close together.

[Oldiesmann]

I realize that the zoo needs the money, but I just don't feel like spending $20 to go to the zoo, although it looks like they've expanded a bit since I was last there (about a year and a half ago) - I noticed they've got a carousel now (which seems to be a common thing at zoos these days...). I was looking at prices for zoos in other major cities within a couple hours of Cincinnati, and found something interesting...

Indianapolis: $11.50 ($5.00 parking; additional $1 for admission to White River Gardens)

Columbus: $9.00 ($3.00 parking)

Louisville: $9.50 (free parking)

Both Louisville and Columbus are quite a bit larger than Cincinnati (so is Indianapolis for that matter, although their prices are not much cheaper).

[flightoffear1996]

WHat if the Zoo and PKI didnt a joint project. PKI builds some rides and the zoo well they build the zoo. I know it wouldn't happen but it would be kind of cool. Maybe the Zoo is looking to make some money and they want to start their own Bush Gardens type park after seeing the succes they have. WE can only hope.

[King Bowser]

^ Nah I see what the cincy zoo is doing they are going go the route that Disney went with Animal Kingdom and have huge long safari tours it would prob help the breeding program that they have even more.

[flightoffear1996]

Yea I just just hoping even though I know that it would never happen. Do you know the area besides near PKI this park is gonna go and when they are going to start to build.