Join our zoo community

San Diego Zoo Safari Park New Experience, No Animals Required

Discussion in 'United States' started by Zooplantman, 27 Jul 2012.

  1. Zooplantman

    Zooplantman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    23 Jan 2008
    Posts:
    4,144
    Location:
    New York, USA
  2. snowleopard

    snowleopard Well-Known Member 15+ year member Premium Member

    Joined:
    1 Dec 2007
    Posts:
    7,588
    Location:
    Abbotsford, B.C., Canada
    For those of you who have been following my 40+ zoo/aquarium summer road trip, you will know that I have mentioned Adventure Courses/Zip Lines on a couple of occasions. Yesterday at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (that is a long name!) I saw many visitors sign up and fork over $40 each to tackle the obstacle course that can take up to 2 hours to complete. At Brevard Zoo today I also saw large groups of people paying $48 each for the 3-hour course that comes with a zip line experience directly over a crocodile swamp. I suspect that perhaps a dozen zoos across America have these type of attractions and my general impression is that they rake in the dollars as there is little maintenance and they are expensive for visitors.
     
  3. CGSwans

    CGSwans Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    12 Feb 2009
    Posts:
    3,288
    Location:
    Melbourne
    I'm sure some will criticise SD for developing a non-zoological attraction, but I think it's quite understandable. They already have virtually every zoo animal that the standard zoo visitor would be interested in seeing (San Diego residents could be forgiven for thinking they need never visit a wildlife attraction outside their home metro area). They have to do *something* to drive repeat visitation and a new animal exhibit isn't really an option for them.
     
  4. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    10 Feb 2009
    Posts:
    7,702
    Location:
    Arizona, USA
    Just when I think they cannot possibly add another ridiculous, non animal related attraction, they come up with this absurdity :eek:

    I just feel very strongly that both the zoo and the park are going in the wrong direction (the zoo more so) and the board of directors needs to fire the senior management and put someone in place who will get them back on track. Of course this will never happen and they will continue to go downhill in my opinion. Although the safari park may still make my top ten in the US (but maybe not), the zoo is definitely out of my top ten and probably not even top twenty.
     
  5. betsy

    betsy Well-Known Member 10+ year member Premium Member

    Joined:
    25 Oct 2010
    Posts:
    640
    Location:
    Poway, Ca.
    I don't mind this "safari" so much. It couldn't have cost much money to build and it doesn't take up any room that could be used for animal exhibits. I would much prefer that kids (and adults) be active than to sit in a 4D movie theater. If someone wants to pay the extra $45.00, have fun.