A CAPSULE HISTORY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO
& BOTANICAL GARDEN
1904
1909
1923
Zoo opened at Wheeler
Park as small
menagerie. First zoo in
Southwest. First animal
acquired was a deer
fawn.
City of Oklahoma City
purchases 600 acres for
Lincoln Park.
Collection consists of
125 animals.
Zoo moved to State Fair
Grounds (now site of
Douglass High School)
because of devastating
flood in Wheeler Park.
1924
Fire razes Lincoln Park.
1925
Reconstruction begins at
Lincoln Park on 17
acres and Zoo moved to
this site.
1930
First Zoo Director, Leo
Blondin (“Uncle Leo”)
hired.
1933
Under WPA, the CCC
begins program to
construct the Zoo
Amphitheater.
1935
WPA approves major
expenditures for Zoo.
1938
WPA turns projects over
to the City. Completed
are the bear, cat, and
ungulate exhibits, as
Oklahoma City Zoo History
1947
1949
1950
well as picnic shelters
and roadways.
“Uncle Leo” dies of
pneumonia. Julian
Frazier from the Ft.
Worth Zoo hired as new
Director.
Judy the Elephant
acquired through
"Children's Pennies for
a New Elephant"
campaign.
Leapy the Leopard
escapes. Captured three
days later after eating
drugged horsemeat.
However, he died the
next day due to
overdosage. Five-page
coverage appears in Life
magazine.
1950's Completion of a new
sea lion exhibit funded
by Sertoma Club;
Primate and Giraffe
building completed.
1953
Matilda the
Hippopotamus acquired
through a campaign
featuring Gayla
Peevey's song, "I Want a
Hippopotamus for
Christmas".
Leapy’s mate escapes
and is shot and killed
within hours as she
attempts to leave zoo
grounds.
1954
Friends of the Zoo
founded to raise money
for the purchase of
animals for the Zoo.
1959
Julian Frazier resigns.
Dr. Warren Thomas
replaces him.
1961
Rotary Club donates
money for an animal
nursery.
Bond issue passed to
build a Pachyderm
Building, kitchen
facilities, and a 45-acre
ungulate area.
1962
Friends of the Zoo
reorganized as the
Oklahoma Zoological
Society.
1960's Florence O. Wilson
Zoological Library and
Education Department
established. Ungulate
area and pachyderm
building also
established. Leadership
of OZS taken over by
John E. Kirkpatrick.
1964
Dr. Thomas resigns.
Replaced by Dr. Phillip
Ogilvie.
1965
Zoo established as a
separate department
within the City; no
longer a part of the
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Parks and Recreation
Department.
Lion Marmoset. In
recognition, the Golden
Lion Marmoset was
designated as the Zoo’s
symbol.
Admission fee initiated
at the Oklahoma City
Zoo.
1970
C.W. Richardson
Children's Zoo opened.
Giraffe building
converted to gorilla
building.
“Snake Pit” renovated
as the Herpetarium.
1966
Ivan the Snow Leopard
escapes through an
unlatched door.
Recaptured by dart gun
but dies of an overdose
of drugs.
Addition made to
pachyderm building for
housing hippos.
1968
$1.2 million bond issue
approved for Zoo
improvements.
Tapir Building opened
in Children's Zoo.
First tram purchased
from the New York
World’s Fair.
Nursery opened in
Children's Zoo.
1969
"Northeast Study" by
OKC Planning
Department includes
master plan for Zoo.
Dr. Ogilvie resigns.
Early
70's Zoo embarks on a
captive propagation
program with two other
zoos to save the Golden
Oklahoma City Zoo History
1972
Junior Hospitality Club
grants funds for miniaquarium.
Shepherd House (first
two-story territorial
home) moved to Zoo
site.
New support facilities
built, including hospital,
isolation, maintenance
compound, central
service center, and
greenhouse.
Fredrieka, the Zoo’s
first gorilla birth, is born
to Kathy and Moemba.
Max, the Zoo’s first
okapi, is imported from
the Frankfurt, Germany
Zoo.
The Zoo assists in the
confiscation of over
1,000 rattlesnakes
gathered in roundups in
Texas and Oklahoma.
Lawrence Curtis
appointed as new
Director.
1971
Junior Curator Program
started and Animal Research Council
organized.
National Antivinen
Index developed in
coordination with AZA
and located at OKC
Zoo.
City Council terminates
their contract with the
Society and turns over
operation of the Animal
Shelter to the Zoo on a
temporary basis.
Mid
70's
First ZooMobile
donated by an auto
dealer.
Amphitheater
resurrected from nonuse
since the 30's with a
spring musical
presentation in
cooperation with the
Oklahoma City
Symphony Orchestra.
First surviving birth of
an orangutan occurs at
the OKC Zoo.
First course in Zoo
Biology offered at the
Zoo in collaboration
with OSU.
Condor Cliffs and Patagonia exhibits opened.
Animal research center
completed.
Docent program established. Animal
Health Council formed.
1974
$500,000 bond voted for
new Zoo entrance,
offices, and Galapagos
Island exhibit.
Additional land
purchases completed,
bringing total land to
over 300 acres.
1975
Oklahoma City
Zoological Trust formed
to manage the
Oklahoma City Zoo.
Public Services facilities
added.
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1979
First phase of new Zoo
entrance completed.
1980
Animal Shelter given
back to the City.
Construction begins on
new Zoo entrance
complex.
Zoo property expanded
by an addition of 40
acres.
Galapagos Island
Exhibit complex
completed.
Restoration of
amphitheater begins and
a regular program of
concerts is established.
New Safari Tram added.
New Zoo railroad
installed.
1976
1981
Junior League funds
Creative Playground.
Extensive installation of
irrigation systems made
throughout south area.
1977
1982
Education Department
closed to begin major
renovation.
60 additional acres acquired, bringing total
acreage close to 400.
Planning begins for
Aquaticus.
1983
1978
“Virginia Lynn”
steamboat launched on
Zoo Lake.
Zoo’s first Master Plan
for a new Zoo entrance
complex completed and
bond funds designated
for its construction.
New Zoo offices opened
in basement of
Kirkpatrick Center.
Oklahoma City Zoo History
1985
Steve Wylie hired as
new Director.
1986
Aquaticus (Noble
Aquatic Center) opened
as $6 million aquatic
exhibit featuring marine
mammals and
aquariums.
1987
New support facilities
built to accommodate
development of Remington Park north of
Zoo. Included are new
hospital, animal
management offices,
isolation units, central
services, maintenance
compound, graphics
department, and hay
barn.
Zoo Amphitheater
designated an historical
site.
Rex Kennedy Rosser
Education Center
opened.
1984
Completion of EPA
drainage projects
through ungulate area.
Construction begins on
Aquaticus.
Sky Safari added.
Rotary Gardens opened
at front entrance.
Additional 60 acres of
land acquired bringing
total acreage to 420.
Dan Moran Tropical
Bird Exhibit opened.
Zoo entrance complex
completed.
Zoo received full
accreditation from
AAZPA.
“Gronk”, the zoo’s first
condor chick, is hatched
out and hand reared.
Zoo receives an AAZPA
award for its sustained
conservation breeding
program with the
Golden Lion Marmoset.
Director Lawrence
Curtis resigns.
New gift shop and
concessions area
opened.
Zoo acquires a pair of
rare Indian rhinoceroses
from the West Berlin
Zoo.
Horticulture Department
created.
Construction of
Hummingbird/Rain
Forest exhibit begins.
Proposal made to
develop a racetrack on
Zoo property north of
existing developed Zoo.
1988
Presentation of
completed Zoo Master
Plan.
Expansion and
upgrading of Zoo
parking lot by
Oklahoma county.
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Opening of Remington
Park Racetrack adjacent
to Zoo grounds.
Completion of marine
aquariums and addition
to Education program
funded by Oklahoma
City Community
Foundation.
1989
Zoo receives $75,000
IMS Grant for Great
EscApe.
1996
1997
Zoo's two gas-powered
trains sold, ending 40
years of trains at the
Oklahoma City Zoo.
1990
July 1990, one-eighth
cent sales tax passed by
Oklahoma City voters.
Zoo Lake dredged.
1991
Renovation of
playground completed.
The Canopy Food Court
under construction.
Zoo’s own water well
system completed.
New Herpetarium in
design phase.
Butterfly Garden completed.
New entry plaza under
construction.
Ground breaking for
new Education
Building.
Carousel arrives June
17.
Zoo takes over Gift
Shop and
Merchandising.
Two bear grottos
renovated. One for
aardwolves, the other
for picnic tables.
Moemba succumbs to
heart disease.
New sable antelope
exhibit constructed.
Design Team begins
work on new entrance
and Zoo restaurant.
Children's Zoo
renovated.
$8.5 million bond issue
approved to accelerate
construction.
Cat Forest/Lion
Overlook exhibit
completed.
2000
Opening of The Canopy
Food Court.
Dolphin birth – May 31.
Judy the Elephant dies.
1992
Zoo offices renovated.
1998
Director Stephen R.
Wylie resigns on
October 1. Dr. Connie
Mack McCoy selected
as Interim Director.
New Conservation
Education Center opens.
1993
Great EscApe
completed.
1994
Galapagos upgraded to
Island Life Exhibit.
Matilda the Hippo dies.
New Catering Kitchen
and Pavilion
construction completed.
Zoo receives AAM
Accreditation as both a
living museum and
botanical garden.
Renovation of VIP
Room Aquaticus. Now
known as the Nautilus
Room.
New graphics installed
at Aquaticus.
Skyride is sold.
1995
Cat Forest/Lion
Overlook Project ($8.6
million) construction
began.
New Zoo entrance sign
constructed.
Oklahoma City Zoo History
“Judy” memorial constructed.
1999
Twin gorillas born
March 21.
Pygmy hippo exhibit
opened.
Dolphin baby “Lily”
dies.
2001
New Main Entry Opens
– March 10.
Safari Tram stop
construction began.
Norberto "Bert" Castro
hired as new Executive
Director on May 1.
Dr. Connie Mack
McCoy, Interim
Executive Director
/CEO retires.
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Greater one-horned
Indian rhino, "Jamie"
born on May 10.
New Oklahoma bison
exhibit dedicated on
June 1.
Oklahoma Zoological
Society Executive
Director Patrick
Alexander resigns. Dr.
Connie Mack McCoy
selected as Interim
Director.
Frontier Country
Marketing Association
awards Haunt the Zoo
2002 Outstanding
Event.
Waterfowl exhibit at
new Global Plaza opens
on August 21.
2002
First annual Gorilla
Golf tournament held in
September.
Rare babirusa piglets
born at Zoo.
Haunt the Zoo sets an
attendance record for
the event with 33,487
trick-or-treaters.
Pygmy Hippopotamus
born on December 1.
Safari Tram stop
construction completed.
Harbor seal pups arrive
at Zoo.
Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife
Conservation and
United States Fish and
Wildlife open branch
offices on Zoo grounds
in February.
In March, the new Fins
and Feathers show
opens at the Noble
Aquatic Center,
featuring California sea
lions and several species
of exotic birds.
Zoo adds Morphis
Virtual Simulator, rock
climbing wall and a
children's train.
The Education Center is
renamed on April 16 the
Rosser Conservation
Education Center in
honor of longtime
volunteer Ronald
Rosser.
Master Plan workshops
conducted to begin long
term planning for
facilities and exhibits.
Oklahoma City Zoo History
2003
American Zoo and
Aquarium Association
grants accreditation to
the Zoo for another five
years.
The Phillip Boyle
Treehouse opens for
Education classes and
activities.
Zoo Lake opens for
public fishing.
Two orphaned bear cubs
from Alaska go on
exhibit in their new
home at the Red Panda
exhibit on June 26. In
August, the cubs move
to a larger exhibit next
to the sea lion pool
outside the Noble
Aquatic Center
performance arena.
Dwight Scott, former
Co-Curator of Mammals
at the Zoo, is named
Director of Animal
Management.
Oklahoma City
Zoological Trust votes
to discontinue dolphin
and sea lion
presentations.
Oklahoma Zoological
Society names Lana Ivy
as new Executive
Director.
the $250,000 addition is
the first project
completed in the new
master plan of the Zoo.
The new interactive
lorikeet exhibit opens
on May 23. Located
between the Children's
Zoo and The Canopy,
Female Western lowland
gorilla, Mikella, is born
at Great EscApe on
December 14.
2004
A male Western lowland
gorilla named George is
born at Great EscApe on
January 25. At age 40,
mother Kathy becomes
the oldest gorilla in
captivity to give birth.
Male babirusa piglet
born on February 12.
A female pygmy
hippopotamus named
Clover, is born on St.
Patrick's Day, March 17.
Construction of the
Jungle Gym, a
community build
playground, begins on
March 24 and opens on
April 17.
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ZooKeys, located at 18
different boxes
throughout the Zoo with
each providing different
messages, return to the
Zoo during spring.
In May, the Zoo is
named the third best
family-friendly zoo in
the nation by Child
magazine.
In mid-May, ground
breaking and
construction begins on
Oklahoma Trails.
Commemorative Dr.
Pepper bottles
celebrating Zoo's 100th
birthday go on sale.
June 22 is declared
Oklahoma City Zoo
Day through a
resolution read by
Mayor Mick Cornett,
honoring the Zoo's
Centennial Celebration.
Flowers In Flight: The
Butterfly Experience, a
walk-through aviary
featuring butterflies
from around North
America, opens in June.
The Zoo caps its year
long Centennial
Celebration with a
weekend of activities at
the Centennial Birthday
Oklahoma City Zoo History
single night mark was
set with 12,544 guests.
In November, the Zoo is
named as one of five
finalists in Microsoft's
"America's Favorite
Zoo" contest.
Born in late October and
first heard by keepers on
November 7, a litter of
four meerkat pups are
born at the Zoo.
The Zoo Store opens at
Penn Square Mall on
November 2, providing
gift items and
educational experiences
for shoppers. The Zoo
Store remained open
through January 2,
2005.
Fern, a Western lowland
gorilla is euthanized on
November 29 due to age
related health concerns.
2006
2005
Les, a 44-year-old male
Sumatran orangutan,
dies due to age-related
health concerns. He
was the second oldest
male orangutan in North
America.
Two female Queensland
koalas, Kiley and
Nariha, are temporarily
on exhibit, visiting from
San Diego. The pair are
on exhibit from March
11 through June 30.
The Island Life exhibit
is renovated in March
with the addition of new
exhibits and animals,
including the crocodile
monitor.
During the fiscal year
ending June 30, the Zoo
breaks its annual
attendance record with
787,717 guests.
Haunt the Zoo set two
attendance records. The
six night total of 41,576
beat the old record by
over 8,000 while the
A female Greater Indian
rhino is born on January
18.
Three female red river
hog piglets are born July
4. They are the first of
their species born at the
Zoo.
The Centennial Choo
Choo opens on
November 17. The
replica 1863 locomotive
driven train takes
passengers over onemile tracks through the
hoofed stock exhibits.
Two bison calves, one
male and one female are
born at the Zoo in May.
Zoo general admission
increases on June 1 to
$7.00 for adults and
$4.00 for children and
seniors.
Extravaganza on August
7.
One male and one
female African crested
porcupines are born
Sept. 20. They are the
first of their species
born at the Zoo.
2007
Oklahoma Trails opens
March 10.
The Zoo breaks its
annual attendance
record for the fiscal
ending on June 30 with
800,374 guests.
Twenty flamingo eggs
begin the transportation
process to the Zoo on
July 7 as part of a
conservation program
administered by the
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Miami Metrozoo and
the AZA. Eleven of the
flamingo chicks hatched
throughout the month of
July.
Two snow leopard cubs
are born on May 19. It
was the first snow
leopard birth at the Zoo
in 16 years.
Two litters of African
lion cubs are born at the
Zoo November 4 and 6.
The litters produced
four cubs, one male and
three females.
The Oklahoma City
Zoological Trust names
Dwight Scott as the new
Executive Director/CEO
on May 21.
The Zoo breaks its
annual attendance record
for the fiscal year ending
on June 30 with 835,382
guests.
On November 19, the
Zoo and KFOR
NewsChannel 4 launch
the KFOR Cub Cam.
Guests could log on to
the Cub Cam to watch
the lion cubs prior to
their first public
appearance.
The Zoo’s two female
Asian elephants, Asha
and Chandra, are moved
to the Tulsa Zoo to be
bred with male elephant
“Sneezy.” The Zoo hosts
a “Pack Your Trunks”
party to send them off.
A female Grevy’s zebra
foal was born at the Zoo
on November 25.
2009
2008
Executive Director
Norberto “Bert”
Castro resigns
January 11. Director
of Animal
Management Brian
Aucone is named
Interim Director.
Jennifer D’Agostino is
named Director of
Veterinary Services in
January.
The Zoo hosts a naming
contest for the four
African lion cubs.
Voting took place online
and the winning names
were: Xerxes, Malaika,
Zari and Kalliope.
In April, construction
begins on the new
Children’s Zoo.
Oklahoma City Zoo History
On February 19, Elok
the orangutan, new to
the Zoo, makes a brief
trip outside of his
exhibit and is quickly
coaxed back inside
without incident.
Dinosaurs Unearthed
debuts at the Zoo on
March 13. This
animatronic exhibit
featured life-sized
moving, roaring
dinosaurs and ran
through June 30.
Tommy Bryant is named
Director of Grounds and
Maintenance on May 18.
Brian Aucone is named
Assistant Zoo Director
on July 1.
On June 18, two red
panda cubs, one male
and one female, are
born.
The Zoo hosted its first
annual Scoot for
Conservation scooter
run on June 28. All
proceeds benefited
animal conservation.
A male Grevy;s zebra
foal is born on July 12.
A rare male okapi calf is
born on August 15.
On August 26, the Zoo
welcomes the first
jaguar cub born at the
Zoo in 30 years! The
female cub was born to
mom Ixchel.
In October, construction
begins on the new
Asian-themed elephant
exhibit.
On October 15 and 16,
the Zoo hosts one-year
birthday parties for Zoe
the chimpanzee, who
was orphaned at birth
and hand-raised by
keepers.
On December 7 the Zoo
announces that Asha,
one of the Zoo’s Asian
elephants, has
successfully conceived
after breeding with male
“Sneezy” at the Tulsa
Zoo.
On December 18, the
Zoo kicks off a “Name
That Goat Contest” to
name the Nigerian dwarf
goats for the Children’s
Zoo. The contest was
Oklahoma-themed, and
the winning names
were: Gotebo, Norman,
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Edmond, Bixby,
Chandler, Dewey,
Oologah, Jet, Bowlegs,
Duncan, Hugo & Perry.
2010
The Zoo’s four lion cubs
move to the El Paso Zoo
on January 17. They will
be staying together as a
non-breeding pride.
On January 17, a giraffe
calf, later named
“Keyara,” is born to
first-time parents Ellie
and Bogy.
On March 12, the new
Children’s Zoo opens to
the public, featuring a
barnyard petting area,
the return of the
Explorikeet Adventure,
and much more!
On April 7, the Zoo
announces the formation
of a small grants
program, Conservation
Action Now (CAN).
On May 12, two male
snow leopard cubs, an
endangered species, are
born at the Zoo.
On June 24, two
endangered red panda
cubs, one male and one
female, are born to
parents Yoda and
Celeste.
Paintings by OKC Zoo
Animals” art show in the
Paseo District.
female, are born to
parents
Yoda
and
Celeste.
On October 18, elephant
sisters Asha and
Chandra return to the
Zoo from the Tulsa Zoo.
On July 9, four critically
endangered
Sumatran
tiger cubs are born to
mom Suriya and dad
Raguno – the first-ever
Sumatran tigers born at
the Zoo.
On November 1, Alan
Vasik begins as
Assistant Zoo Director.
2011
On March 11, the Zoo’s
new 9.5 acre, $13
million
Asian-themed
elephant habitat opens to
the public! Featuring
elephant sisters Asha
and Chandra, the habitat
is one of the largest
elephant spaces in the
country!
The ZooZeum opened
on April 9. Located near
the elephant habitat the
ZooZeum is housed in a
restored stone building,
originally a bathhouse
built in 1935, by the
Works
Progress
Administration.
The
only museum of its kind
in the country, the
ZooZeum is a place to
relive
favorite
zoo
memories.
On July 20, Zoo
Executive Director
Dwight Scott is named
to the Board of Trustees
of the prestigious Dian
Fossey Gorilla Fund
International.
On April 15, the Zoo
welcomed a female baby
Asian elephant calf.
Born to mom Asha and
dad Sneezy (from the
Tulsa Zoo), the calf,
later named Malee, is
the first elephant ever
born at the Zoo.
On August 6, the Zoo
presents the first annual
“Art Gone Wild:
On June 25, three
endangered red panda
cubs, two males and one
Oklahoma City Zoo History
On September 6, the
Zoo opened a giraffe
feeding platform that
allows guests to feed our
gentle giants for $3.00 a
person.
On November 13, a rare
okapi calf, female, is
born to mom Caroli and
dad Kidomo.
In December, a bull
Asian elephant named
Rex joined the Zoo’s
elephant herd of halfsisters
Asha
and
Chandra
and
baby
Malee.
2012
On January 17 and male
giraffe calf is born to
mom Ellie and dad
Bogy.
In March, the Zoo is
named the third best Zoo
in
the nation by
10Best.com’s 10Bestie
awards.
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