I agree that the elephant exhibit and Asian cats exhibit are nice. I am anxious to see a new Arctic and savanna exhibit, especially since the African wildlife were in pretty small enclosures. I would like to see them do some remodeling and updating on other exhibits though. A lot of the indoor exhibits are dated and don't have much in them. The zoo could use a large grant. It has a lot of potential.
mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
You'll see earlier in this thread that the citizens did, indeed, vote a sizable bond issue for the zoo...as long as the zoo raises the needed matching funds. As I understand it, they are doing reasonably well in their fund raising efforts.
Council releases bond cash to Hogle Zoo - Salt Lake Tribune
The Hogle Zoo finally received its proposed $33 million in bond money, after a brief battle over whether the zoo did its fair share of fund-raising. No construction dates are set, but an Arctic-themed zone (polar bears, seals, etc) is in the works, amongst other exhibits.
The Hogle Zoo finally received its proposed $33 million in bond money, after a brief battle over whether the zoo did its fair share of fund-raising. No construction dates are set, but an Arctic-themed zone (polar bears, seals, etc) is in the works, amongst other exhibits.
mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
There is no "Zoo News" thread for Utah's Hogle Zoo, so I decided to make one.
As it was mentioned in the Oregon Zoo thread, Hogle zoo is sending their three bears to Oregon so that they could start construction on Rocky Shores.
Hogle Zoo losing its three bears to make way for construction | Deseret News
Here are some links with info and drawings/site plans on Rocky Shores:
https://www.hoglezoo.org/donations_sponsors/donation_opportunities/arctic_exhibit/
https://www.hoglezoo.org/docs/pdfs/Illustrative_Site_Plan_with_program.pdf
https://www.hoglezoo.org/images/Exhibits/Rocky_Shores_large.jpg
As it was mentioned in the Oregon Zoo thread, Hogle zoo is sending their three bears to Oregon so that they could start construction on Rocky Shores.
Hogle Zoo losing its three bears to make way for construction | Deseret News
Here are some links with info and drawings/site plans on Rocky Shores:
https://www.hoglezoo.org/donations_sponsors/donation_opportunities/arctic_exhibit/
https://www.hoglezoo.org/docs/pdfs/Illustrative_Site_Plan_with_program.pdf
https://www.hoglezoo.org/images/Exhibits/Rocky_Shores_large.jpg
You beat me to it!
Interesting in that article it mentions the exhibit could house other bears "if necessary". I suppose Hogle is worried about being able to acquire polar bears. I understand there is quite the waiting list.
Previous versions of the designs for this exhibit called it Arctic Edge and it featured seals instead of sea lions, wolves instead of otters and wolverines, and snowy owls instead of bald eagles.
Interesting in that article it mentions the exhibit could house other bears "if necessary". I suppose Hogle is worried about being able to acquire polar bears. I understand there is quite the waiting list.
Previous versions of the designs for this exhibit called it Arctic Edge and it featured seals instead of sea lions, wolves instead of otters and wolverines, and snowy owls instead of bald eagles.
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CritterBlog
Well-Known Member
Next project at aging Hogle Zoo? A restaurant. - Salt Lake Tribune
Next project at aging Hogle Zoo? A restaurant.
Updated: 05/15/2010 04:04:53 PM MDT
The fountain was beautiful. The gift shop was impressive. But when legislative auditors looked at Hogle Zoo's new $7.7 million entryway in 2002, they were not amused.
In light of deteriorating animal exhibits, the auditors concluded, the pavilion was "a poor business decision."
Six years later, as Hogle supporters campaigned to convince Salt Lake County voters to pay for $33 million in improvements to the zoo, they stressed bond funds would be used to enhance the well-being of their animals.
But when construction workers tear down the zoo's 15-year-old Butterfly Gardens building, likely sometime this fall, it won't be to make space for a new animal exhibit. Instead, the area will be home to "Tembo Terrace," a food service facility and dining area named for the Swahili word for "elephant."
And the restaurant will be operated by the donor that last year pledged $2.5 million to Hogle as part of a deal to become the zoo's official concessionaire.
The donation, from Denver-based Service Systems Associates, pushed the zoo's private fundraising total over $11 million -- the amount it needed to collect in order to unlock the $33 million in public funds, under terms of the voter-approved proposition.
That deal raised the ire of Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde, who accused the zoo of pay-for-play deal making in order to access the public money. Wilde was again critical on Friday when he learned that the zoo's next big construction project will be a restaurant. He hears echoes of the entry pavilion controversy in the new project.
But zoo director Craig Dinsmore said that he's comfortable with the way Hogle has chosen to spend the $44 million in combined public and private money. Good stewardship of the zoo means "taking care of animal needs and people needs over time -- you can't do one without the other," Dinsmore said.
He said county officials have long been aware of the zoo's priorities, including the restaurant.
He noted that the language on the ballot -- which asked whether money should be granted for "acquiring, improving and renovating facilities" -- was "very general" in nature.
And so, he said, he believes Salt Lake County voters were well informed about the zoo's intentions when they overwhelmingly voted in support of the bond.
Wilde disagrees.
"How it was sold to the council, I believe, and to the public as well, is that all of the money was to be used for the benefit of animals, including the private money," Wilde said. "I don't recall anything about a restaurant being discussed."
The "Frequently Asked Questions" page devoted to the bond proposition on the zoo's website listed three projects: an Arctic exhibit with polar bears, seals and wolves; an animal health center; and the "first phase" of an African savannah, for animals such as giraffes, rhinos and zebras.
Tembo Terrace has been a part of the zoo's master plan since at least 2008, according to planning maps created by the Philadelphia-based company CLR Design. But the first time it was publicly identified as part of the zoo's plan to spend its bond monies was in interlocal agreements with Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City, more than a year after the bond was passed by voters.
In the agreements, which govern how the zoo will share ownership of developments paid for with the bond money, Tembo is listed by name, but without further description. Dinsmore said that other documents reviewed by the county and its debt review committee were more explicit, but said he couldn't recall whether those documents had been provided for review before or after voters approved the bond initiative.
Hogle received $3.68 million in public funding in 2008, the last year for which the zoo's Internal Revenue Service filings are publicly available. That doesn't include money won in the bond election in November of that year. In the same year, the zoo made $3.34 million through tickets sales.
Utah Taxpayers Association Vice President Royce Van Tassell said he doesn't think the zoo acted in good faith when it approached voters looking for money.
"Taxpayers expect their dollars to be spent transparently," Van Tassell said. "This reeks of backroom deals."
Next project at aging Hogle Zoo? A restaurant.
Updated: 05/15/2010 04:04:53 PM MDT
The fountain was beautiful. The gift shop was impressive. But when legislative auditors looked at Hogle Zoo's new $7.7 million entryway in 2002, they were not amused.
In light of deteriorating animal exhibits, the auditors concluded, the pavilion was "a poor business decision."
Six years later, as Hogle supporters campaigned to convince Salt Lake County voters to pay for $33 million in improvements to the zoo, they stressed bond funds would be used to enhance the well-being of their animals.
But when construction workers tear down the zoo's 15-year-old Butterfly Gardens building, likely sometime this fall, it won't be to make space for a new animal exhibit. Instead, the area will be home to "Tembo Terrace," a food service facility and dining area named for the Swahili word for "elephant."
And the restaurant will be operated by the donor that last year pledged $2.5 million to Hogle as part of a deal to become the zoo's official concessionaire.
The donation, from Denver-based Service Systems Associates, pushed the zoo's private fundraising total over $11 million -- the amount it needed to collect in order to unlock the $33 million in public funds, under terms of the voter-approved proposition.
That deal raised the ire of Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde, who accused the zoo of pay-for-play deal making in order to access the public money. Wilde was again critical on Friday when he learned that the zoo's next big construction project will be a restaurant. He hears echoes of the entry pavilion controversy in the new project.
But zoo director Craig Dinsmore said that he's comfortable with the way Hogle has chosen to spend the $44 million in combined public and private money. Good stewardship of the zoo means "taking care of animal needs and people needs over time -- you can't do one without the other," Dinsmore said.
He said county officials have long been aware of the zoo's priorities, including the restaurant.
He noted that the language on the ballot -- which asked whether money should be granted for "acquiring, improving and renovating facilities" -- was "very general" in nature.
And so, he said, he believes Salt Lake County voters were well informed about the zoo's intentions when they overwhelmingly voted in support of the bond.
Wilde disagrees.
"How it was sold to the council, I believe, and to the public as well, is that all of the money was to be used for the benefit of animals, including the private money," Wilde said. "I don't recall anything about a restaurant being discussed."
The "Frequently Asked Questions" page devoted to the bond proposition on the zoo's website listed three projects: an Arctic exhibit with polar bears, seals and wolves; an animal health center; and the "first phase" of an African savannah, for animals such as giraffes, rhinos and zebras.
Tembo Terrace has been a part of the zoo's master plan since at least 2008, according to planning maps created by the Philadelphia-based company CLR Design. But the first time it was publicly identified as part of the zoo's plan to spend its bond monies was in interlocal agreements with Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City, more than a year after the bond was passed by voters.
In the agreements, which govern how the zoo will share ownership of developments paid for with the bond money, Tembo is listed by name, but without further description. Dinsmore said that other documents reviewed by the county and its debt review committee were more explicit, but said he couldn't recall whether those documents had been provided for review before or after voters approved the bond initiative.
Hogle received $3.68 million in public funding in 2008, the last year for which the zoo's Internal Revenue Service filings are publicly available. That doesn't include money won in the bond election in November of that year. In the same year, the zoo made $3.34 million through tickets sales.
Utah Taxpayers Association Vice President Royce Van Tassell said he doesn't think the zoo acted in good faith when it approached voters looking for money.
"Taxpayers expect their dollars to be spent transparently," Van Tassell said. "This reeks of backroom deals."
Utah's Hogle Zoo broke its all-time attendance record with just over a million visitors. It is one of approximately 35 American zoos that exceed 1 million annual visitors, and like many other zoos a Christmas lights display helped push the zoo towards a new record.
Utah's Hogle Zoo posts record attendance in 2011 | CanadianBusiness.com
Utah's Hogle Zoo posts record attendance in 2011 | CanadianBusiness.com
gorgeousingray
Well-Known Member
I wonder if they're going to be breeding their female elephant Christie anytime soon, as Zuri (her first born) is turning three this year. If anyone knows please let me know!
Rocky Shores, the largest project in the history of the zoo, opens on June 1st. There will be one polar bear, three grizzly bears, seals, sea lions, river otters and bald eagles:
Good news bears: Hogle Zoo getting a polar bear, 3 grizzlies | The Salt Lake Tribune
Good news bears: Hogle Zoo getting a polar bear, 3 grizzlies | The Salt Lake Tribune
The earlier article in 2010 with loads of ire has surely now be confounded ...
I hope this turns out well. This is the zoo nearest to me and it needs improvement. I hope the next project is to gut and remodel the small animal house, the great ape house, the giraffe house, and that tropical exhibit. Those are straight out of the 70s.
From what I've seen in the plans and from seeing the construction myself, I have high hopes for this exhibit. Following on the steps of the high quality Asian Highlands exhibit (which is a renovation/reuse of the horrible old cat house). They've come along way and they intend to keep going. Here is the master plan. Zoo Master Plan
By "Tropical Exhibit" I assume you mean the greenhouse space that most recently held the Living Links display, has already been torn down to build a new cafe, the Tembo Terrace, overlooking the Elephant Encounter exhibit. After Rocky Shores, next will be an African Savanna built at the front entrance featuring giraffes, rhinos and the return of zebras and lions to the zoo. Longer term plans include a renovation/update of the Great Ape House, the renovation of the Small Mammal House into a Kid's Zone and flexible traveling exhibit space, and a new penguin display on the site of the current Primate House.
Article with more details about Rocky Shores. It includes a video showing part of the exhibit.
Behind the scenes: Bears returning to Utah's Hogle Zoo | ksl.com
Behind the scenes: Bears returning to Utah's Hogle Zoo | ksl.com
I just posted some pictures in the gallery I took on my recent visit of construction for Rocky Shores. There are also pictures on the zoo's website showing their progress: Rocky Shores Construction
I'm very excited for this exhibit to open!
I'm very excited for this exhibit to open!
Blind Sea Lion coming to Hogle Zoo
Blind sea lion coming to Hogle Zoo | The Salt Lake Tribune
Blind sea lion coming to Hogle Zoo | The Salt Lake Tribune