Zoo Exhibit Budgets

[GraysonDP]

After doing a lot of research on how much different exhibit habitats and complexes cost to make, I decided to make a timeline with how much different zoos spent on exhibits over the years. Hopefully this can be a useful tool to comparing the amount of money spent on different species and by different zoos and give a reference point for comparing the quality of an exhibit to the money spent.

2017

1. Africa Rocks (San Diego Zoo)- $68 Million
   
   
2. Lost Kingdom (Tulsa Zoo)- $21 Million
   
   
3. Grizzly Ridge (Saint Louis Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
4. Gorilla World Renovation (Cincinnati Zoo)- $12 Million
   
   
5. Land of the Lemurs (Calgary Zoo)- $7.9 Million
   
   
6. Lions/Hyenas (Turtle Back Zoo)- $3.6 Million
   
   
7. The Edge (Denver Zoo)- $2.2 Million
   

2016

1. African Grasslands (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $73 Million
   
   
2. Suntrust Pier (Georgia Aquarium)- $40 Million
   
   
3. Florida: Mission Everglades (Zoo Miami)- $33 Million
   
   
4. Polk Penguin Center (Detroit Zoo)- $29.5 Million
   
   
5. Zambezi River Hippo Camp (Memphis Zoo)- $22.4 Million
   
   
6. Arctic Tundra (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $15.3 Million
   
   
7. Sea Lion Landing (Riverbanks Zoo)- $12 Million
   
   
8. Elephants of the Zambezi Valley (Sedgwick County Zoo)- $10.6 Million
   
   
9. Asian Domain Renovation (Audubon Zoo)- $10 Million
   
   
10. Hippo Cove (Cincinnati Zoo)- $7.3 Million
    
    
11. Penguin Cove (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $7 Million
    
    
12. African Exhibit (Turtle Back Zoo)- $7 Million
    
    
13. Tiger Passage (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)- $4.1 Million
    
    
14. Giraffe Safari (Abilene Zoo)- $3.8 Million
    
    
15. Elephant Encounter (Louisville Zoo)- $3 Million
    
    
16. Big Cat Valley (San Antonio Zoo)- $1 Million
    
    
17. Little Penguin Exhibit (Louisville Zoo)- $1 Million
    
    
18. Moose Habitat (Potter Park Zoo)- $700,000
    
    
19. Tasmanian Devil (Saint Louis Zoo)- $500,000
    

2015

1. Elephant Lands (Oregon Zoo)- $57 Million
   
   
2. African Adventure (Fresno Chaffee Zoo)- $55.7 Million
   
   
3. Gorillas of the African Forest (Houston Zoo)- $28 Million
   
   
4. Banyan Wilds II (Woodland Park Zoo)- $19.6 Million
   
   
5. Scaly Slimy Spectacular (Zoo Atlanta)-
   
   
6. Hamill Family Play Zoo (Brookfield Zoo)- $17.5 Million
   
   
7. Polar Bear Point (Saint Louis Zoo)- $16 Million
   
   
8. Regenstein Macaque Forest (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $15.5 Million
   
   
9. Arctic Edge (Buffalo Zoo)- $14 Million
   
   
10. Arctic Passage (Henry Vilas Zoo)- $9.1 Million
    
    
11. Orangutan Canopy (Kansas City Zoo)- $6 Million
    
    
12. Children’s Zoo Renovation (Bronx Zoo)- $4 Million
    
    
13. Penguin Beach (Toledo Zoo)- $3.5 Million
    
    
14. Jaguar Exhibit (Los Angeles Zoo)- $3.2 Million
    
    
15. Amur/Snow Leopard Exhibit (San Diego Zoo)- $3 Million
    
    
16. Giraffe Exhibit (San Antonio Zoo)- $2.5 Million
    
    
17. Isle of the Tiger (Phoenix Zoo)- $2.2 Million
    
    
18. Wolf Wilderness (Detroit Zoo)- $1.4 Million
    
    
19. Forest Glade Renovation (North Carolina Zoo)- $500,000
    

2014

1. Journey to Churchill (Assiniboine Park Zoo)- $94.4 Million
   
   
2. Heart of Africa (Columbus Zoo)- $30.8 Million
   
   
3. Skjodt International Orangutan Center (Indianapolis Zoo)- $26 Million
   
   
4. Aquarium (Toledo Zoo)- $25.5 Million
   
   
5. Tiger Trail (San Diego Safari Park Zoo)- $19.5 Million
   
   
6. Rainforest of the Americas (Los Angeles Zoo)- $19 Million
   
   
7. African Savanna (Hogle Zoo)- $16 Million
   
   
8. Penguin Coast (Maryland Zoo)- $11.5 Million
   
   
9. Land of the Tiger (Jacksonville Zoo)- $9.5 Million
   
   
10. Rocky Coast Renovation (North Carolina Zoo)- $8.5 Million
    
    
11. Rhino Reserve (Tulsa Zoo)- $3.5 Million
    
    
12. Watershed Heroes (Sequoia Park Zoo)- $3.4 Million
    
    
13. Condors of Columbia (Oregon Zoo)- $2.6 Million
    
    
14. African Wild Dog Exhibit (Saint Louis Zoo)- $1.2 Million
    

2013

1. Elephant Trails (National Zoo)- $56 Million
   
   
2. Kidzoou (Philadelphia Zoo)- $33 Million
   
   
3. Africa (Cincinnati Zoo)- $32 Million*
   
   
4. Giant Ocean Tank Renovation (New England Aquarium)- $17 Million
   
   
5. Helzberg Penguin Plaza (Kansas City Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
6. Giant Panda Habitat (Toronto Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
7. Encounter Africa (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)- $13.5 Million
   
   
8. Grizzly Ridge (Akron Zoo)- $12.8 Million
   
   
9. Blacktip Reef (National Aquarium)- $12.6 Million
   
   
10. Gorilla Forest (Como Park Zoo)- $11 Million
    
    
11. Australian Outback (San Diego Zoo)- $7.4 Million
    
    
12. Sea Lion Cove (Turtle Back Zoo)- $5.5 Million
    
    
13. LaFortune Wildlife Trek (Tulsa Zoo)- $5 Million
    
    
14. Snow Monkeys (Great Plains Zoo)- $4.7 Million
    
    
15. Jama Africa (Blank Park Zoo)- $4.5 Million
    
    
16. Amur Leopard Habitat (Staten Island Zoo)- $3.5 Million
    
    
17. Banyan Wilds Phase I (Woodland Park Zoo)- $2.5 Million
    
    
18. Land of the Jaguar (Alexandria Zoo)- $2.2 Million
    
    
19. Penguin Exhibit (Scovill Zoo)- $1.5 Million
    

2012

1. Toyota Elephant Passage (Denver Zoo)- $50 Million
   
   
2. American Trail (National Zoo)- $42 Million
   
   
3. Penguin Plunge (Calgary Zoo)- $24.5 Million
   
   
4. Rocky Shores (Hogle Zoo)- $18 Million
   
   
5. Sea Lion Sound (Saint Louis Zoo)- $17.9 Million
   
   
6. Tembo Trail (Toledo Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
7. LAIR (Los Angeles Zoo)- $14.2 Million
   
   
8. Sea Lion Cove (Fresno Chaffee Zoo)- $10.5 Million
   
   
9. Expedition Tanzania (Reid Park Zoo)- $9.5 Million
   
   
10. Scott Aquarium Renovation (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $6.5 Million
    
    
11. Sea Lion Cove (Tulsa Zoo)- $5 Million
    
    
12. Step Into Africa Phase II (Seneca Park Zoo)- $4.6 Million
    
    
13. Valley of the Kings (Knoxville Zoo)- $1.7 Million
    
    
14. Black Bear Exhibit (Minnesota Zoo)- $1 Million
    
    
15. River Otter Habitat (Central Florida Zoo)- $80,000
    

2011

1. Dolphin Tales (Georgia Aquarium)- $110 Million
   
   
2. Glacier Run (Louisville Zoo)- $26.3 Million
   
   
3. African Elephant Crossing (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)- $25 Million
   
   
4. Heart of the Zoo (Minnesota Zoo)- $20 Million
   
   
5. Trail of the Tiger (Virginia Zoo)- $18.5 Million
   
   
6. Trails of Africa (Birmingham Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
7. Asian Elephant Habitat (Oklahoma City Zoo)- $13.5 Million
   
   
8. Asian Elephants (Honolulu Zoo)- $12 Million
   
   
9. Asian Elephant Reserve (Rosamond Gifford Zoo)- $8.5 Million
   
   
10. Elephant Woods (Saint Louis Zoo)- $5 Million
    
    
11. Orang-Hutan (Phoenix Zoo)- $4 Million
    
    
12. Tiger Forest (Indianapolis Zoo)- $1.1 Million
    
    
13. Cats of the Canopy (Point Defiance Zoo)- $1 Million
    
    
14. Lion Exhibit Renovation (Detroit Zoo)- $1 Million
    
    
15. River Otter Habitat (Potawatomi Zoo)- $1 Million
    

2010

1. Renovation (Happy Hollow Zoo)- $72 Million
   
   
2. Elephants of Asia (Los Angeles Zoo)- $42 Million
   
   
3. African Forest (Houston Zoo)- $35 Million
   
   
4. Giants of the Savanna (Dallas Zoo)- $32 Million
   
   
5. Great Bear Wilderness (Brookfield Zoo)- $27.3 Million
   
   
6. Polar Frontier (Columbus Zoo)- $20 Million
   
   
7. Passport to Africa (El Paso Zoo)- $17 Million
   
   
8. Polar Bear Odyssey (Como Park Zoo)- $15.4 Million
   
   
9. Polar Bear Plunge (Kansas City Zoo)- $11 Million
   
   
10. Expedition Madagascar (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $10.5 Million
    
    
11. Africa Live Phase II (San Antonio Zoo)- $10 Million
    
    
12. Children’s Zoo (Oklahoma City Zoo)- $8.3 Million
    
    
13. Red Ape Reserve (Oregon Zoo)- $3.5 Million
    
    
14. Realm of the Tiger (Baton Rouge Zoo)- $3.2 Million
    
    
15. Cheetah Exhibit (Indianapolis Zoo)- $2 Million
    
    
16. Sumatran Tigers (Jackson Zoo)- $1.2 Million
    
    
17. Tierra las Pampas (Santa Ana Zoo)- $1.1 Million
    
    
18. Red Wolf Woods (Point Defiance Zoo)- $1.1 Million
    

2009

1. Oceanarium Renovation (Shedd Aquarium)- $50 Million
   
   
2. Elephant Odyssey (San Diego Zoo)- $45 Million
   
   
3. Africa (Peoria Zoo)- $27.4 Million
   
   
4. McNeil Avian Center (Philadelphia Zoo)- $17.5 Million
   
   
5. Teton Trek (Memphis Zoo)- $16 Million
   
   
6. Snow Leopard Habitat (Central Park Zoo)- $10.6 Million
   
   
7. Tundra Trek (Toronto Zoo)- $10 Million
   
   
8. African Journey (Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo)- $9 Million
   
   
9. California Trails (Santa Barbara Zoo)- $7.5 Million
   
   
10. Predators of the Serengeti (Oregon Zoo)- $7.1 Million
    
    
11. Penguins of the Coastal Desert (Woodland Park Zoo)- $6.5 Million
    
    
12. Langur Exhibit (Los Angeles Zoo)- $6.4 Million
    
    
13. Tropics (Kansas City Zoo)- $5.1 Million
    
    
14. Tiger Trek (Sedgwick County Zoo)- $3 Million
    
    
15. Gibbon Exhibit (Turtle Back Zoo)- $1.8 Million
    
    
16. Land of the Dragons (Phoenix Zoo)- $1.2 Million
    

2008

1. Steinhart Aquarium (California Academy of Sciences)- $500 Million
   
   
2. Madagascar (Bronx Zoo)- $62 Million
   
   
3. Amazon and Beyond (Zoo Miami)- $50 Million
   
   
4. Russia’s Grizzly Coast (Minnesota Zoo)- $29.6 Million
   
   
5. Jungala (Busch Gardens)- $20 Million
   
   
6. Rainforest Falls (Buffalo Zoo)- $16 Million
   
   
7. Amazonia (Mesker Park Zoo)- $13 Million
   
   
8. Africa Live Phase I (San Antonio Zoo)- $12 Million
   
   
9. Watani Grasslands (North Carolina Zoo)- $8.7 Million
   
   
10. Rocky Mountain Wild (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)- $8.5 Million
    
    
11. McNair Asian Elephant Habitat Renovation (Houston Zoo)- $5 Million
    
    
12. Lions of Lake Manyara (John Ball Zoo)- $4 Million
    
    
13. African Exhibit (Zoo Boise)- $2.8 Million
    
    
14. Giraffe Ridge (Cincinnati Zoo)- $1.6 Million
    
    
15. Tiger Exhibit (Dakota Zoo)- $1.2 Million
    
    
16. Tiger Tundra (Louisville Zoo)- $250,000
    

2007

1. Window on Washington Waters (Seattle Aquarium)- $41 Million
   
   
2. Journey Into Africa (San Diego Safari Park)- $40 Million
   
   
3. Campo Gorilla Reserve (Los Angeles Zoo)- $19 Million
   
   
4. Oklahoma City Zoo (Oklahoma Trails)- $10.3 Million
   
   
5. Oceans Renovation (Indianapolis Zoo)- $9.5 Million
   
   
6. Astor Court Renovation (Bronx Zoo)- $6.7 Million
   
   
7. Grizzly Gulch (San Francisco Zoo)- $3.7 Million
   
   
8. Minnesota Trail Renovation (Minnesota Zoo)- $2.5 Million
   
   
9. Gorilla Exhibit Renovation (Franklin Park Zoo)- $2.3 Million
   
   
10. Black Bear Ridge (Oregon Zoo)- $2 Million
    
    
11. Penguin Cove (Sedgwick County Zoo)- $1.5 Million
    
    
12. Wild Kingdom Pavilion Renovation (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $1 Million
    
    
13. Red Panda Village (Knoxville Zoo)- $500,000
    

2006

1. Asia Trail (National Zoo)- $53 Million
   
   
2. Northwest Passage (Memphis Zoo)- $23 Million
   
   
3. Big Cat Falls (Philadelphia Zoo)- $20 Million
   
   
4. Asia Quest (Columbus Zoo)- $14 Million
   
   
5. Water’s Edge (Pittsburgh Zoo)- $12.5 Million
   
   
6. Step Into Africa (Seneca Park Zoo)- 7.5 Million
   
   
7. Play Park (Jacksonville Zoo)- $6.7 Million
   
   
8. Asian Highlands (Hogle Zoo)- $6 Million
   
   
9. Cougar Crossing (Oregon Zoo)- $685,000
   

2005

1. Georgia Aquarium- $290 Million
   
   
2. Monkey Trails and Forest Tales (San Diego Zoo)- $28.5 Million
   
   
3. Sea Life Cliffs/Entrance (Los Angeles Zoo)- $28 Million
   
   
4. Children’s Adventure (Oakland Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
5. Pritzker Children’s Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $13.9 Million
   
   
6. Dolphin Adventure Dome (Indianapolis Zoo)- $10 Million
   
   
7. Brazos River Country (Cameron Park Zoo)- $8.6 Million
   
   
8. Hubbard Orangutan Forest (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $8.5 Million
   
   
9. Big Cat Country (Milwaukee County Zoo)- $7.5 Million
   
   
10. Fragile Forest (Saint Louis Zoo)- $7 Million
    
    
11. Elephant Encounter (Hogle Zoo)- $5.5 Million
    
    
12. Sea Lion Cove (Buffalo Zoo)- $5.1 Million
    
    
13. Natural Encounters (Houston Zoo)- $5 Million
    
    
14. African Elephant Savanna (Nashville Zoo)- $3.3 Million
    
    
15. Giraffe Overlook (Jacksonville Zoo)- $2.9 Million
    
    
16. Otter Outpost (Dallas Zoo)- $1.9 Million
    

2004

1. Regenstein Center for African Apes (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $25.7 Million
   
   
2. Africa! (Toledo Zoo)- $20 Million
   
   
3. Tropics of the Americas (Palm Beach Zoo)- $18 Million
   
   
4. Predator Ridge (Denver Zoo)- $16.5 Million
   
   
5. Range of the Jaguar (Jacksonville Zoo)- $15.4 Million
   
   
6. Hubbard Gorilla Valley (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $14 Million
   
   
7. Asian Forest Sanctuary (Point Defiance Zoo)- $10 Million
   
   
8. Australia (Columbus Zoo)- $6 Million
   
   
9. Africa (Rio Grande Zoo)- $6 Million
   
   
10. Downing Gorilla Forest (Sedgwick County Zoo)- $5.5 Million
    
    
11. Lion Camp (San Diego Safari Park)- $5 Million
    
    
12. Otter Creek (Buffalo Zoo)- $5.1 Million (includes cost of Sea Lion Cove)
    
    
13. Regenstein Wolf Woods (Brookfield Zoo)- $2.4 Million
    
    
14. Eagle Canyon (Oregon Zoo) $2.1 Million
    
    
15. Himalayan Passage (Chattanooga Zoo)- $500,000
    

2003

1. Wild Reef (Shedd Aquarium)- $47 Million
   
   
2. Destination Africa (Calgary Zoo)- $32.5 Million
   
   
3. Kingdoms of the Night (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $31.5 Million (including Desert Dome)
   
   
4. Regenstein African Journey (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $23 Million
   
   
5. Wings of Asia (Memphis Zoo)- $13.5 Million
   
   
6. African Rift Valley (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)- $11 Million
   
   
7. Tiger Mountain (Bronx Zoo)- $8.4 Million
   
   
8. Penguin and Puffin Coast (Saint Louis Zoo)- $8.3 Million
   
   
9. Islands (Columbus Zoo)- $8 Million
   
   
10. Polar Bear Watch (Maryland Zoo)- $7 Million
    
    
11. Expedition Africa (Brevard Zoo)- $5 Million
    
    
12. Jaguar Cove (Woodland Park Zoo)- $4.3 Million
    
    
13. Tropical Encounters (Como Park Zoo)- $2.1 Million
    

2002

1. Desert Dome (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $31.5 Million (including Kingdoms of the Night)
   
   
2. Ndoki Forest (Riverbanks Zoo)- $19 Million
   
   
3. Okavango Delta (Virginia Zoo)- $15.8 Million
   
   
4. China (Memphis Zoo)- $15.5 Million
   
   
5. Gorilla Forest (Louisville Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
6. Lemur Forest (San Francisco Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
7. Rivers Edge Phase III (Saint Louis Zoo)- $8 Million
   
   
8. African Elephant Reserve (Indianapolis Zoo)- $7.8 Million
   
   
9. Jellies (Monterey Bay Aquarium)- $2.5 Million
   
   
10. Vanishing Animals (Buffalo Zoo)- $2.4 Million
    
    
11. Tiger Lair (Minnesota Zoo)- $1.8 Million
    
    
12. African Wild Dog Exhibit (Woodland Park Zoo)- $1.4 Million
    

2001

1. Texas Wild (Fort Worth Zoo)- $45 Million
   
   
2. Arctic Ring of Life (Detroit Zoo)- $15.9 Million
   
   
3. Rivers Edge Phase II (Saint Louis Zoo)- $7.8 Million
   
   
4. McGovern Children’s Zoo (Houston Zoo)- $6.7 Million
   
   
5. Mokomboso Valley (John Ball Zoo)- $5 Million
   
   
6. Giant Panda Renovation (San Diego Zoo)- $4 Million
   
   
7. Winnick Children’s Zoo (Los Angeles Zoo)- $3.4 Million
   
   
8. Giant Panda Renovation (San Diego Zoo)- $1.8 Million
   
   
9. Wild Florida (Jacksonville Zoo)- $1.5 Million
   
   
10. Kiera Chimpanzee Forest (North Carolina Zoo)- $1.4 Million
    
    
11. Siamang/Gibbon (Nashville Zoo)- $450,000
    

2000

1. PPG Aquarium (Pittsburgh Zoo)- $17.4 Million
   
   
2. Arctic Encounter (Toledo Zoo)- $11.5 Million
   
   
3. Stellar Cove (Oregon Zoo)- $10 Million
   
   
4. Australian Adventure (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)- $10 Million
   
   
5. Habitat Africa the Forest (Brookfield Zoo)- $8 Million
   
   
6. Lacerte Children’s Zoo (Dallas Zoo)- $7 Million
   
   
7. Vanishing Giants (Cincinnati Zoo)- $6.5 Million
   
   
8. Red Ape Rainforest (Los Angeles Zoo)- $6.5 Million
   
   
9. Amphibville (Detroit Zoo)- $6 Million
   
   
10. Insectarium (Saint Louis Zoo)- $4 Million
    
    
11. Condor Ridge (San Diego Safari Park)- $3.5 Million
    
    
12. Pride of the Plains (Sedgwick County Zoo)- $2.1 Million
    

1999

1. Congo Gorilla Forest (Bronx Zoo)- $43 Million
   
   
2. PECO Primate Reserve (Philadelphia Zoo)- $24 Million
   
   
3. Manatee Coast (Columbus Zoo)- $10 Million
   
   
4. Rivers Edge Phase I (Saint Louis Zoo)- $8.5 Million
   
   
5. Giant Panda Research Station (Zoo Atlanta)- $7 Million
   
   
6. Manatee Springs (Cincinnati Zoo)- $ 4.5 Million
   
   
7. Ituri Forest (San Diego Zoo)- $4.4 Million
   
   
8. Owens Rainforest Aviary (San Diego Zoo)- $4 Million
   
   
9. Exxon Tiger Habitat (Dallas Zoo)- $3.4 Million
   

1998

1. Disney’s Animal Kingdom- $750 Million
   
   
2. Cascade Crest (Oregon Zoo)- $15.7 Million
   
   
3. African Savanna (Toronto Zoo)- $12.5 Million
   
   
4. African Forest Phase I (Columbus Zoo)- $8 Million
   
   
5. Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountain (Los Angeles Zoo)- $5 Million
   
   
6. Emerson Children’s Zoo (Saint Louis Zoo)- $5 Million
   
   
7. Pachyderm Renovation (Columbus Zoo)- $4 Million
   
   
8. Jaguar Jungle (Audubon Zoo)- $2.2 Million
   

1997

1. Living Coast (Brookfield Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
2. Cat Forest/Lion Overlook (Oklahoma City Zoo)- $8.7 Million
   
   
3. Rocky Shores (Seneca Park Zoo)- $8.2 Million
   
   
4. Heart of Africa (San Diego Safari Park)- $7 Million
   
   
5. Tropical Rainforest (Tulsa Zoo)- $7.7 Million
   
   
6. Wolf Wilderness (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)- $2.9 Million
   
   
7. Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $2.5 Million
   
   
8. Seabird Colony (Bronx Zoo)- $2 Million
   
   
9. Kimberly Clark Chimpanzee Forest (Dallas Zoo)- $1.9 Million
   

1996

1. Primate Panorama (Denver Zoo)- $14 Million
   
   
2. Trail of Vines (Woodland Park Zoo)- $8 Million
   
   
3. Polar Plunge (San Diego Zoo)- $5 Million
   
   
4. The Swamp (Brookfield Zoo)- $5 Million
   
   
5. African Elephant Exhibit (Jacksonville Zoo)- $2.5 Milliion
   
   
6. Bird Garden (Saint Louis Zoo)- $2 Million
   
   
7. KOCH Orangutan and Chimpanzee Habitat (Sedgwick County Zoo)- $1.2 Million
   
   
8. Sumatran Rhinoceros Exhibit (Cincinnati Zoo)- $1 Million
   
   
9. Colors of the Amazon (Santa Ana Zoo)- $600,000
   
   
10. Sun Bear Exhibit (Oakland Zoo)- $380,000
    

1995

1. Africa (Kansas City Zoo)- $30 Million
   
   
2. Scott Aquarium (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $16 Million
   
   
3. Islands (Louisville Zoo)- $11.5 Million
   
   
4. Chimpanzee Forest (Maryland Zoo)- $5.8 Million
   
   
5. Think Tank (National Zoo)- $4 Million
   
   
6. Hippo Beach (San Diego Zoo)- $3.9 Million
   
   
7. Aquatic and Reptile Center (Milwaukee County Zoo)- $3.3 Million
   

1994

1. Northern Trail (Woodland Park Zoo)- $8.9 Million
   
   
2. McNair Asian Elephant Habitat (Houston Zoo)- $1.2 Million
   

1993

1. Tropical Discovery (Denver Zoo)- $11.5 Million
   
   
2. Habitat Africa (Brookfield Zoo)- $8 Million
   
   
3. Jungle Trails (Cincinnati Zoo)- $7.5 Million
   
   
4. Wortham World of Primates (Houston Zoo)- $7.5 Million
   
   
5. Kingdom of the Apes (Toledo Zoo)- $7.5 Million
   
   
6. Great Escape (Oklahoma City Zoo)- $6.6 Million
   
   
7. Cat Country (Memphis Zoo)- $5.3 Million
   
   
8. Sonora Desert (North Carolina Zoo)- $4.1 Million
   
   
9. Amazon’s Edge (Santa Ana Zoo)- $1 Million
   
   
10. Giant Panda Habitat (San Diego Zoo)- $800,000
    

1992

1. The Rainforest (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)- $30 Million
   
   
2. Lied Jungle (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $15 Million
   
   
3. Amazonia (National Zoo)- $12 Million
   
   
4. Rare Apes of Africa (Milwaukee County Zoo)- $10.7 Million
   
   
5. Tropical Rain Forest (Woodland Park Zoo)- $9.2 Million
   
   
6. World of Primates (Fort Worth Zoo)- $6 Million
   
   
7. Carnivore Kingdom (Philadelphia Zoo)- $6 Million
   
   
8. African Watering Hole (Maryland Zoo)- $4.2 Million
   
   
9. Helen Brach Primate House Renovation (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $3 Million
   
   
10. Asian Elephant Exhibit (Point Defiance Zoo)- $2.3 Million
    

1991

1. Gorilla Tropics (San Diego Zoo)- $11.5 Million
   
   
2. Tropical Forest (Pittsburgh Zoo)- $8.8 Million
   
   
3. African Rainforest (Oregon Zoo)- $4.3 Million
   
   
4. McCormick Bird House Renovation (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $2.8 Million
   

 

[GraysonDP]

1990

1. Oceanarium (Shedd Aquarium)- $43 Million
   
   
2. Wilds of Africa (Dallas Zoo)- $27 Million
   
   
3. Fragile Kingdom (Brookfield Zoo)- $4 Million
   
   
4. Kovler Lion House Renovation (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $3.9 Million
   
   
5. Baboon Reserve (Bronx Zoo)- $3.7 Million
   
   
6. Jake L. Hammon Gorilla Conservation Research Center (Dallas Zoo)- $3.7 Million
   
   
7. Black Rhinoceros Exhibit (Zoo Atlanta)- $950,000
   
   
8. Monkeys of Makoku (Zoo Atlanta)- $877,000
   

1989

1. Tropical Forest (Franklin Park Zoo)- $26 Million
   
   
2. Living World (Saint Louis Zoo)- $18 Million
   
   
3. Great Apes of Harambee (Detroit Zoo)- $7.5 Million
   
   
4. Elephant Forest (Woodland Park Zoo)- $6 Million
   
   
5. Maryland Wilderness (Maryland Zoo)- $5.7 Million
   
   
6. Masai Mara (Zoo Atlanta)- $5.2 Million
   
   
7. Zoo Center (Bronx Zoo)- $4 Million
   
   
8. Sun Bear Forest (San Diego Zoo)- $3.5 Million
   
   
9. Bear Canyon (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $1.4 Million
   

1988

1. New Zoo (Indianapolis Zoo)- $64 Million
   
   
2. Renovation (Central Park Zoo)- $35 Million
   
   
3. Ford African Rainforest (Zoo Atlanta)- $6.5 Million
   
   
4. Tiger River (San Diego Zoo)- $5.8 Million
   

1987

1. Seven Seas Panorama/Pinniped Point (Brookfield Zoo)- $12 Million
   
   
2. Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom Pavilion (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $2 Million
   

1986

1. Aquatics (Oklahoma City Zoo)- $5.2 Million
   
   
2. Jungle of the Apes (Saint Louis Zoo)- $5 Million
   
   
3. Mountain Exhibit (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum)- $2.5 Million
   
   
4. Himalayan Highlands (Bronx Zoo)- $700,000
   

1985

1. Jungle World (Bronx Zoo)- $9.5 Million
   

1984

1. Tropic World (Brookfield Zoo)- $10.8 Million
   
   
2. Louisiana Swamp (Audubon Zoo)- $1.8 Million
   

1982

1. Large Mammal Building (Lincoln Park Zoo)- $11.7 Million
   
   
2. Carter Giraffe Building (Bronx Zoo)- $2.5 Million
   
   
3. Cascade Stream (Oregon Zoo)- $1.3 Million
   

1980

1. African Plains (Woodland Park Zoo)- $4 Million
   

1979

1. Bird House Renovation (Saint Louis Zoo)- $1.5 Million
   
   
2. Gorilla Habitat (Woodland Park Zoo)- $500,000
   

1978

1. Herpetarium Renovation (Saint Louis Zoo)- $1 Million
   

1977

1. Wild Asia (Bronx Zoo)- $6.6 Million
   
   
2. Cat Complex (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo)- $2.5 Million
   
   
3. Primate House Renovation (Saint Louis Zoo)- $850,000
   

1976

1. Big Cat Country (Saint Louis Zoo)- $1.6 Million
   

1975

1. Drive-Through Reserve (Northwest Trek)- $500,000
   

 

[Coelacanth18]

Some of these numbers are obscene... $94 million for Assiniboine Park? $68 million for Africa Rocks? $110 million for Georgia Aquarium's dolphin exhibit? I wonder how these budgets end up running so high, and if they could have done anything to cut costs.

 

[GraysonDP]

Some of these numbers are obscene... $94 million for Assiniboine Park? $68 million for Africa Rocks? $110 million for Georgia Aquarium's dolphin exhibit? I wonder how these budgets end up running so high, and if they could have done anything to cut costs.

Yes it's mindboggling to think that some exhibits cost so much to make while ones of similar if not better quality at other institutions are made for much less.

 

[Shellheart]

Some of these numbers are obscene... $94 million for Assiniboine Park? $68 million for Africa Rocks? $110 million for Georgia Aquarium's dolphin exhibit? I wonder how these budgets end up running so high, and if they could have done anything to cut costs.

I'm going to guess that location has everything to do with it. I can't speak for Assiniboine,as I've never heard of that institution myself,but San Diego and Atlanta are both major cities. Ridiculous building costs are a fact of life. As for cutting costs,a few exhibits were already scrapped from Africa Rocks. Beyond that it'd be interesting to see what more could have been done without too severely compromising exhibit size.

 

[jibster]

I'm going to guess that location has everything to do with it. I can't speak for Assiniboine,as I've never heard of that institution myself,but San Diego and Atlanta are both major cities. Ridiculous building costs are a fact of life. As for cutting costs,a few exhibits were already scrapped from Africa Rocks. Beyond that it'd be interesting to see what more could have been done without too severely compromising exhibit size.

Location definitely is one thing that causes such drastically different costs. Another major issue (which would be difficult, if not impossible, to control for) is how each zoo calculates these exhibit costs, specifically what costs are included. Some of these projects involved substantial demolition of existing infrastructure - is this included in the cost of construction? Is there reuse of existing off-exhibit holding or other facilities, or is the entire area actually built from scratch? What about the incorporation of new restrooms, concessions, gift shops, etc.? Without knowing more about the specifics of what each exhibit's reported costs include, it's difficult to make any meaningful comparison between exhibits. Of course, when looking over such a large span of time, inflation also has to be taken into account.

Without recognizing these difficulties comparing costs from exhibit to exhibit, these costs are hard to contextualize. For an example of the folly of comparison (that's close to my home and deals with exhibits I know very well), look at the reported costs of Columbus's Heart of Africa ($30.8 million) compared to Cincinnati's Africa ($32 million). I think few who would look at the two exhibits could see how Cincinnati spent $1.2 million less. But Cincinnati's exhibit was built in phases - does that number include all portions of Africa (including the hippo exhibit, which is separately accounted for elsewhere, and the giraffe section, which was completed years before the main exhibit)? Does Cincinnati's figure include the cost of demolition of the existing parking lot (Columbus had mostly empty land to contend with)? What about the costs of the theater where cheetah runs are held - is this considered part of Africa? If so, it's infrastructure that is missing from Columbus, where cheetah runs are held in the waterhole, with no guest seating.

Without really looking at the figures for each exhibit and how each zoo arrived at them, I don't think comparing the reported costs really gives anyone much to go off when making comparisons, especially between different zoos.

 

[Zooplantman]

Without considering the size of the exhibit, number of species, number of holding areas to be built, whether any existing holding areas, pools, etc were re-used, whether there was LSS (life support systems like pool filtration), big viewing glass/plexi areas, what had to be demolished for construction to even begin, whether the "new" exhibit was simply a refurbishment/redesign of an existing complex (Manatee Springs comes to mind), local construction costs (far cheaper to build in Des Moines than in L.A.), etc. you will never understand these numbers.
Assiniboine is a huge exhibit with ambitious underwater views.
Columbus Zoo's Africa was built on soy fields on the fringe of the zoo while Cincinnati's included demolition of the parking lots. Columbus required infrastructure. Cincinnati included vast underground water cistern to make the exhibit more sustainable.
McNeil Avian Center (Philadelphia) is another renovation and also included geothermal wells to make it more sustainable.
Range of the Jaguar and Giants of the Savanna include restaurants, some exhibits include new bathrooms, some gift shops, etc.
Georgia Aquarium's dolphin "exhibit" is actually an expansion of the building in a very expensive construction market (and I am not sure your figure is correct: Georgia Aquarium Dolphin Expansion, Atlanta | 2011-01-01 | ENR )
Elephant Trails (SNZP) included renovation of a historic landmark elephant house.
And, btw, the Congo Gorilla Forest figure is fiction.

 

[snowleopard]

I posted something similar a couple of years ago:

Mega-Budget American Zoo Exhibits

 

[GraysonDP]

Without considering the size of the exhibit, number of species, number of holding areas to be built, whether any existing holding areas, pools, etc were re-used, whether there was LSS (life support systems like pool filtration), big viewing glass/plexi areas, what had to be demolished for construction to even begin, whether the "new" exhibit was simply a refurbishment/redesign of an existing complex (Manatee Springs comes to mind), local construction costs (far cheaper to build in Des Moines than in L.A.), etc. you will never understand these numbers.
Assiniboine is a huge exhibit with ambitious underwater views.
Columbus Zoo's Africa was built on soy fields on the fringe of the zoo while Cincinnati's included demolition of the parking lots. Columbus required infrastructure. Cincinnati included vast underground water cistern to make the exhibit more sustainable.
McNeil Avian Center (Philadelphia) is another renovation and also included geothermal wells to make it more sustainable.
Range of the Jaguar and Giants of the Savanna include restaurants, some exhibits include new bathrooms, some gift shops, etc.
Georgia Aquarium's dolphin "exhibit" is actually an expansion of the building in a very expensive construction market (and I am not sure your figure is correct: Georgia Aquarium Dolphin Expansion, Atlanta | 2011-01-01 | ENR )
Elephant Trails (SNZP) included renovation of a historic landmark elephant house.
And, btw, the Congo Gorilla Forest figure is fiction.

Yes I've long heard Congo cost WAY more than claimed.

 

[SealPup]

I bet Marwell style fences would cut down costs.

 

[Jurek7]

As others said - costs mean nothing without construction costs in the area. These however, might be findable on the internet.

Interesting would be comparing to a hypothetical no-frills exhibit - a building of the same size and a paddock of the same size surrounded by a cheapest fence (perhaps chainlink).