2012

[G.Walker]

2012 is a key year for Oklahoma City, as that year many major projects will be coming to a close. In 2012, all the issues/development that is fueling OKC Talk will be in history. By 2012, the new I-40 Crosstown will be completed, Devon Energy Center will be completed, construction of new Level Urban Apartments, Aloft and other developments in Deep Deuce will be well on their way to completion. Project 180 will be well underway. By then, we should have more clarity on the C2S/MAPS3 issues...so what's on the horizon after 2012, I am anxious to see?

What way do you see Oklahoma City turning after 2012?

[Jesseda]

also the zoo is having one of the most expensive remodel of all time, they are making a asian district inside the zoo, its going to be big, the elephant part is already built but the rest is suppose to be done by 2013, also they is plans for future exhibits.. very exciting time for okc

[Jesseda]

•2013: Set out on an excursion to explore Expedition Asia. See and learn about exotic and endangered species and plants from Asia!
•2013: New Veterinarian Hospital: This state-of-the-art facility will help our vet staff enhance the already professional healthcare for our 2,000+ animals. Behind-the-scenes viewing opportunities will be available, too!
•2015: Giraffe Habitat: Watch giraffes graze as you enjoy a worldly dining experience in the brand new African-style restaurant and events center.
•2017: Herpetarium Relocation: The Zoo’s Canopy Restaurant will be transformed into a new Herpetarium featuring a diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians.
•2019: Noble Aquatic Center: Aquaticus Renovation: Aquaticus is in need of an extreme makeover! Remodeling for this favorite attraction will include interactive aquariums, and potential to bring in bigger species, like sharks.

[G.Walker]

Thanks Jesseda, good to see the Oklahoma City Zoo expanding. It would be great for the Adventure District to add a major attraction in the next few years, like a state of the art aquarium.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Link?

[Jesseda]

http://www.okczoo.com/plan-your-visit/zoo-master-plan/


oh and by the way the new elephant area is now open starting TODAY!!!!

[Jesseda]

That district needs some restaurants and nice hotels.. It would be nice if they adda trolley for the entertainment district.. I can see it now stepping out of the hotel and onto a trolley to enjoy a fun filled day at tehe zoo, the science museum, getting on the trolley to go to a nice restaurant, then see some museums, catch a movie and end the night at reminton casino, heck pace yourself and make it a weekend getaway at the oklahoma city entertainment district, just leave your car at the hotel and hope on our friendly entertainment district trolleys

[G.Walker]

A hotel would actually do well at this location. I could see a Hilton Garden Inn with adjacent IHOP...gosh that would really work, there are no IHOP's in the immediate vicinity...

[RadioOKC]

Awesome times for our Zoo. I have said this before and I'll gladly repeat. I grew up in San Diego and am a little jaded when it comes to zoo's. The OKC Zoo is amazing ans those plans will make the place over the top.

So, a question about the zoo?

Did they ever figure out what was killing the dolphins? I really thought that was over the top to have them at our zoo. I know it's an expensive proposition but you would think with all the advertising/pr budgets here some company would love to be tied to some sort of new dolphin/aquatics facility.

Just a thought.


Chris
www.radiookc.com

[OKCisOK4me]

They're suppose to be building a hotel at Remington Park here pretty soon. The area definitely needs it.

[Jesseda]

on the dolphins, i have heard everything from someone putting a poison inthe water all the way to where the horse pop particles from remington was being carried by wind into the tank and killing them slowly.. I loved the dolphin show as a kid, it was kinda likea mini seaworld since no other zoo i went to had that type of thing.. i would love to see it come back, or some type of animal aquatic show like feeding stingrays, a touching starfishes etc.. i hear they are adding a elephant show at the zoo, dont know what kind though

[HOT ROD]

i dont get it, if San Antonio has SeaWorld - why couldn't Aquaticus survive in OKC?

Isn't San Antonio's weather/climate worse than OKC's and both are inland. ....

[Larry OKC]

2012 is a key year for Oklahoma City, as that year many major projects will be coming to a close. In 2012, all the issues/development that is fueling OKC Talk will be in history. By 2012, the new I-40 Crosstown will be completed, Devon Energy Center will be completed, construction of new Level Urban Apartments, Aloft and other developments in Deep Deuce will be well on their way to completion. Project 180 will be well underway. By then, we should have more clarity on the C2S/MAPS3 issues...so what's on the horizon after 2012, I am anxious to see?

What way do you see Oklahoma City turning after 2012?

Just in time for the end of the world? LOL

[Thunder]

Amazing about the Zoo, but all the way toward 2019 is a bit long time to wait. They should do a serious fundraiser drive or vote for tax increase to speed up all these projects. As for the dolphins, I think someone was killing them intentionally, because they all just suddenly started to die one by one. Bring back the dolphins and expand to bring in that black/white cute whale. I agree the aquatic building need a serious makeover. Is there any room for the Zoo to expand without taking away spaces from other animals? The giraffes need to be moved, because there are lack of trees where they are at now and those trees do not look very good. I'd like to see real palm trees planted and implement special technology to keep them thriving thru the Winter. Going to the Zoo once yearly is a tradition on either Mother's Day or July 4th.

Are the elephants back yet? Or do we have to wait until 2013? :-(

And they need several big ponds with Goldfish/Koi in them. Its not complete without that. Something I love at the Myriad Gardens.

[Larry OKC]

The elephants are back and their exhibit is open (see post #6)

[Thunder]

The elephants are back and their exhibit is open (see post #6)

I dunno how I missed that. :-(

My brother did work out there on the Asian District for the elephants. A few houses down, this guy worked out there on that project, too, but as he was leaving toward his truck, something happened and he died falling face forward down. His wife decided to fix up the house and sell it to move somewhere close to family in another state.

I hope the attempts at pregnancy was a success for these elephants and that we have a birth soon, if not already.

[Larry OKC]

If not mistaken, one of them is pregnant but can't recall when it is due.

[Jesseda]

from what i was reading from the zoo, this elephant exhibit yard is big enough for the okc to take care of up to 8 elephants, also the old swimming hole building will be turned into a museum, i can not wait to see all this done, when the asian area is complete it will take up about 15-20 percent of the zoo.. i do hope the aquatics area becomes a huge project to where it uses 20 acres, it would be neat to have a mini seaworld (best of the best seaworld offers) type thing in our zoo, I would love to see that happen...

[Jesseda]

this is great news!!!! our exhibit is now the largest in the country!!!!!
http://newsok.com/article/3546549

[Thunder]

OMG, I so hope to see the baby when we go to visit in few months!

[Tritone]

A trolley would be nice. Nicer would be to use the old Katy track from Bricktown to the Adventure district. Sure, the old line would need some work, but let's face it. The longer we wait, the more work it will take. The line could connect Bricktown, Oklahoma Rail Museum, Softball Hall of Fame, Firefighters Hall of Fame, Zoo, Omniplex (pardon me, Science Museum Oklahoma), and Remington Park.

[Larry OKC]

Tritone: in the original MAPS what you described was one of the supplemental projects that appeared on the ballot (if funds were available) but due to the massive funding over runs of the main projects, we almost didn't get all of those.

[Jesseda]

The city really needs to advertise to hotel and restaurant businesses on the adventure district..Heck it would be fun if they added something like andy alligator there as well.. Okc adventure district is good, but with all that land not being used, the adventure district could be great!!!! okc is on the verge of becoming great.. we need now to attract vistors to our great city..cant wait .. im excited for the myriad gardens to reopen.. does anyone know if the layout inside the dome is any different

[rondvu]

Can you imagine if the zoo took over Lincoln Park Golf Course? It would bring unlimited possibilities to Zoo. Instead of cages, most animals could have their own habitat. Just a thought don't think its going to happen.

[Tritone]

Larry OKC: Those pesky over runs. Sure would have been nice, though. Sometimes we out of towners just like to remember the way OKC was 30 years ago and wish it could revert a bit. Thanks for the info.