Omaha Forums

Last year they hit the 2,000,000 mark on Nov 29th. So they are right on pace with last year.

skinzfan23 wrote:Last year they hit the 2,000,000 mark on Nov 29th. So they are right on pace with last year.

Good to see consistency in attendance ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Looks like the IMAX theater is undergoing major renovations and will be closed from Jan 15 - Mar 30

No longer will be branded as an IMAX either, moving forward it is the Lozier Giant Screen Theater.

Projection, seating, lighting, and sound will all be updated.


http://www.omahazoo.com/inthenews/posts ... renovation

nebugeater wrote:Looks like the IMAX theater is undergoing major renovations and will be closed from Jan 15 - Mar 30

No longer will be branded as an IMAX either, moving forward it is the Lozier Giant Screen Theater.

Hard to believe its 21 years old already!

Is "IMAX" starting to become a thing of the past?

Thanks for posting. I wonder if they are changing the screen size or leaving it the same.

skinzfan23 wrote:Thanks for posting. I wonder if they are changing the screen size or leaving it the same.

I would be surprised if it was changed. No option to go larger and I really see no benefit in going small. They can always use only a portion of it if needed for a specific film.

Brad wrote:

nebugeater wrote:Looks like the IMAX theater is undergoing major renovations and will be closed from Jan 15 - Mar 30

No longer will be branded as an IMAX either, moving forward it is the Lozier Giant Screen Theater.

Hard to believe its 21 years old already!

Is "IMAX" starting to become a thing of the past?

Guess only ----- but since IMAX is film based and needed to be filmed and projected with Special IMAX sized film it has been matched with digital technology. Anything on IMAX can be diligently converted assuming the rights issue is covered is my guess. In addition with Digital it will open up to other sources for content not being tied to IMAX film only. If IMAX has goon digital already then some of this may be off but there would still be a licensing component to calling it a IMAX theater and only being able to project the film.

nebugeater wrote:

Brad wrote:

nebugeater wrote:Looks like the IMAX theater is undergoing major renovations and will be closed from Jan 15 - Mar 30

No longer will be branded as an IMAX either, moving forward it is the Lozier Giant Screen Theater.

Hard to believe its 21 years old already!

Is "IMAX" starting to become a thing of the past?

Guess only ----- but since IMAX is film based and needed to be filmed and projected with Special IMAX sized film it has been matched with digital technology. Anything on IMAX can be diligently converted assuming the rights issue is covered is my guess. In addition with Digital it will open up to other sources for content not being tied to IMAX film only. If IMAX has goon digital already then some of this may be off but there would still be a licensing component to calling it a IMAX theater and only being able to project the film.

I know some people at the zoo, and they always said that the amount of movies they could get were getting more and more limited because they still used the old style imax film. Part of the reason why they've had almost the same movies for over 2 years now.

A couple things off the Omaha Zoo Foundation website under the News tab:

http://www.omahazoofoundation.org/news

From the December 6 entry Coffee With Dennis Pate:

"During his presentation at the coffee, Pate pointed out that, in any given year, the zoo is opening one exhibit, building another and planning a third. In the planning stage this year is the new sea lion pool (after 45 years, the current Owen Sea Lion Pavilion is ready for retirement), and of course we opened both the Bay Family Children’s Adventure Trails and the Dick & Mary Holland Meadowlark Theatre in 2017. In fact, Pate said, the Meadowlark’s shows will be included in the price of zoo admission next year, so that more people will be able to see them."

and from January 19 entry Coming Soon in 2018:

"Happy New Year! 2018 is off to a chilly start in Omaha, which seems appropriate given that this is the year that Phase One of our Asian Highlands exhibit will début."

"Phase One, which Pate anticipates opening the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, will include habitats for the Indian rhino, Père David’s deer, white-naped crane, red panda and tufted deer."

"Also on tap for this summer is the demolition of the Red Barn Park to make way for a new guest services area that includes a walk-up restaurant, more seating, and restrooms which will open (hopefully) next spring. Since many of the animals that were traditionally housed in the Red Barn have already been moved to Children’s Adventure Trails, the area will be devoted exclusively to guest services."

and

Pate says that a two-day admission option will also be rolling out this spring. “With the expansion we’ve had over the last several years, the zoo has really become more than a full day’s visit. We want guests to experience a more relaxed weekend visit when they travel to Omaha to see the zoo.”

Coyote wrote:Rhino Building plans being submitted.

Plans just submitted again, 3744 sq ft.

Is the Rhino building just an enclosure for them during bad weather? Will it be guest accessible in the winter?

I am kind of pumped they are doing something new for the sea lions. Hopefully you can view them at and below water level.

Greg

Giant Mexican Olmec head installed in the Henry Doorly Zoo's jungle

Crews installed a 20,000-pound stone Olmec head in the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Thursday. It's a gift from Xalapa, Omaha's sister city in Mexico, and it's called "El Rey," meaning "The King."

The head is a replica of Olmec Colossal Head No. 1, one of more than a dozen basalt sculptures found in the Mexican state of Veracruz in the mid-1900s. The stones date back to at least 900 BC.

skinzfan23 wrote:Giant Mexican Olmec head installed in the Henry Doorly Zoo's jungle

Crews installed a 20,000-pound stone Olmec head in the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium on Thursday. It's a gift from Xalapa, Omaha's sister city in Mexico, and it's called "El Rey," meaning "The King."

The head is a replica of Olmec Colossal Head No. 1, one of more than a dozen basalt sculptures found in the Mexican state of Veracruz in the mid-1900s. The stones date back to at least 900 BC.

Love it. Small children might be terrified of it, though ha.

Zoo's New Education Center Named After Robert B. Daugherty

The Daugherty Education Center is home to year-round programming and provides educational space to more than 9,000 student visitors annually. The Zoo’s full-time high school, kindergarten and after school programs are all located within the state-of-the-art building.

Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

There are two other sections with petting zoo animals now; one in the play area and another down in the African section. The petting zoo had already sent most of its animals over to those sections.

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Garrett wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

There are two other sections with petting zoo animals now; one in the play area and another down in the African section. The petting zoo had already sent most of its animals over to those sections.

The only animals I've seen there are the goats. None of the ponies or the donkey.

Also the parakeet exhibit is FAR WORSE than the old one.

The donkey and miniature horses were relocated to a farm in Iowa.

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Wow, your just a barrel of joy and happiness.

Rehulk wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Wow, your just a barrel of joy and happiness.

Absolutely love the changes at the zoo. I grew up going to the barn area and will miss it from a nostalgia point of view. That being said, hard to argue with the results of the recent changes. Attendance is way up and for the new exhibits have greatly exceeded my expectations.

Back to back years of 2,000,000 attendance I think speaks to the success of the changes.

Greg

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Or how abut the following

Dessert Dome
Kingdom of the Nights
Scott Qauarium
Lied Jungle
Gorilla's
Bear Canyon
....among many other things that you can see and do year round.

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Or how abut the following

Dessert Dome
Kingdom of the Nights
Scott Qauarium
Lied Jungle
Gorilla's
Bear Canyon
....among many other things that you can see and do year round.

Agreed. If you can't make a zoo trip out of the amazing indoor exhibits the zoo has, you're not doing it right.

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Or how abut the following

Dessert Dome
Kingdom of the Nights
Scott Qauarium
Lied Jungle
Gorilla's
Bear Canyon
....among many other things that you can see and do year round.

Mmmm the Dessert Dome sounds like an amazing new attraction

MadMartin8 wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Or how abut the following

Dessert Dome
Kingdom of the Nights
Scott Qauarium
Lied Jungle
Gorilla's
Bear Canyon
....among many other things that you can see and do year round.

Mmmm the Dessert Dome sounds like an amazing new attraction

Ok. Some one needs to Photoshop the Dome into a huge Sunday or cake for the next Omaha food festival or have your birthday at the zoo.

Willy Wonka Dome

Coyote wrote:Willy Wonka Dome

FIVE CHILDREN ENTER, ONE KID LEAVES!!!
FIVE CHILDREN ENTER, ONE KID LEAVES!!!

Rehulk wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Wow, your just a barrel of joy and happiness.

Good reply. Really addressed the point that the zoo is the best thing in Omaha and they literally are making |expletive| exhibits at the zoo that is not usable for a good portion of the year.

Greg S wrote:

Rehulk wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Wow, your just a barrel of joy and happiness.

Absolutely love the changes at the zoo. I grew up going to the barn area and will miss it from a nostalgia point of view. That being said, hard to argue with the results of the recent changes. Attendance is way up and for the new exhibits have greatly exceeded my expectations.

Back to back years of 2,000,000 attendance I think speaks to the success of the changes.

Greg

That's because there is very little to do in Omaha for most people outside the zoo. I'm not nostalgic about the zoo. The entire African exhibit was a poorly planned exhibit. ELEPHANTS IN NEBRASKA. What an awful idea. They're literally stuck inside for a good portion of the winter.

The entire south park of the Africa area is awful. Go there in February. It's just a giant dead area.

Or how abut the following

Dessert Dome
Kingdom of the Nights
Scott Qauarium
Lied Jungle
Gorilla's
Bear Canyon
....among many other things that you can see and do year round.

Dude, I go to the zoo probably once a month during the entire year. I know the exhibits. NOTICE HOW THOSE (except the bears) are inside. Also, it tends to be very crowded in those areas during the winter, because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO in the rest of the zoo.

Now, imagine a CRAZY IDEA. Where we actually obtain/build OUTDOOR EXHIBITS for animals that can survive the 4 seasons in the midwest????

What, crazy you say? I prefer to see my giraffes and elephants in indoor prisons!

TLGJames wrote:

Rehulk wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Wow, your just a barrel of joy and happiness.

Good reply. Really addressed the point that the zoo is the best thing in Omaha and they literally are making |expletive| exhibits at the zoo that is not usable for a good portion of the year.

And your getting butt hurt over the zoo making renovations and new attractions on their dime and said renovations and attractions are largely successful because they are not as used that much during the slow winter months.

TLG, I see you are up to 90 posts as I write this. While I didn't do an exact audit, my guess is at least 85 of your posts are about how you don't like the direction the zoo is taking. Hey great, you have an opinion and you're passionate about it. But I'll wager a guess and conclude we all understand your position by now. It's old news. Those of us who agree with you agree with you. Those of us who don't, don't and won't. So just a suggestion. How about finding a new horse to beat to death. Seriously, you're zoo posts are old news. Perhaps it's time to move on to a new topic. Just as a courtesy to those who want to open the HDZ topic without what has become the usual hi-jack.

guy4omaha wrote:TLG, I see you are up to 90 posts as I write this. While I didn't do an exact audit, my guess is at least 85 of your posts are about how you don't like the direction the zoo is taking. Hey great, you have an opinion and you're passionate about it. But I'll wager a guess and conclude we all understand your position by now. It's old news. Those of us who agree with you agree with you. Those of us who don't, don't and won't. So just a suggestion. How about finding a new horse to beat to death. Seriously, you're zoo posts are old news. Perhaps it's time to move on to a new topic. Just as a courtesy to those who want to open the HDZ topic without what has become the usual hi-jack.

You both kind of sound like you sat on a tack. I know nobody was asking me just sayin

It happens sometimes

So anyone happen to know if they released any images of what the new area replacing the red Barn is going to look like?

guy4omaha wrote:TLG, I see you are up to 90 posts as I write this. While I didn't do an exact audit, my guess is at least 85 of your posts are about how you don't like the direction the zoo is taking. Hey great, you have an opinion and you're passionate about it. But I'll wager a guess and conclude we all understand your position by now. It's old news. Those of us who agree with you agree with you. Those of us who don't, don't and won't. So just a suggestion. How about finding a new horse to beat to death. Seriously, you're zoo posts are old news. Perhaps it's time to move on to a new topic. Just as a courtesy to those who want to open the HDZ topic without what has become the usual hi-jack.

Good research and rebuttal to valid points. Also I have 22 posts in this thread. Out of 90. So I think you're not very good at math.

I'm sorry I want to talk about the zoo literally removing animals and adding concession stands. And choosing poor animals for our climate. And treating the animals we have poorly. Everyone just wants to say the zoo is flawless and well Engineered I guess.

Even on a nice early spring day, 40%+ of the actual zoo is completely empty and void of life.

TLGJames wrote:

Greg S wrote:

Rehulk wrote:

TLGJames wrote:

nebugeater wrote:

TLGJames wrote:Apparently the petting zoo is now closed for good.

It's being replaced for more concessions and no animals. Ugh.

I swear the zoo director doesn't realize that we live in a cold state.

Have you been to the zoo lately? This need is covered well.

You mean the African area where most of the animals are off exhibit in the winter? Or the giant water area that is closed 5 months a year?

Wow, your just a barrel of joy and happiness.

Absolutely love the changes at the zoo. I grew up going to the barn area and will miss it from a nostalgia point of view. That being said, hard to argue with the results of the recent changes. Attendance is way up and for the new exhibits have greatly exceeded my expectations.

Back to back years of 2,000,000 attendance I think speaks to the success of the changes.

Greg

That's because there is very little to do in Omaha for most people outside the zoo. I'm not nostalgic about the zoo. The entire African exhibit was a poorly planned exhibit. ELEPHANTS IN NEBRASKA. What an awful idea. They're literally stuck inside for a good portion of the winter.

The entire south park of the Africa area is awful. Go there in February. It's just a giant dead area.

Or how abut the following

Dessert Dome
Kingdom of the Nights
Scott Qauarium
Lied Jungle
Gorilla's
Bear Canyon
....among many other things that you can see and do year round.

Dude, I go to the zoo probably once a month during the entire year. I know the exhibits. NOTICE HOW THOSE (except the bears) are inside. Also, it tends to be very crowded in those areas during the winter, because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO in the rest of the zoo.

Now, imagine a CRAZY IDEA. Where we actually obtain/build OUTDOOR EXHIBITS for animals that can survive the 4 seasons in the midwest????

What, crazy you say? I prefer to see my giraffes and elephants in indoor prisons!

I go to the zoo at least once a month in the winter too. I can't ever remember the indoor exhibits being "very crowded."

Greg

TLGJames wrote:

guy4omaha wrote:TLG, I see you are up to 90 posts as I write this. While I didn't do an exact audit, my guess is at least 85 of your posts are about how you don't like the direction the zoo is taking. Hey great, you have an opinion and you're passionate about it. But I'll wager a guess and conclude we all understand your position by now. It's old news. Those of us who agree with you agree with you. Those of us who don't, don't and won't. So just a suggestion. How about finding a new horse to beat to death. Seriously, you're zoo posts are old news. Perhaps it's time to move on to a new topic. Just as a courtesy to those who want to open the HDZ topic without what has become the usual hi-jack.

Good research and rebuttal to valid points. Also I have 22 posts in this thread. Out of 90. So I think you're not very good at math.

I'm sorry I want to talk about the zoo literally removing animals and adding concession stands. And choosing poor animals for our climate. And treating the animals we have poorly. Everyone just wants to say the zoo is flawless and well Engineered I guess.

Even on a nice early spring day, 40%+ of the actual zoo is completely empty and void of life.

List some animals that are big draws and are well suited for our climate.

Garrett wrote: List some animals that are big draws and are well suited for our climate.

A Big Foot or an Abominable Snowman.

GrandpaaSmucker wrote:

Garrett wrote: List some animals that are big draws and are well suited for our climate.

A Big Foot or an Abominable Snowman.

There is going to be a Yeti camp in the new Asian highlands exhibit.....



Greg