Cincinnati Zoo to Open New Australia-Themed Area

What Roo Valley could look like Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Zoo

After receiving a historic donation from local philanthropists Harry and Linda Fath, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has big plans for some new exhibits and expansions slated to open at the park in 2020 and beyond.

The Faths — whose previous donations have helped fund the indoor gorilla facility and the Africa habitat — donated $50 million to contribute to the zoo’s “More Home to Roam” campaign, which will help build a habitat five times the current size for the zoo’s elephants, among other plans.

Those other plans, to be completed in phases, include a new Australian-themed area, a new entryway to the park, bigger naturalistic spaces for the animals and enhanced visitor experiences. It will also help the zoo achieve its goal of being net zero energy, water and waste by 2025.

Here’s what to expect:

Roo Valley — Slated to open in 2020, Roo Valley is an Australian-themed exhibit that will replace the current Wildlife Canyon. The canyon will be transformed into a two-level activity course, 25-feet in the treetops, with a 15,000-square-foot grassy kangaroo and wallaby walkabout below. The space will also include a new home and underwater viewing area for the little penguins.

A concept for the ropes course in Roo Valley Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Zoo

Beer Garden — Also expected to open in 2020, this multi-level beer garden will be located behind the Water Hole and offer views of Roo Valley.

Rhino Reserve — Rhino Reserve will be redesigned to include multiple outdoor yards to manage the zoo’s black rhino breeding pairs. According to the zoo, the critically endangered species likes to be alone except when breeding or raising young. The new exhibit, expected to open in 2023, will also include a larger, mixed-species yard, expanded moats and a visitor viewing deck.

New Visitor Access — The zoo is adding an 1,800-car parking garage for guests, which will also provide five acres of greenspace for the elephants. The garage should open in 2023.

Elephant Trek — Expected to open in 2025, Elephant Trek will be five times the size of the current elephant habitat. By removing cars from the zoo grounds, this naturalistic yard will feature mud wallows, trees, grasses, pools and streams. “Our hope is to see a multi-generational elephant herd with up to 10 elephants roaming where a parking lot used to be,” said zoo director Thayne Maynard in a press release. “And that future generations will get to see and experience that too.”

A rendering of Elephant Trek Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Zoo

Other habitat improvements will focus on the Lords of the Arctic polar bear space, to help create an environment conducive to breeding, and a makeover for the current sea lion habitat.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is located at 3400 Vine St., Avondale. For more info, visit cincinnatizoo.org.

Here’s a map of the master plan: