I will be making a video within the next couple months to give an update on this master plan. In the meantime, below is a link to their first master plan that I think may be from 2003. I always knew it existed, but I've never found a good quality photo of it until now. I will address all of the differences between the 2003 and 2018 master plans, but I encourage you to watch the video and go to the link below to see for yourself.
Summary of these differences. Whatever isn't mentioned in the 2003 plan, it means the project was completed and does exist:
2003: Wildlife Canyon is absorbed by the new entrance (opened in 2010) / 2018: Wildlife Canyon existed throughout that time and is turned into an Australia exhibit (2020)
2003: The Elephant Reserve (Vanishing Giants at the time) adds multiple exhibits for elephants, Sumatran rhinos, and a new amphitheater. Name is changed to Asia / 2018: Elephants will be moved to the other side of the zoo with new habitats - the two existing habitats will be combined, no one knows what it will display
2003: The Safari Parking lot on the far west side of the zoo is turned into the Festival Gardens, a wetland trail, Victorian gardens, and even a lodge. Might have included an amphitheater / 2018: All seven acres of this will be the site of the Elephant Trek (2025)
2003: Africa (opened 2008-2016) was constructed almost as planned. The result is a little less natural than what appears on the map - also appears that it was supposed to take over Wings of the World. With Africa complete, it is not part of the 2018 master plan.
2003: Lords of the Arctic was expanded in 2000, so the map doesn't show there were supposed to be any changes. However, the other two bear grottoes are replaced with a building with a cage connected to it / 2018: The whole bear hill is supposed to get a revamp, but the details are very vague.
2003: Manatee Springs is given a conservatory/atrium expansion possibly similar to Columbus / 2018: Manatee Springs is not part of the plan
2003: Gorilla World is called Gorilla Forest, expanded and added exhibits planned - including okapis / 2018: None of this happened and Gorilla World is not part of the plan, however, in 2017 the zoo added a public indoor exhibit
2003: Rhino Reserve, Night Hunters (Cat House at the time) and Cat Canyon (Tiger Canyon), Wolf Woods, and possibly the White Lions exhibit is turned into the America Big River Country. A somewhat huge complex for North American species, including bears / 2018: None of these changes took place but by 2023, half of Rhino Reserve is getting an upgrade and exhibits are being combined. White Lions will be absorbed with Elephant Trek.
2003: Dragons! (2010) and Lemur Lookout is turned into the Cheetah Encounter. Cheetah shows, a cheetah interpretive center, and small cat exhibits / 2018: Cheetahs are not part of the master plan, and the Komodo dragon and lemur areas will be untouched. However, The Cheetah Encounter is part of Africa.
@Moebelle If only the existing Elephant House was retooled to house a certain kind of red, hairy pachyderm... (another creative reuse of those yards could be as a marsh bird/gharial habitat with side exhibits for fishing cats, civets, muntjacs, mouse deer, Prevost's squirrels and binturongs...?)
