Bearizona Wildlife Park Bearizona News

Have you been to this Bearizona place Arizona Docent? I saw it advertised on my way to the Grand Canyon last year, but it looked like it might be kind of dodgy so I avoided it.
 
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DavidBrown said:
Have you been to this Bearizona place Arizona Docent? I saw advertised it on my way to the Grand Canyon last year, but it looked like it might be kind of dodgy so I avoided it.
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Same here (what you said which I bolded). Not sure if I would ever go, but maybe if they add more which they say they will.
 
As reported on their sites and confirmed by Snowleopard's recent visit, a large new gift shop has just opened. According to their website the shop includes the largest model train display in Arizona (based on the nearby Williams to Grand Canyon railroad).

Also here is an article from a few months ago, outlining the gift shop expansion (just opened) and an adjacent restaurant and office expansion (opening soon). There will also be a new bear cub exhibit and jaguar exhibit (YES!) nearby.
http://williamsnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=763&ArticleID=14775
 
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Bearizona's attendance is up 30% this year (to 300,000 visitors) and the 10,000 sq. ft., "coal-miner-themed" gift shop is now complete. It was already open when I visited the zoo in August but now the themed elements have been finished. A brand-new restaurant capable of seating 500-600 people will likely open in March, along with a jaguar exhibit that will have viewing windows from the restaurant. Long-term plans include a hotel with viewing windows into a bear exhibit.

Attendance up 30 percent at Bearizona, expansion continues - Williams News - Williams, Arizona
 
According to their Facebook page, the new jaguar exhibit will open on Memorial Day, 2016. (For those of you outside USA, that holiday is the last Monday in May).

There is also a photo of the two cats, now off exhibit, and both are black (melanistic). This is surprising to me for the following reason. I am fairly certain the park focuses on North American wildlife. While jaguars are certainly found in North America, and every so often even in Arizona, these are invariably yellow jaguars. The black color only occurs in South America and perhaps (not well documented) Central America.

(I still love black jaguars and may go to see them - I have not been to the park yet - I am just saying yellow would fit the theme better).
 
According to Twitter they have a baby Dalls sheep.
According to visitor comments on Facebook, I think they have a baby white (leucistic) bison.
 
Unless they've had another one, I saw a white bison calf last year when I went. It was only a few days old. I am excited about the Jaguars, especially since they're black. I've only been there one because of the drive, but I thought it was a fine facility. And while I'm bummed they likely will never have the once-promised mountain lions, I think I will survive. Hahahaha. The only "complaint" I have is that where the bison are located in the drive-thru portion is that they're located near a lake or retention basin or something and there were a boatload of tiny flies.
 
Arizona Docent said:
According to their Facebook page, the new jaguar exhibit will open on Memorial Day, 2016...
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Memorial Day has come and gone and I cannot find any news about the jaguar exhibit. Is it open or not? (I suspect not, since a Google search did not turn up any news releases).
 
It's called "Bearizona"?! I want to go just because of the name.


Black jaguars are also compelling. I will have to read up more on this place.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Memorial Day has come and gone and I cannot find any news about the jaguar exhibit. Is it open or not? (I suspect not, since a Google search did not turn up any news releases).
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I haven't seen or heard anything about it being open so I posted a comment on their FB page.
 
Buldeo said:
It's called "Bearizona"?! I want to go just because of the name...
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The name is both corny and creative at the same time. One thing I do like is that it is only one word. One of my pet peeves is when zoos have names that are too long to say, like my local (and otherwise excellent) Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, or San Diego Zoo's Safari Park.
 
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