Imagine a world-class, state-of-the-art zoo and aquarium, complete with adventure treks, ziplining, coupled with a host of enticing retail, dining, and entertainment options, all rolled into one breathtaking facility. All of this is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, thus eliminating the need for a day trip to Birmingham or Nashville.

Ethan Woodruff: “It has been almost 45 years since a zoo has been built from scratch, so it’s a pretty exciting thing for our area.” (Photo/Lori Connors)

The dream is destined to become a reality in the not-so-distant future. In a recent press conference, the North Alabama Zoological Society, a Huntsville-based nonprofit, announced its plans for a zoological park in Limestone County.

NALZS, in partnership with Lansing Companies, will be developing the recently purchased 687-acre multi-use site. The is accessible to communities across North Alabama via U.S. 72, U.S. 31, I-65 at the Huntsville-Brownsferry Road exit.

According to design renderings, the project will be in three phases: the first phase will take roughly three years to complete. The Huntsville-based architectural firm BRPH will design the buildings; the landscape architecture and thematic design will be implemented by Orlando-based Perry Becker Design Group.

Much has been considered in the details, especially with regards to location. Answering concerns about the site in “Tornado Alley,” staff and patron safety and security has been built into the facility’s overarching design.

The proposed zoological park and aquarium comes with an elephant-sized price tag of $33 million, $11 million will need to be raised through fundraising and sponsorship.

For almost 45 years, there has not been a nonprofit zoo, nor a zoological park built from the ground up in the United States. Although there have been other groups with similar visions over the years, plans for a zoo or an aquarium have yet to materialize in North Alabama.

Formed in August 2019, NALZS has a goal of establishing a world-class community zoo and aquarium. The organization said it conducted its market research indicated that Huntsville would be an ideal location.

To further promote the endeavor and to build awareness, NALZS implemented “A Zoo for You, North Alabama” billboard campaign in January 2020. In addition to a zoo, the North Alabama community also wanted an aquarium, the organization said.

Although NALZS’ primary objective is to create a zoo and aquarium in North Alabama, a part of their mission is to conserve wildlife habitats so future generations can enjoy observing the various species in their natural environments. To that end, they are developing relevant programming to support wildlife conservation and education.

The theme of the exhibits will be based on the animals’ homes in the national parks or preserves, providing a relevant way to help visitors connect with the wildlife and their native environs. The Adventure Treks will also allow visitors to move through their native habitats in adventurous ways.

On the aquarium side, there will be one building devoted to aquatic wildlife. However, most of the aquatic species will be in aquaria co-located with other wildlife from their respective national parks and preserves.

“Another area of special interest is the Cosmic exhibit,” said NALZS Executive Director Ethan Woodruff. “That is going to be an exhibit with species that have gone up in space. It’s a homage to those species that have gone through the astronaut program. We’ll have species that have gone up in space, like spider monkeys, cats, rabbits, and it will be very interactive.”

Woodruff pointed out that when completed, the new zoo would be part of a “zoo trail” along the I-65 corridor, spanning from Nashville to Gulf Shores. There promises to be a zoo destination almost every two hours – or less – along I-65.

“We’ve been working on this for two years and two days; we just had our anniversary August 8th,” said Woodruff. “It has been almost 45 years since a zoo has been built from scratch, so it’s a pretty exciting thing for our area.”

For more info: www.aZooForYouNAL.org