The bulk of recent developments have been along the west side of the zoo, as in 2006 "Zoomazium" was built (a $10 million indoor playground directly north of the flamingos), in 2008 flamingo and pudu exhibits were added, 2009 was the $6.5 million Humboldt penguin habitat, and 2010 featured the $7.5 million West Entrance (plaza, gift shop, cafe, guest services building, etc).
Hopefully the zoo can raise funds for a massive overhaul of the centre section: sumatran tigers, sun bears and sloth bears. Those 3 grottoes, and maybe even the Adaptations building, could all possibly be bulldozed as an "Asian Forest" area is built in the future.
I love getting your updates from what is undoubtedly one of the finest zoos in the world. It's great to have someone keeping a track on all the developments of Woodland Park Zoo and keeping us all posted. So thank-you.
I find it odd that a few zoos, like this one and Houston, actually have two different entrances. Maybe it is more convenient for visitors, but I would think they would want one entryway, to funnel visitors through a main gift shop, have a main restaurant right there, etc.
As far as I know, all of the zoos in my region (Arizona-California-New Mexico-Colorado) only have one entrance. (OOPS, just remembered - Wildlife World Zoo here in Arizona has two - why they still use the ugly old one and not just the new one by the aquarium is hard to understand).
Until a few weeks ago Woodland Park had 3 entrances! Two have now been permanently closed, and the new West Entrance opened up in a brand new location on May 1st, 2010. Of course a second gift shop was also unveiled, so there is now a store at each entrance.
I find it odd that a few zoos, like this one and Houston, actually have two different entrances. Maybe it is more convenient for visitors, but I would think they would want one entryway, to funnel visitors through a main gift shop, have a main restaurant right there, etc.
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I'm sure you are right that zoos "would want" only one entrance (cheaper to run, clearer for visitors etc.), but usually those with multiple entrances are forced to maintain them by the layout/location of their parking areas and/or public transit locations. Bronx Zoo has 4 entries for these reasons.
