The Columbus Dispatch ran a multi-article feature on Ohio Zoos in the Sunday paper yesterday. Here's a link to the main article (there are a few side bar articles as well):

http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/l...A1_RT6OTT6.html

Some interesting facts from the articles:

--Ohio is one of the few states to have six accredited zoos (Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, and The Wilds)

--Ohio & California are the only states to have three zoos that do 1M+ annually in attendance (Columbus-just under 1.6M, Cleveland-1.2M, and Cincinnati-just over 1M.)

--Ohio is the only place outside of Florida to have permanent manatee exhibits, and there are two in the state (Cincy and Columbus).

Our Zoos here are just spectacular! I love the Columbus Zoo, and The Wilds is amazing.

Has the Columbus Zoo release any drawing or layout plans for the amusement park and water park area yet? I know they have comments on the theming and some ride potential.

^ nothing real specific has been released, other than the overall site plan. It was originally in the Dispatch (or maybe it was Business First), but there's a copy of it on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Columbus_Zoo_map.JPG

There was also a pretty good background article in an issue of IAAPA's "Fun World" publication a few months back:

http://www.funworldmagazine.com/2007/mar/f...gingStrips.html

I overheard a guy at the gym this morning who apparently worked for the zoo talking to another guy. He said they still haven't finalized the name yet for the new waterpark.

Yeah the Zoo is currently 80 acres, and they have 580 acres to work with. The place will just keep getting better, and for that, I am excited!

The Toledo Zoo, often overlooked, is really something special, too.

After all, they were one of the few places that had the Chinese Pandas, way back in 1988!