Zoo Midland News

[Smaggledagle]

A new zoo was announced on October 6th, 2023, to be coming to Midland, Texas. Zoo Midland is set to start construction in early 2024 on 51 acres of the former Nueva Vista Golf Club. This will be the first ground-up zoo construction project in the United States in 25 years and will open to the public in mid-2027. Jason Green, former senior director of Animal Care at Zoo Miami, is serving as chief zoologist.

Zoo Midland – Coming Zoon!
Zoo Midland, Inc. announces zoo project in west Midland
The rumors are true, Midland's getting a zoo! | newswest9.com

 

[TinoPup]

A new zoo was announced on October 6th, 2023, to be coming to Midland, Texas. Zoo Midland is set to start construction in early 2024 on 51 acres of the former Nueva Vista Golf Club. This will be the first ground-up zoo construction project in the United States in 25 years and will open to the public in mid-2027. Jason Green, former senior director of Animal Care at Zoo Miami, is serving as chief zoologist.

Zoo Midland – Coming Zoon!
Zoo Midland, Inc. announces zoo project in west Midland
The rumors are true, Midland's getting a zoo! | newswest9.com

It's definitely not the first in 25 years, especially if you factor in all of the ones that still haven't opened yet... good luck to them.

 

[PossumRoach]

Jason Green, former senior director of Animal Care at Zoo Miami, is serving as chief zoologist.

Miami? The article says ZooTampa.

 

[Smaggledagle]

Miami? The article says ZooTampa.

Swore it said Zoo Miami when I wrote it last night.

 

[King of Komodo Dragons]

does anyone know if there is s a planned species list yet?

 

[Smaggledagle]

does anyone know if there is s a planned species list yet?

Not a species species list, but they did mention in the 2nd article how they are going to have similar species to zoos in Abilene, Fort Worth, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Tucson. Basically no polar bears or anything like that.

 

[King of Komodo Dragons]

Not a species species list, but they did mention in the 2nd article how they are going to have similar species to zoos in Abilene, Fort Worth, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Tucson. Basically no polar bears or anything like that.

that makes sense, still hope they manage to include a few species not in other Texas zoos, will be interesting to see how this project develops over the coming years

 

[PSO]

Jason worked at Busch Gardens Tampa for a long time then went to Lowry for a couple years. Far as I am aware never at Miami

Having said that expect rhino, giraffe and a heavy dose of hoofstock at a minimum

 

[Zoofan15]

Article on Savannah section:

Zoo Midland director talks about savanna section of zoo | newswest9.com

Species detailed include rhino, wild dog, hyena, flamingos, colobus, lemur etc.

 

[Tonefly432]

Do we know what animals they are getting ? Any exhibits, ? By looking at the renderings how do you rate this zoo ? Looks really nice 51 acres when done not bad... houston zoo 55 acres...

 

[SwampDonkey]

Do we know what animals they are getting ? Any exhibits, ? By looking at the renderings how do you rate this zoo ? Looks really nice 51 acres when done not bad... houston zoo 55 acres...

Only what has been mentioned in this thread are the species talked about:
Rhino, giraffe, wild dog, hyena, flamingos, colobus, lemur. It the renderings look nice, but often the built product does not look like the released renderings....usually things get cheaper in build and design. I don't think that it is possible to really rate it. Odds are that it won't be comparable to a major city zoo like Houston, but likely comparable to places like Blank Park or Alabama Gulf Coast in design and build. But I think that it is too early to say for sure.

This is a cool project that I am excited to see built.

 

[Milwaukee Man]

Looks like construction for this brand-new zoo has begun! Completion is set for mid 2027 to mid 2028.

Inside the Plans for Midland’s Long-Awaited New Zoo