Construction started? » Columbus Zoo

Construction started?
23-07-2008

I was just wondering if Columbus has even started construction on The Polar Frontier,African Savannah or the South American Jungle yet?

23-07-2008

As of June 2008, they had yet to start construction of the polar frontier. They were still finishing up the touches on the new water/amusement park next door. I'm sure snowleopard may have some more information since his visit will be more recent.

Polar Frontier
14-09-2008

We have not started construction on Polar Frontier. The initial construction bids were too high so they had to delay opening. They say it should open Fall 2009 but if they dont get construction started it could be further delayed. Savannah isnt supposed to open until 2012/2013 and South America sometime after that!

14-09-2008

Im hoping they start soon.

29-09-2008

They have officially started construction on Polar Frontier. I think they are going to work through an Ohio winter . . . not a good idea!

Latest Update on Polar Frontier
05-11-2008

Final Species:
Polar Bears
Alaskan Brown Bears
Arctic Fox

While that species list is far from exhaustive the plans look amazing! I will post a picture of the plans once the final decisions are made.

While we previously stated we would exhibit our four caribou, the latest plans do not include them.

The brown bear brothers, Brutus and Buckeye will be in the bear exhibit. We also plan to revitalize our current bear yards once the boys move and exhibit only black bears in that region.

We also plan to open with at least three polar bears. Where they are coming from is still a mystery!

We are supposed to say a late 2009 opening, but if construction goes uninterrupted it could be as early as spring.

Sidenote: The plans also only utilize half of the 10 acres set aside for the exhibit. I wonder what that land will be used for.

05-11-2008

Thanks for the news ColumbusZoo001. They took the pinnipeds out of the plan, too?
Also, I was wondering where the new exhibit will be accessed from the trail in the North American region? I was imagining alongpast the moose exhibit?

05-11-2008

The plans are similar to the Brookfield Zoo, as both establishments will have new polar and brown bear exhibits side-by-side in 2009. It sounds like the Columbus Zoo will have a much larger space set aside for their bears, and it's amazing at how new so much of that zoo is. The upcoming 70-acre African Savanna might turn the zoo from being in the top 5 in North America to potentially the top 3. In my humble opinion, of course!

05-11-2008

Yeah, the pinnipeds are no longer part of the exhibit. I think it was a wise choice because it will speed up the construction process and a lot of zoo's polar exhibits now include huge pinniped exhibits. Change is nice!

I don't know why I'm so upset at them not displaying our caribou. However, there is still plenty of space for them to use inside the developed area. They can always add a species or two. I would add the caribou and a display of arctic birds.

The connection will be made through the timber wolf exhibit. The timber wolf exhibit is huge and we only have two wolves so we decided to simply cut the exhibit in half.

The last thing I'm kinda worried about is a service road that runs parallel to the moose and timber wolf exhibits. The path to Polar Frontier will be perpendicular to the road. I just think it will look kinda stupid to just cross a random road on your way the exhibit, although I'm confident they will reroute it around Polar Frontier. I'm also very interested in seeing how they will connect African Savannah to the rest of the zoo because it is basically blocked off from the zoo.

03-05-2009

I just read on Wikipedia that African Savannah is now slated to open in 2014

03-05-2009

Yes - I changed that. With Polar Frontier opening in Spring 2010, 2014 would probably be the earliest African Savannah would open.