ZooWorld, which has been under new management since January 2015, has a new look. Area contractors and zoo team members have spent the winter months hard at work renovating the zoo’s once degraded exterior. Zoo director Kayte Hogan says, “We noticed that not only did the zoo look small and dingy from the outside, but it was hard to see. People would drive right by without noticing it.” Over grown foliage and a neutral color scheme were replaced with eye popping color and a more tropical and simple landscape theme.

The exterior renovations are just a taste of what the zoo has been doing since the new management team has been in place. Lori Grahl, the Gift Shop Manager, who has been with the zoo for three years is, “…excited about the changes. We have all been working hard not only to upgrade the facilities, but to improve the over all experience. We get compliments every day on how clean the zoo is and how engaging our staff are. This is a whole new era for ZooWorld.”

The interior and exterior renovations are planned to continue, a new front sign is nearly ready to be erected, there are embellishments still to be added to the newly constructed fence along Allison Avenue and Front Beach Road, and there is talk of several new exhibits in the works as well.

“We really want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make the zoo look so amazing!” an exuberant Kayte Hogan explains, “We keep our work local, so that we can support or community. By doing this, the zoo has made several really great friends! Trees R Us has been fantastic with landscape and equipment work and Euphoria Murals is still working tirelessly to add beautiful touches throughout the zoo.”

It looks like ZooWorld is going to be looking good for its next 30 years.