Riverbanks Zoo seeks funding to continue extensive upgrades

Posted 2/15/23

The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has completed another portion of its Bridge to the Wild master plan to reshape its campus with the renovation of the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Aquarium and Reptile Conservation Center, set to welcome back guests on March 2.

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Riverbanks Zoo seeks funding to continue extensive upgrades

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A popular attraction that straddles the Saluda River seeks funds to continue an extensive overhaul.

The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has completed another portion of its Bridge to the Wild master plan to reshape its campus with the renovation of the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Aquarium and Reptile Conservation Center, set to welcome back guests on March 2.

The conservation center continues the first phase of Bridge to the Wild and follows the White Rhino habitat that was completed in 2020. According to Lochlan Wooten, Riverbanks’ chief operations officer, the zoo and the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation began discussing plans for the $10 million dollar renovation project in 2018, which was originally intended to be much smaller-scale.

The center is far from the end of the $32 million agenda planned for the first phase of Bridge to the Wild, with the remaining elements set to be completed next year.

“[The renovations] are important because continuing to promote the amazing conservation work that goes on not just at Riverbanks Zoo, but other zoological institutions,” Wooten said, “we can connect people to ways that they can make small changes in their daily lives that will help us save the planet.”

The zoo has announced some of its plans for the following phases and is in the process of figuring out funding for phase two. 

Wooten told the Chronicle that the zoo's current course of funding is to try to obtain a general obligation bond from Lexington and Richland counties. At the moment, the zoo hasn’t applied for any grants or started fundraising for this phase.

This second phase of the plan is set to cost about $90 million, Wooten said, adding that if they are unable to receive the obligation bond, they will break up the next phase, separating it into smaller pieces with a smaller reach.

Richland County Council rejected an $80 million bond to fund upgrades at the zoo last year.

Wooten emphasized that new things will be happening at the zoo no matter what.

Phase two is set to include an immersive, walk-through orangutan habitat and a brand new multipurpose facility and restaurant with a large deck along the banks of the Saluda River, part of an effort to better connect the gardens on the Lexington County side of the river with the zoo on the other side. 

This phase also calls for the zoo and its animals to adorn both sides of the Saluda River.

Also included in the planned second phase is the South Carolina Nature Preserve, a trail that would feature some native species, including golden eagles, red wolves and black bears.

“You start kind of at the bottom down near the river, and maybe you grab a bite to eat … and then you walk out the back deck and you see orangutans and then you will follow the pathway up the hill and you're exploring the South Carolina Nature Preserve, and then you’ll end up at the top of the hill,” Wooten said, describing the the trails.

The second phase would also include the installation of a sky gondola, which would allow for easy, scenic transportation from the river up toward the botanical gardens, as well as expansions of the tiger and lion habitats.

Addressing the Lexington Chamber’s Business Over Breakfast meeting last month, Thomas Stringfellow said the intention before COVID-19 was to roll out these plans two years ago, but the zoo still hopes to have some of the phase two upgrades in place before it hits a big milestone.

“In two years, it'll be our 50th anniversary, and we were hoping all this would be ready to go by then,” he said. “We're about two years behind, but if we can push through we may have a few pieces of this open and ready to go.”

Wooten mentioned that no land has to be purchased for the next phase, since the necessary property is already owned by the zoo. 

Following the completion of the second phase, she said the zoo expects to reach 1.6 million annual guests and have a $175 million economic impact – currently, the zoo says its economic impact is nearly $149 million.

Outside of animal-related renovations and additions, the zoo is also making changes to its infrastructure, targeting such projects as parking expansion, ticket booth renovations, bathroom renovations and ensuring that there are plenty of food and beverage options.

“Even if it’s just a restroom renovation, being sure that we are inclusive of those with different physical abilities and different mental abilities, it’s all a matter of inclusion because truly the most important thing to Riverbanks outside of conservation is creating a sense of belonging,” Wooten said.

New features of the zoo’s recently reopened aquarium and reptile building include conservation labs that are open for guest viewing. Wooten shared that Riverbanks has been part of the Florida Reef Tract since 2019 and helps safeguard coral along Florida’s coast. Through its terrestrial efforts, the labs help support the populations of gecko species.

During the construction of the center, all its animals were temporarily rehomed. Wooten said more than 100 individual animals of 22 different species were housed at 19 different zoos while the work was done. The animals have since started to be reintroduced to Riverbanks, though this process can take up to 90 days for some animals to ensure habitats fit their needs.

With this renovation, the zoo is welcoming 20 new species including moon jellyfish, giant pacific octopus, Mojave and rock rattlesnakes and Gambel’s quail, among others.

The center itself houses more than 12,000 animals, representing more than 300 different species, 17 of which are endangered.

Jordan Lawrence contributed reporting to this article.

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