Zoo Atlanta What is next for Zoo Atlanta?

[DavidBrown]

Do we have any Zoo Atlanta regulars here in the forum? I was looking through the gallery and realized that Zoo Atlanta has now completed some major projects in the last decade with their new reptile house and African savanna complex.

Has the zoo made any announcements about what their next major exhibit project is going to be, if any? Is anyone familiar with their master plan? Are there any other parts of the zoo that need to be updated, or did the reptile and savanna complex pretty much update what needed to be fixed at the zoo?

 

[pscommodore2006]

I have a membership at this zoo, but I don't know much about what they have planned next. There was a master plan approved roughly 15 years ago. A general overview map can be viewed here: https://www.t-dcl.com/public/images/projects/compressed/Atlanta_Masterplan_w_titles_1100.jpg

This master plan is already out of date. For it example, it shows a new African savanna exhibit in the area where the current children's zoo is located. However, the zoo's recently opened savanna exhibit is located on property the zoo recently acquired from the city behind the old Cyclorama building. This property isn't even depicted on the master plan. Obviously the zoo didn't anticipate having this property available when it created the master plan, so I presume changes have been made accordingly. The only recently completed project that appears to be consistent with the master plan is the reptile building, which is roughly in the same location as is shown on the master plan. Several years ago there was a presentation of a new master plan, but I have been unable to find any further information online.

The only project I'm aware of that was announced but which has not yet been completed is a new entrance plaza. The master plan linked above shows the entrance moving to a place next to the new reptile building, with direct access to the parking lot on Boulevard. The current entrance directly accesses the parking lot on Cherokee and is next to the Cyclorama building. Apparently there are plans to demolish the old administration building once all of the administrative functions are moved to the Cyclorama building and then create a new entrance plaza where the current entrance is located. You can kind of see this on the left side of the plan linked here: https://www.ajc.com/resizer/AJUmvR3...ishing.com/ajc/BDXIRDIEWXQHLG7FZKE5XMXKEM.jpg. I do not know when this will occur, if at all.

I also wonder what's in store next and would welcome any information that anyone might have. I've searched the internet, but have found very little.

 

[StoppableSan]

I have a membership at this zoo, but I don't know much about what they have planned next. There was a master plan approved roughly 15 years ago. A general overview map can be viewed here: https://www.t-dcl.com/public/images/projects/compressed/Atlanta_Masterplan_w_titles_1100.jpg

This master plan is already out of date. For it example, it shows a new African savanna exhibit in the area where the current children's zoo is located. However, the zoo's recently opened savanna exhibit is located on property the zoo recently acquired from the city behind the old Cyclorama building. This property isn't even depicted on the master plan. Obviously the zoo didn't anticipate having this property available when it created the master plan, so I presume changes have been made accordingly. The only recently completed project that appears to be consistent with the master plan is the reptile building, which is roughly in the same location as is shown on the master plan. Several years ago there was a presentation of a new master plan, but I have been unable to find any further information online.

The only project I'm aware of that was announced but which has not yet been completed is a new entrance plaza. The master plan linked above shows the entrance moving to a place next to the new reptile building, with direct access to the parking lot on Boulevard. The current entrance directly accesses the parking lot on Cherokee and is next to the Cyclorama building. Apparently there are plans to demolish the old administration building once all of the administrative functions are moved to the Cyclorama building and then create a new entrance plaza where the current entrance is located. You can kind of see this on the left side of the plan linked here: https://www.ajc.com/resizer/AJUmvR3...ishing.com/ajc/BDXIRDIEWXQHLG7FZKE5XMXKEM.jpg. I do not know when this will occur, if at all.

I also wonder what's in store next and would welcome any information that anyone might have. I've searched the internet, but have found very little.

As long as it doesn't mean butchering Jon Coe's original designed habitats any further, or rather maintaining the standards he set, I'm cool with whatever any master plan entails. (RIP original Masai Mara, you will be missed.)