Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo Memories

[Amphibiman]

I thought it would be fun to reminisce a little bit about what used to be at Brookfield Zoo and see what we can remember used to exist, some of our happiest memories at the zoo and other positive things that we remember from Brookfield Zoo. I didn't see anywhere that was already doing that and most things are what we would like to change about the zoo, as opposed to what we ever appreciated about it. Criticism is important and Brookfield is not above it, but I thought it would be fun to focus on the fun, good things we remember about the zoo as well.

I will go first:

I remember the old Aquatic Bird House (Feathers & Scales now). I remember that the aviary in the back used to house mostly birds from the North American deserts. Those birds have been condensed and put into a small version of that desert on the north side of the building. The location of where those desert species are now used to be the location of penguins (I forget what species, as I was a small child at this time) that lived in an enclosure about the size of the one the desert birds live in now that was always horribly fogged and you could not see the birds. I remember the actual contents of the building being very light (basically the birds along the walls that you see today when you go in are what seem to have been there at the time and that was it. No interior animal exhibits, just along the walls.) The middle of the building had a large set of wings on a contraption that was a sort of a game. A guest could go up there and place their hands on the wings and push down to make them flap. Something would measure the pressure you would use to flap the wings and give you a rundown of which bird species you could match up to as far as flying and speed at which they fly is calculated. Or something like that. It's clearly not there anymore.

I also remember being a very small child and going to Brookfield Zoo with my Nona and hearing a lion roar in the distance for the very first time. It's one of my fondest memories because it was with her and she encouraged my excitement and education, seeing the thrilling reaction it had in me. From there I remember we went to every exhibit and I would read the exhibit signs and information and then relay it back to her in Italian. She claimed she couldn't read it, but I knew she could. She just wanted to make sure I was reading it...and also practicing my Italian lol.

If anyone has any other memories that they want to share I encourage you to do so. Brookfield had a lot of interesting changes in it's past (Ibex Island, the Nocturnal House, the Reptile House...) and I would be interested in seeing what positive memories we have of all these exhibits that have come and gone and other memories that cemented this place as somewhere special in your heart.

 

[pachyderm pro]

I remember riding the tram with my parents past the old bear grottos and one of the polar bears jumped in the pool right when we were passing by. I had to have been only four or five years old at the time so how I can still remember this is beyond me.

I recall staring out into the hippo exhibit on the viewing deck and wondering where it was. As I thought that, it emerged from underneath the murky water and I was incredibly excited.

Heres a weird one. When I was super young I went by the aardvark house and one of the aardvarks bolted from one end of the exhibit to the other, kicking wood chips up in the process. I got a bit nervous because of how it moved and a few days later I developed a rash. My mom concluded that I must be allergic to aardvarks. So for the longest time whenever anyone asked if I had allergies I would say I am allergic aardvarks.

I also remember the elephants of course. It wasn't anything special but I remember one of the elephants walking directly by the fence and child me was in awe. It was after the renovation that added the cable fence. I distinctly recall being shocked about how such a massive animal was so quiet when it walked. Thats my only real memory of elephants in Chicago sadly.

A shame most of the things I experienced back then are long gone now...

 

[Amphibiman]

I remember riding the tram with my parents past the old bear grottos and one of the polar bears jumped in the pool right when we were passing by. I had to have been only four or five years old at the time so how I can still remember this is beyond me.

I recall staring out into the hippo exhibit on the viewing deck and wondering where it was. As I thought that, it emerged from underneath the murky water and I was incredibly excited.

Heres a weird one. When I was super young I went by the aardvark house and one of the aardvarks bolted from one end of the exhibit to the other, kicking wood chips up in the process. I got a bit nervous because of how it moved and a few days later I developed a rash. My mom concluded that I must be allergic to aardvarks. So for the longest time whenever anyone asked if I had allergies I would say I am allergic aardvarks.

I also remember the elephants of course. It wasn't anything special but I remember one of the elephants walking directly by the fence and child me was in awe. It was after the renovation that added the cable fence. I distinctly recall being shocked about how such a massive animal was so quiet when it walked. Thats my only real memory of elephants in Chicago sadly.

A shame most of the things I experienced back then are long gone now...

It's the small things that stick with you, I swear. If you had asked me what the building that currently houses the Swamp was I couldn't tell you, but other stuff really stands out. It's the moments as opposed to the actual exhibits themselves usually for me. Seeing that polar bear jump in the water, hearing that lion roar for the first time. I took my aging father recently to Brookfield (actually back in 2019, but with everything that happened that was about as recent as we could have gone). One of his most exciting moments was some keepers that had some small reptiles out as ambassadors near the old Baboon Island. He pet a corn snake and held a red-eared slider. Both animals we have dealt with numerous times before, but this was different for him and it really stuck with him and he talks about getting that opportunity to this day. We have dealt with turtles and snakes almost daily in our lives, but that small gesture and talk with the keepers meant the world to him. I took him to Stingray Bay when it was open and he got to feed and pet the stingrays. He was literally giggling like a school child. For about an hour after that he was telling me all about what he read on the educational signs.

I do miss the hippo. My one and only run-in with it was shortly before it left the zoo. They have (had?) that viewing deck. I wasn't sure what it was for, but there were a bunch of people on it and I was curious. I went up and as soon as I got there it suddenly emerged from the water. I was in awe of how close the animal was and how large. After that I never got another encounter like that one with it before it was shipped away.

The aardvark allergy is hilarious. I always enjoyed watching the aardvarks.

I also truly am disappointed that I never really embraced the elephants while we had them at the zoo.

That being said, I was recently told that Hamill Family Play Zoo, which I remember as having previously been a nocturnal exhibit, was not a nocturnal exhibit. Does anyone remember what Hamill Family Play Zoo used to be before it was an upcharge?

Also, for that matter, what was the Swamp before it was the Swamp? I cannot recall.

 

[pachyderm pro]

That being said, I was recently told that Hamill Family Play Zoo, which I remember as having previously been a nocturnal exhibit, was not a nocturnal exhibit. Does anyone remember what Hamill Family Play Zoo used to be before it was an upcharge?

Also, for that matter, what was the Swamp before it was the Swamp? I cannot recall.

The Hamill Family Play Zoo used to be the small mammal house, but I believe a nocturnal component was present in parts of the building. The Swamp was formally the primate house. Both buildings were gutted but the historic exteriors remained when they were turned into the present day exhibits.

 

[Amphibiman]

The Hamill Family Play Zoo used to be the small mammal house, but I believe a nocturnal component was present in parts of the building. The Swamp was formally the primate house. Both buildings were gutted but the historic exteriors remained when they were turned into the present day exhibits.

Actually, now that you mention that about the small mammal house and it the nocturnal area only being a component of the house I vaguely remembered that they used to exhibit the golden lion tamarins and other small primates. In all honesty, if I am remembering correctly, the reptile house may have been darker. lol

Speaking of the old reptile house, does anyone remember the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach exhibit they had there? It was kind of cool because it was concave glass, so if you tried to touch it your hand would seemingly just go further into the cockroach exhibit. I remember it creeped a few people out. I also remember one of those horrible boa constrictor exhibits where it was some wood hanging from the ceiling and a boa constrictor stuck on it. Thankfully that is gone, but I do miss some aspects of the reptile house. I think that the building now is open, but I don't know what for and I do not think there are any animal exhibits in it any longer.

 

[junglejim]

I really going to date myself here. So be it. The zoo had once an incredible bookstore once located next to the now current reptile n bird house. Not talking about just another generic bookstore. Heavens NO I was purchasing: International Zoo yearsbooks there!!! It was drooling collection of major titles stacked at times like an olde library. It was heaven to anyone with an indepth interest in wildlife or plants. My gush the collection you could purchase was outstanding, and mind blowing. I spent over an hour in there if that gives one any kind of clue how wonderful it was. It is deeply missed and surely one of the kind. The baboon island when functional and occupied by many a baboons use to have a family of meerkats ( long before their tv series) living amongest the baboons successfully. And just to mentioned I really, really, really wished I was able to see Ziggy the asian elephant. I could only be able to invision him when I observed where he once lived in the pachyderm building. Pachyderm building what a gem that building once was.

 

[Amphibiman]

I found a picture of the old dolphinarium. It looks straight out of an old science fiction movie. Views of the interior show a pretty small pool for the dolphins. At any rate, I believe it once stood where The Living Coast is now. I could be wrong. I remember there being a building in that general area that stood vacant for years while they were building the new Seven Seas complex and Pinniped Point. If you all thought that the exhibits standing vacant now are eyesores, imagine this thing sitting there for years just wasting away before they turned it into something better. I could, of course, be incorrect, but I don't think I am. If anyone has further insight, please let me know. I remember it sitting there for quite a long time before anything was done with it.

 

[Amphibiman]

I actually just found an article that states that the old Seven Seas Panorama closed in 1986 and the Living Coast opened in 1997-1998. So that means that the building sat there vacant for...12 to 13 years give or take.

 

[junglejim]

I actually remember being to go into that old dolphin building back in the day. Yes indeed it was in same location as the living coast exhibit.

 

[MeiLover]

I absolutely loved the old children’s zoo when I was a kid. I was fascinated by the goats as a toddler and would always try to touch one. In our photo book, we also have a photo of my dad and brother looking at a horse in the children’s zoo. As a teenager, I got back into visiting the children’s zoo fairly often. The raccoons were my favorite. I still miss them.

 

[Amphibiman]

I have rewritten this several times because you sent me a nostalgia spiral with the children's zoo. It used to be so awesome! The raccoons were right there when you crossed the bridge into the area if memory serves. I remember that there used to be an area with stepping stones where you could cross the small pond with the geese and the koi. There was a nice chicken roost, a beehive and a little theatre area in the middle where animal presentations would take place and you could get hands on with some of the animals. Lots of farm animals and native Illinois species. There used to be bird of prey flight demonstrations toward the back of the area.

One thing I am unclear on is how many red barns there were. I remember the waning years of the children's zoo only had one red barn and it was where the milking demonstrations took place. I vaguely remember as a small child that there either used to be a second floor to the barn that had exhibits for various native snakes, field mice and other small native animals or there was a whole second barn at one point. I can't remember.

I miss the old children's zoo. It felt much more engaging than Wild Encounters. I don't dislike Wild Encounters, but I do think it lacks the inspiration the old Children's Zoo had. It's a lot of cut and paste exhibits that proved popular at almost any other zoo (wallaby & emu walkthrough, lorikeet aviary with feeding opportunities and dwarf goat petting area).

 

[pachyderm pro]

My most memorable children's zoo moment was during holiday magic over a decade ago. Me and my mom were getting a photo with a reindeer who almost fell asleep on my lap. I only vaguely remember this by I believe I do have a picture. I also loved the raccoons and younger me was terribly disappointed to hear that they would not be returning in Wild Encounters.

I agree that Wild Encounters definitely feels pretty bland. Goat petting area, wallaby walkthrough, parakeet aviary, etc. are all concepts that have been done to death at so many other zoos. It would have much neater to see some creative new children's zoo ideas like a primate walkthough, a series of underwater tunnels and slides for otters and beavers, an aviary for something more exotic than budgies or many other possibilities. I appreciate the exhibit for what it is, but for a relatively newish Children's zoo is doesn't really stand out like others do.

 

[Amphibiman]

I was thinking and the only zoo left in Illinois that I believe has a raccoon exhibit is Cosley. And the last time I saw it I believe they had actually filled it with actual trash as some form of enrichment? Not sure what the deal with there. At any rate, it really wasn't awe-inspiring. And I agree 100% about Wild Encounters. It just feels uninspired. If they had thought outside of the box and presented some new and exciting things, I could see tearing out the old children's zoo and replacing it, but what they offered is essentially a scaled-down version of that (the llamas, alpacas, reindeer and goats) along with exhibits that have been done before in almost every other zoo (lorikeets and the wallaby and emu walkabout). The red panda exhibit seems to clearly be thrown in there just to get people like me who enjoy seeing the red pandas in there as they, frankly, seem out of place with everything else they are offering in there. As my mother would say, "I'm not mad about it. I'm just...disappointed."

 

[JVM]

My first trip to Brookfield, we were lost trying to find the aardvark house. We spent probably the lost 30-40 minutes of the visit wandering Habitat Africa trying to find it. I made it in there at sunset and the two aardvarks were both up and very active in the inside exhibit, unlike any animal I've seen before, and the dark room and lack of other visitors creating such an intimate, direct experience with the animals. I sat in there for probably fifteen minutes just enjoying them. it was worth the extra time and walking and the next few days of mosquito bites to have had that moment and I'll never forget it.

 

[Wild wolverine]

I've been to the Brookfield Zoo only a handful of times, but my first visit was my favorite. It was a very rainy day in April 2010. I remember that I wasn't feeling well and my family and I debated on whether we would still go or not. (This was a trip planned/organized by the Milwaukee zoo). I decided that we should still go and I'm so glad because it was a great trip. Despite the rain, we were able to see almost every animal and the entire zoo. The most memorable and my favorite parts of the trip were the Australia Building and Tropic World. The zoo had also just received three Przewalski's horses and I was very excited to see those. The Brookfield Zoo was only the third zoo I had ever been to, the only others being Lincoln Park Zoo a year earlier, and the Milwaukee zoo. I had never seen exhibits like those in the Australia Building, Tropic World, or the Fragile Desert/Forest. I was blown away by the exhibits in Tropic World, especially in the South America section; where a cotton-top tamarin sat on a branch probably less than 7ft away from us. The sloth was active and moving around, and we were told by a zoo worker/volunteer that he had never seen the sloth, named Moss, move around that much in his three years being there. So we felt pretty honored Brookfield is also where I saw my first okapi, painted dogs, wombats, aardvark, cassowary, and likely several more that I'm not remembering. I look back fondly on the memories from that day and always enjoy the returning trips I have taken back to the zoo.

 

[Chicagozoofan]

I thought it would be fun to reminisce a little bit about what used to be at Brookfield Zoo and see what we can remember used to exist, some of our happiest memories at the zoo and other positive things that we remember from Brookfield Zoo. I didn't see anywhere that was already doing that and most things are what we would like to change about the zoo, as opposed to what we ever appreciated about it. Criticism is important and Brookfield is not above it, but I thought it would be fun to focus on the fun, good things we remember about the zoo as well.

I will go first:

I remember the old Aquatic Bird House (Feathers & Scales now). I remember that the aviary in the back used to house mostly birds from the North American deserts. Those birds have been condensed and put into a small version of that desert on the north side of the building. The location of where those desert species are now used to be the location of penguins (I forget what species, as I was a small child at this time) that lived in an enclosure about the size of the one the desert birds live in now that was always horribly fogged and you could not see the birds. I remember the actual contents of the building being very light (basically the birds along the walls that you see today when you go in are what seem to have been there at the time and that was it. No interior animal exhibits, just along the walls.) The middle of the building had a large set of wings on a contraption that was a sort of a game. A guest could go up there and place their hands on the wings and push down to make them flap. Something would measure the pressure you would use to flap the wings and give you a rundown of which bird species you could match up to as far as flying and speed at which they fly is calculated. Or something like that. It's clearly not there anymore.

I also remember being a very small child and going to Brookfield Zoo with my Nona and hearing a lion roar in the distance for the very first time. It's one of my fondest memories because it was with her and she encouraged my excitement and education, seeing the thrilling reaction it had in me. From there I remember we went to every exhibit and I would read the exhibit signs and information and then relay it back to her in Italian. She claimed she couldn't read it, but I knew she could. She just wanted to make sure I was reading it...and also practicing my Italian lol.

If anyone has any other memories that they want to share I encourage you to do so. Brookfield had a lot of interesting changes in it's past (Ibex Island, the Nocturnal House, the Reptile House...) and I would be interested in seeing what positive memories we have of all these exhibits that have come and gone and other memories that cemented this place as somewhere special in your heart.

I'm really glad I saw this posting. It made me think of all the changes over the years at BZ. I started going to BZ over 40 years ago, so I've seen a lot of changes over all those years. Here's a few things I recall over those years about former/renovated exhibits.

The Aquatic Birds House had a kiwi exhibit on the south end (which was similar to the aardvark exhibit - kind of a shoebox type structure) that you'd walk through and the north end had a penguin exhibit. There were two large viewing windows and fiberglass "ice" on surrounding those windows and down to the floor. Kids (myself included) would climb up on the "ice" so you could get right up by the glass. There were small desert type exhibits along the east wall, but I recall they often had opaque panels up on the fencing so it was difficult to see inside well. At one point, the large free-flight aviary was set up like a shoreline, with a fairly large series of water features throughout.

Ibex Island used to house seals or sea lions (and maybe other pinnipeds as well), but that was before my time. I found some old photos and maps that confirmed this. For those of you who remember Ibex Island (even when the Ibex lived on it), you'll recall the large metal gate that was padlocked on one side of the island along the viewing area (perhaps on east side of the island) and you could see there was a large rock "bridge" that went into the island. The pinnipeds lived in the lower portion, which was completely flooded, and there were several rock structures they could bask on. Those structures were visible once the water was drained and they looked a bit like large tables (that the Ibex would sometimes use for shade). That bridge was the way visitors could walk right onto the island and get better overhead views of the pinnipeds.

The Primate House (now The Swamp) was always a favorite. The gorillas and orangs had indoor and outdoor enclosures on the west side of the building. The inside cages (which is what they really were) had glass fronts and the outside cages were just bars. There were smaller cages along at least two of the walls (perhaps the north and south) that were for smaller primates. In the center was a large open area that had two large cages, maybe 20' x 20' and about 15'-18' high. (It's possible there were more than two, but I'm not positive. When I have a chance to go through some of my old photos, that might answer the question.) They looked like large bird cages, but they had some hanging ropes and poles for the primates to sit on and move about. One had black and white colobus in it and the other had gibbons.

The Small Mammal House (now Hamill Family Play Zoo) had primarily smaller, terrarium-like glass-fronted exhibits and larger, glass-fronted exhibits, depending on the species housed there. There were small primates, a rock hyrax, mongoose, a sloth, to name a few that I specifically recall. The inside was pretty dark. When you walked in (either the east or west doors), about 8' inside the building (on both sides) was a 15' long, 6-8' wide glass, free-flight enclosure for bats. The floor of the enclosure was about 3' off the ground and it was at least 10' high. The rest of the exhibits (none were very big) ran along at least the inside walls and parallel (length-wise) to the the bat enclosure. It was basically an "H" shaped layout. There were outdoors cages on the east and perhaps the south side that had bobcats or lynx and maybe some other more hardy animals. There was also a glass tank to the east of the SMH that was about 8' high and had several otters in it. It was filled with water with a concrete island and there might have also been a slide for the otters to play on.

Someone mentioned the bookstore and I also loved that place. It was called "The Elephant's Trunk" was was just to the east of the Perching Bird House. I found a lot of great books there over the years, including one on zoo design, and for the really great books you'd have to ask someone to open the glass case for you! I don't recall when it transitioned to whatever it is today, but I don't think it's like it used to be.

 

[junglejim]

remember the family of meerkats that lived in with the baboons?

 

[JVM]

I'm really glad I saw this posting. It made me think of all the changes over the years at BZ. I started going to BZ over 40 years ago, so I've seen a lot of changes over all those years. Here's a few things I recall over those years about former/renovated exhibits.

Thank you so much for all of this! I have a specific interest in BZ's history so it's all deeply appreciated.

The Aquatic Birds House had a kiwi exhibit on the south end (which was similar to the aardvark exhibit - kind of a shoebox type structure) that you'd walk through and the north end had a penguin exhibit. There were two large viewing windows and fiberglass "ice" on surrounding those windows and down to the floor. Kids (myself included) would climb up on the "ice" so you could get right up by the glass. There were small desert type exhibits along the east wall, but I recall they often had opaque panels up on the fencing so it was difficult to see inside well. At one point, the large free-flight aviary was set up like a shoreline, with a fairly large series of water features throughout.

Penguins on the north, kiwi south, deserts on the east, where was the free-flight section located?

Ibex Island used to house seals or sea lions (and maybe other pinnipeds as well), but that was before my time. I found some old photos and maps that confirmed this. For those of you who remember Ibex Island (even when the Ibex lived on it), you'll recall the large metal gate that was padlocked on one side of the island along the viewing area (perhaps on east side of the island) and you could see there was a large rock "bridge" that went into the island. The pinnipeds lived in the lower portion, which was completely flooded, and there were several rock structures they could bask on. Those structures were visible once the water was drained and they looked a bit like large tables (that the Ibex would sometimes use for shade). That bridge was the way visitors could walk right onto the island and get better overhead views of the pinnipeds.

Yes, I've always found this interesting! Sources seem to say the bridge at one point lead to a snack shop or cart inside the rock as well.

The Primate House (now The Swamp) was always a favorite. The gorillas and orangs had indoor and outdoor enclosures on the west side of the building. The inside cages (which is what they really were) had glass fronts and the outside cages were just bars. There were smaller cages along at least two of the walls (perhaps the north and south) that were for smaller primates. In the center was a large open area that had two large cages, maybe 20' x 20' and about 15'-18' high. (It's possible there were more than two, but I'm not positive. When I have a chance to go through some of my old photos, that might answer the question.) They looked like large bird cages, but they had some hanging ropes and poles for the primates to sit on and move about. One had black and white colobus in it and the other had gibbons.

A photo in Images of America: Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society book confirms the two cages in the central garden at Primate House and I think it explicitly mentions the lar gibbon. Look forward to photos if you can find them!

The Small Mammal House (now Hamill Family Play Zoo) had primarily smaller, terrarium-like glass-fronted exhibits and larger, glass-fronted exhibits, depending on the species housed there. There were small primates, a rock hyrax, mongoose, a sloth, to name a few that I specifically recall. The inside was pretty dark. When you walked in (either the east or west doors), about 8' inside the building (on both sides) was a 15' long, 6-8' wide glass, free-flight enclosure for bats. The floor of the enclosure was about 3' off the ground and it was at least 10' high. The rest of the exhibits (none were very big) ran along at least the inside walls and parallel (length-wise) to the the bat enclosure. It was basically an "H" shaped layout. There were outdoors cages on the east and perhaps the south side that had bobcats or lynx and maybe some other more hardy animals. There was also a glass tank to the east of the SMH that was about 8' high and had several otters in it. It was filled with water with a concrete island and there might have also been a slide for the otters to play on.

Thank you so much for all of the information. According to the video linked below, I believe those were Asian small-clawed otters. The video also shows bettong and Goeldi's monkey. It's good to know some of its late residents are still represented at the zoo today or until recently - sloth, mongoose, hyrax until recently, otters, bats.

Someone mentioned the bookstore and I also loved that place. It was called "The Elephant's Trunk" was was just to the east of the Perching Bird House. I found a lot of great books there over the years, including one on zoo design, and for the really great books you'd have to ask someone to open the glass case for you! I don't recall when it transitioned to whatever it is today, but I don't think it's like it used to be.

I have memory of the Elephant's Trunk from my childhood. If I'm correct about the building location, I believe it transitioned to Woof-field Gifts before it eventually was shut down entirely for a while and converted hastily to Peacock Bar and Grill, which only lasted a year or so, and it is now becoming the winter holding for macaws... incidentally, I think it is parallel to the zoo's original Parrot House, I believe, which was originally on the opposite side of Perching Birds.

My recent assumption is the Elephant's Trunk shut down because it was managed by Dr. Mary Rabb, the wife of zoo director George Rabb, as it seems it's closure dates close to Rabb's retirement. I know it has been mentioned she often special ordered books for guests.

remember the family of meerkats that lived in with the baboons?

While I never saw them in life, I had a video from the library with footage of the baboons and meerkats co-existing. Such a shame the mix was discontinued between two playful and active animals that enjoy living in large groups.

 

[Joseph G]

The Small Mammal House (now Hamill Family Play Zoo) had primarily smaller, terrarium-like glass-fronted exhibits and larger, glass-fronted exhibits, depending on the species housed there. There were small primates, a rock hyrax, mongoose, a sloth, to name a few that I specifically recall. The inside was pretty dark. When you walked in (either the east or west doors), about 8' inside the building (on both sides) was a 15' long, 6-8' wide glass, free-flight enclosure for bats. The floor of the enclosure was about 3' off the ground and it was at least 10' high. The rest of the exhibits (none were very big) ran along at least the inside walls and parallel (length-wise) to the the bat enclosure. It was basically an "H" shaped layout. There were outdoors cages on the east and perhaps the south side that had bobcats or lynx and maybe some other more hardy animals. There was also a glass tank to the east of the SMH that was about 8' high and had several otters in it. It was filled with water with a concrete island and there might have also been a slide for the otters to play on.

Someone mentioned the bookstore and I also loved that place. It was called "The Elephant's Trunk" was was just to the east of the Perching Bird House. I found a lot of great books there over the years, including one on zoo design, and for the really great books you'd have to ask someone to open the glass case for you! I don't recall when it transitioned to whatever it is today, but I don't think it's like it used to be.

Appreciate the detailed description of the Small Mammal House being exactly how I still picture it to this day. I've been wary of my description in the past thinking I mixed it up with another zoo, but that's definitely not that case. You also dug up a memory of the otters so thank you for that!

The bookstore was heaven for me, even as a kid. So many unique books I couldn't find anywhere else. It was a must-stop part of all our zoo trips.

One of my favorite memories was in the Reptile House as a kid. There was a King Cobra as soon as you walked in, front and center I believe, and one day I finally saw it display its hood. Had no idea why, but it was just awe inspiring to see one of my favorite animals as a kid in its peak form.

Sad there seems to be such a small visual record of the Reptile House. Always interested in photos if anyone has more than what's already in the galleries.

 

[junglejim]

Appreciate the detailed description of the Small Mammal House being exactly how I still picture it to this day. I've been wary of my description in the past thinking I mixed it up with another zoo, but that's definitely not that case. You also dug up a memory of the otters so thank you for that!

The bookstore was heaven for me, even as a kid. So many unique books I couldn't find anywhere else. It was a must-stop part of all our zoo trips.

One of my favorite memories was in the Reptile House as a kid. There was a King Cobra as soon as you walked in, front and center I believe, and one day I finally saw it display its hood. Had no idea why, but it was just awe inspiring to see one of my favorite animals as a kid in its peak form.

Sad there seems to be such a small visual record of the Reptile House. Always interested in photos if anyone has more than what's already in the galleries.

My last memory of King Cobra exhibit there was also a Tokay Gecko in the same exhibit! There was also a pretty sized indoor american alligator enclosure on one side, on the opposite side there also was a good size indoor exhibit I believe for caiman species. I know it wasn't a crocodile species. A corner exhibit with water for a very large python thinking it was reticulated. And another enclosure with water pool that showed I believe a very nice water dragon. Ya I an see Mrs. Rabb influence in bookstore, a side from seeing animal enclosures the bookstore was always the stop. I purchased several International Zoo Yearbooks there! It was a treasure store of also used books a real animal person would drool over!!!
My disappointment was not seeing Olga the walrus, and most importantly not see ZIGGY the male bull elephant.