425 acres, zero fences, $600M return
The Saint Louis Zoo’s new WildCare Park in Spanish Lake will open next year with free admission for local residents.
By Alina Campbell ·
The Saint Louis Zoo projects an economic return of more than $600 million from WildCare Park, a new 425-acre facility currently under final construction in Spanish Lake, Mo. The park is slated to open to the public next year.
WildCare Park Executive Director Sabbarras George told reporters the design aims to replicate the feel of an African safari. “They’re coming to someplace in St. Louis that they will absolutely forget they’re in St. Louis,” George said. The site is located just south of the Missouri River in north St. Louis County.
The zoo operates two guided vehicle trails through the habitat. During a recent inspection, traffic stopped to yield to antelope on the road. Visitors on these trails can approach giraffes closely enough to smell them, according to staff. WildCare Park curator Tim Thier noted the environment “really does resemble being in Kenya when you see these species together.”
The expansive land allows the zoo to house more animals than the existing Forest Park Zoo. Many of the residents are endangered species that require large areas to graze. Thier said the space is “really helping those species grow and be more sustainable.”
Outside the vehicle trails, a walking safari area will feature kangaroos and wallabies. Director of Architecture and Construction Leslie Garner explained that the animals will roam without barriers between them and visitors. The park’s layout followed the natural rolling hills of the property.
The facility includes a museum, a restaurant, glamping cabins, and an event space. The event space has a rear section that opens directly into the animal habitats. George said the design allows for close proximity, such as taking a photo with a giraffe.
A large observation tower will rise nearly 200 feet, making it the highest elevation point in St. Louis County. On clear days, the structure should offer a view of the Gateway Arch. St. Louis County residents will not pay an admission fee, a benefit funded by a sales tax passed in the previous decade.
