Zoo Seeks $2 Million To Stay Open Funds Needed To Pay For Moving Into Silverwood Theme Park

Walk in the Wild officials say they’ll shut down the zoo and get rid of the animals if they don’t raise $2 million in the next nine months.

The money, at least 10 times more than was raised in the zoo’s most successful fund-raiser, would pay for a planned move to North Idaho’s Silverwood Theme Park.

“There’s a certain amount of urgency,” said manager Frances Drake, a former fund-raiser for Idaho public television stations. “We feel very optimistic.”

In the meantime, the zoo remains open in the Spokane Valley. But business is dismal, with bad weather and rumors the zoo is closed keeping animal lovers away.

“We’ve been way below normal this summer, and while it hasn’t forced us to incur any more debt, we haven’t been able to build up any reserves, either,” said Drake. “We’ll be relying on donations to get through this winter.”

Struggling through the winter is nothing new for the zoo, which opened in the early 1970s and is perpetually short of cash. It gets no tax money.

The zoo operates rent-free on land owned by the Inland Empire Paper Co. Last year, the company tried to give the land to Spokane County, saying it no longer wanted to be landlord to a zoo.

That deal fell through when county commissioners missed the deadline for responding. Paper company managers told the Inland Northwest Zoological Society they’d have to shut down by the end of the summer.

The zoo avoided eviction when Silverwood Theme Park offered a new home for the animals. But the zoological society, which would continue running the new zoo under a different name, must build the exhibits.

Drake estimates the move will cost $2 million, with more money needed later for additions.

Paper company officials agreed to let the zoo stay put as long as the zoological society had a reasonable plan to raise money and make the move.

Drake said the society will start sending requests for money to businesses throughout the region next week.

The zoo also plans several other fundraisers, including a visit from Jim Fowler, former host of Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom” program, next month.

“My personal goal is to have the money raised by this spring so we can start construction,” said Drake. “I’d like to be ready to move out by this time next year.”

, DataTimes