Potential new projects identified through a foundation donor survey. I have no additional details, but thought it may be of interest to see where the zoo may go next while awaiting an official master plan update:
PRELIMINARY CASE SUMMARY
Omaha Zoo is exploring the potential for a number of campus updates. These updates may include multiple exhibit renovations and new experiences. Potential priority funding initiatives include:
- Elephant Lagoon: This exciting expansion advances Omaha’s global leadership in elephant care and conservation. A new housing facility will allow the Zoo to sustain its multigenerational herd structure—essential to the social health and well-being of elephants—while also creating the flexibility to accommodate adolescent bulls in either bachelor or mixed-family groups. An enhanced habitat, including a revitalized lagoon, offers elephants dynamic access to water and supports natural behaviors. Guests will enjoy exciting, new views from the bridge across the lagoon, reinforcing the immersive nature of the Zoo experience.
- Zoo Entry Experience: A bold reimagining of the Zoo’s arrival zone welcomes every guest into a vibrant village that blends natural beauty with intuitive design. Enhanced wayfinding, shaded gathering spaces, improved loading zones, and pedestrian safety upgrades make arrival seamless and inspiring. A dramatic architectural focal point signals that visitors are entering a Zoo unlike any other by creating an unforgettable first impression.
- The Jungle: A Rainforest Story: This one-of-a-kind immersive experience unlike anything else in North America, nearly doubles in size to redefine what’s possible in zoo-based rainforest storytelling. The nearly 30-year-old Lied Jungle expansion provides opportunities to elevate animal care through habitat development and improving housing spaces. Guests will explore adventurous trails through layers of forest ecosystems, enjoy sweeping views from canopy-level paths, and embark on a river journey through the forest. Expanded habitats elevate care and create space for the complexity of tropical life—united by one powerful narrative: water is life.
- Sea Otter Cove: One of the Zoo’s most requested species comes to life in a vibrant, new Pacific Northwest coastal setting. This immersive exhibit will introduce the iconic sea otter, featuring individuals from active recovery and restoration efforts. The story of this keystone species will be told through underwater viewing, dynamic rockwork, and lush habitats creating an unforgettable experience where guests can witness these charismatic animals thriving and displaying their naturally energetic behaviors.
- Grizzly Ridge: Guests will come face-to-face with grizzly bears in a breathtaking Alaskan-inspired meadow habitat. Towering rock outcrops, snowmelt streams, and wildflower-filled terrain provide a naturalistic space for bears to roam, climb, and wade. This new exhibit would celebrate the community’s desire to see more bears at the Zoo while reinforcing our deep commitment to conservation of North American species and large carnivore care.
- Orangutan Canopy Trails: The Zoo’s orangutans will gain more choices to move, explore, and interact with their environment in ways that reflect their full arboreal nature. Redesigned outdoor habitats with elevated cables supported by towering artificial trees allow orangutans to traverse above visitor pathways in open air, providing more stimulation for the animals—and an extraordinary, eye-level viewing experience for guests. The result is a deeply enriching environment that brings people and primates closer than ever before.
