Design Your Own Zoo Drawing Book

Design Your Own Zoo is a fun and interactive drawing journal for kids and creative minds who love to draw animals, design habitats, and imagine their own amazing zoo.

Encourages Creativity – Inspires kids and adults to dream up unique zoo designs, habitats, and attractions.

Fun for All Ages – Perfect for kids, teens, and even adults who love to draw, plan, and imagine.

No Wrong Answers – Whether you're a skilled artist or just love to doodle, every design is your own masterpiece.

Boosts Problem-Solving Skills – Challenges users to think about real-world zoo design aspects like space, animal welfare, and visitor experience.

Learn About Animals – Includes fun facts to introduce different species and their habitat needs.

Encourages Storytelling – Users can create a backstory for their zoo, its theme, and its animal residents.

Open-Ended & Structured Prompts – A mix of guided tasks and freeform pages for variety.

Great for Individuals or School Projects – Ideal for home fun, classroom activities, or educational projects.

Hands-On STEM Learning – Introduces concepts in zoology, ecology, and environmental science in an engaging way.

Encourages Confidence in Drawing – Focuses on ideas rather than artistic skill, making it accessible to everyone.

Supports Planning & Organization Skills – Helps users think through layout, operations, and guest experiences.

Perfect for Aspiring Zoo Designers & Animal Lovers – A fun way to explore career interests in zookeeping, design, and conservation.

Use Any Art Supplies – Works with pencils, crayons, markers, or any preferred drawing tool.

Bleed-Resistant Layout – Prompts are only on one side to prevent ink from showing through.

Engages Kids Away from Screens – Encourages hands-on creativity without digital distractions.

Promotes Critical Thinking – Users consider ethical questions like animal welfare and conservation efforts.

Ideal for Travel or Quiet Time – Great for road trips, waiting rooms, or relaxing at home.

Encourages Imaginative Play – Kids can act out their zoo ideas with toys or stuffed animals.

A Unique Gift Idea – A thoughtful and fun present for animal lovers and young artists.

Endless Replayability – Every time you pick up the book, you can create a brand-new zoo!

Pickup your copy of Design Your Own Zoo from Amazon today!

Columbus Zoo Adventure Cove Construction Update

Looks like the new seal world exhibit at the Columbus Zoo is now part of an area called Adventure Cove and we finally have our first overhead rendering. Below are some construction pictures from February 2018.

Here's an overhead view from Google maps before the construction began:

Overlay of the plans:

Columbus Zoo Sea Lions/Wild World Construction Begins

Construction for the new sea lion and Wild World area set to open in 2019 at the Columbus Zoo has officially broken ground.

The paths to get to Jungle Jack's Landing have been walled off.

The former Funnel Cake building and the Animal Encounters Village looked to have been leveled.

The construction is already having an effect on some of the events at the zoo. Last year, there was Trick-or-Treating in the picnic shelter area. This has been spread out around the park for Boo at the Zoo this year. The Sparkling Spruce Tree that was added to Wildlights last year has been moved next to the grizzly bears in the Polar Frontier. Jungle Jack's Landing is completely inaccessible.

Here's my sketch of the area that looks to be under construction.

No concept art or plans have been released yet. See a previous long term plan concept here.

Columbus Zoo Sea Lions and Wild World Exhibits

Back in 2014, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium released some amazing looking long term plans that would see almost every region of the zoo transformed and improved. After the levy failed to pass, it seemed like all of these plans was put on hold indefinitely. That is until the past week when it was announced that sea lions would be coming to Columbus in 2019. But first, let's review some of those earlier plans.

Original Long Term Plans

Conservation Cove will feature sea lions and harbor seals, an amphitheater, a restaurant and the essence of a rocky Pacific coastline near the zoo’s front door. Up-close and personal experiences with a variety of other animals - Jack Hanna style! - will complement the sea lion adventure. Wild World will include high energy activities for visitors that parallel common actions of the animal species exhibited nearby.

Conservation Cover

The new signature exhibit featuring sea lion and harbor seals will be located at the approximate location of the old entry gate (utilized before Zoombezi Bay was incorporated into the property in 2008) and partially encompasses the existing events building and the existing gift shop. The exhibit includes large water bodies with a deep rocky pool and a more beach-like wave pool. The deep pool section includes a show space with amphitheater seating for 300 people and an underwater viewing window. Visitors will view the animals in water and basking on rocky outcrops in the pool. The beach zone will feature a shallower pool with sandy beaches for basking, deep water channels for swimming, and up close and personal viewing through glass railings and viewing windows. The two pools are connected by below grade channels that visitors can walk across and view the sea lions swimming below their feet. A new restaurant, with vistas of the sea lion pools merging into the existing lake, will welcome visitors with a rustic seaside atmosphere. Lushly planted bird aviaries with shore and sea species will be adjacent to the sea lion pools.

Wild World

This zone renovates the existing space between the Entry Village and Zoombezi Bay. The new exhibits will combine high-energy attractions for visitors with equally high-energy animal habitats. A variety of interactive activities for zoo visitors such as rope courses and swinging bridges will be adjacent to and simulate the enriched animal environments, offering play opportunities that replicate the normal behaviors of the nearby wild animals.

2019 Columbus Zoo Plans

I thought all the original plans were as good as dead, until I found this article from November 2016:

Smoot Construction has been awarded a CM at Risk contract for The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s New Exhibit Region: Wild World/Sea Lions.

This Wild World Exhibit experience shall be salt spray, sea lions and one-on-one animal encounters. Directly inside the Zoo’s Entry Plaza, this region will delight and enchant zoo guests with unforgettable animal encounters, presentations and tours; wild, Jack Hanna-themed experiences; a raucous colony of bellowing seals and sea lions, and much more.

Certain to be an adventure for the entire family, Wild World will be developed in the current Jungle Jack’s landing area and will actually incorporate some of the popular existing rides. The region will be based not on a specific, geographic location, but instead on a fun, nature-oriented and whimsical land where the connection between people and wildlife is celebrated.

Here's an approximate location:

Mystery Construction at the Columbus Zoo

Noticed a little construction outside of the Columbus Zoo the other day. Anyone have any idea what this is for? For sure not related to any animal exhibits. Probably some new admin building, tent or shade structure. Maybe even lockers outside of the park.

Columbus Zoo Wildlights 2016 Video

The Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo are back and better than ever! I took the video below during the member preview night. Wait until you see the sloth bear...

African Safari Wildlife Park Map and Video

Experience the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio where random animals (mostly from North America, not Africa) stick their heads into your car looking for food. Car wash not included.

On one hand, I feel bad about paying for a ticket because I don't know how well the animals are cared for. And they’re not wild animals anymore, they don’t act or behave like wild animals.
But where else can you go and have a buffalo stick its head in your car?

Animals include camels, bison, elk, fallow deer, giraffe, Scottish Highlander, white bison, zebra, gemsbok, and alpacas.



Pictured below is the African Safari Wildlife Park map 2016 version.

Columbus Zoo adding 4D theater, interactive park

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is adding a new 4D theater attraction as well as an interactive playground. The area will be known as the Shores Park. See renderings of the plans and construction pictures below.

Hawaiian goose at Columbus Zoo

Hawaiian goose have been added to the flamingo exhibit at the Columbus Zoo. Pictured below is the new sign.

I've also heard the sun bears are going to be phased out. Can anyone confirm?

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Map 2015

A few weeks ago we visited Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, our second visit since the first in 2013. My thoughts from last time remain pretty much unchanged as the only difference at the aquarium was swapping out the dinosaur exhibit for "Swarm". It was fun taking our son and seeing his reactions. Check out the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies 2015 map below:

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo 2015

This Thursday was the start of Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo. New this year is three different light dancing light shows: two alternating shows around the central lake and a new one in the Shores region. Check out some highlights by watching the Wildlights 2015 video below:

Columbus Zoo 2015 Videos

A couple videos from the Columbus Zoo this summer, including the Pirate Island Boat Ride:

Columbus Zoo Map 2015

Pictured below is the 2015 Columbus Zoo map. Heart of Africa is open for the season but meerkats have not been added like previously rumored. Robot dinosaurs have been replaced by robot pirates around the boat ride in Voyage to the Islands area. The pony rides have been moved to the top of Bison Hill and a cow has taken up residence in the old pony ride area.

Columbus Zoo Heart of Africa Vervet Monkey

Are Columbus Zoo: Heart of Africa series continues with a look at the vervet monkeys. These monkeys have taken over Jack Hanna's base camp. There are 27 vervet monkeys kept in three different groups. The zoo keepers can use different setups to keep the exhibit fresh and interesting for visitors and monkeys alike.

Watch the vervet monkeys wreck havoc on Jack's camp below:

We'll have a final post on Heart of Africa soon!

Columbus Zoo Heart of Africa: Cheetahs

In the next several posts I’ll be taking a look at several of the highlights of the Heart of Africa in the Columbus Zoo. The main cheetah exhibit is a bit of a letdown after the fantastic lion exhibit. It looks a bit small and viewing is only through glass or a net. 

However, several times a day the cheetahs are let loose in the neighboring watering hole enclosure and this is where the fun really begins. The watering hole is rather large and the cheetahs are free to run around at will. While we visited, two dogs that have been living with the cheetahs were also set loose and they played in the watering hole with the cheetahs.


Stay tuned for more Heart of Africa coverage.

Columbus Zoo Heart of Africa: Giraffe Feeding

In the next several posts I’ll be taking a look at several of the highlights of the Heart of Africa in the Columbus Zoo.The giraffes have finally made their return to the Columbus Zoo and there are now eleven of them that call the savanna home. It appears as though they have been split up into two groups: one occupies the enclosure where the feeding platform is while the other group roams free in the savanna with countless other creatures. It costs $3 to feed the giraffes and I believe there are three feeding times during the day. Of all the giraffe feedings I've done (Detroit Zoo, the Wilds, etc.) I have to say these giraffes are the most friendly I've seen. They're not shy at all! Watch the video if you don't believe me.

A few pictures of the giraffes at the Columbus Zoo:

Stay tuned for more Heart of Africa coverage!

Columbus Zoo Heart of Africa: African Lions

In the next several posts I’ll be taking a look at several of the highlights of the Heart of Africa in the Columbus Zoo. The stars of the new region are by far the African Lions. Their new exhibit is far superior to their old, netted one next to Riverside Drive. There are multiple viewing areas to see the three majestic cats: from inside the new restaurant, open air across the moat, and through glass near the airplane. 

In fact, the wings of the plane perched near the walkway will be air-conditioned to lure shade-seeking lions. The back of their yard blends perfectly into the savanna exhibit behind them and it’s cool to see wildebeests and giraffes wandering around in the background.

Stay tuned for more Heart of Africa coverage!

Evolution of Heart of Africa at the Columbus Zoo

In anticipation of the opening of the Columbus Zoo’s new region, Heart of Africa, on May 22nd I thought I would take a moment to look back on the past plans for the exhibit. An African savanna has been part of the zoo’s masterplan for more than a decade. The name, species, and scale of the region have all evolved over the years. I’ll wait until I visit to judge the final product but it seems as though everything has been scaled back from the grand master plans. All the plans had two things in common: an African village and all were located in the same area North of Old Powell Road. The exhibit has been known as East Africa Plains, Africa Savanna, the African Safari, Safari Africa, Africa, and finally Heart of Africa. Please note this information is based on my own research; I have no insider info so please comment and correct if you know of any errors.

East African Plains 

When: 1998
Size: 65 Acres
Budget: $80 million
Attractions: Safari bus ride, village, lodge, playground

The earliest proposal for adding an Africa region that I've seen is of a plan drawn up in 1998 by PJA. The massive expansion was called the East African Plains and the plans looked simply incredible! Adjacent to the existing zoo, the East Africa Plains project was to be built on 65 acres of simulated East African habitats. A visitor’s journey would begin in a village overlooking a small lake with flamingos and pelicans. Warthogs burrow in an abandoned airstrip. In the village guests pass through the Customs House where they receive a passport. From the village, visitors embark on a bus safari through wooded and grassy savannas and kopje habitats. There would also be a walking path that leads through a gallery forest to a lodge, serving refreshments. Rested visitors can walk from the lodge to the kopje and interpretive playground. The budget for this was $80 million (in 1998 dollars). Sounds similar to Harambe area and Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Probably more of a “blue sky” idea rather than a serious proposal.

African Savanna 

When: 2002
Size: 50 Acres
Budget: unknown
Attractions: Train ride, boat ride, lodge/camping

The next set of plans are from the 2002-2003 time-frame and describe a new African Savanna region. On 50 acres of land at the Zoo, visitors will be transported to the African plains, the most productive grassland ecosystem in the world. A variety of hoofed mammals and the predators that typically follow them on their seasonal migrations will be visible in naturalistic settings. Moving herds of antelope, giraffe and zebra, as well as lions, wild dogs, hyenas, rhinos, hippos and warthogs will be viewed by the visitors as they travel over rail, paddle down a simulated Zambezi River and hike along walking trails. There will be potential opportunities for chaperoned group camping on the edge of a waterhole, for interacting with live interpreters and for participating in the bustle and activity of an African village market.

In this diagram from the Columbus Dispatch we see an African Savanna area is scheduled to be added by 2010:

Safari Africa

When: 2012
Size: 43 Acres
Budget: $30.4 million
Attractions: Ziplines, camel rides, giraffe feeding, cheetah runs

In 2012, plans for a new 43 acre African Safari exhibit were approved and scheduled to open in mid-2014. Safari Africa would feature a gateway to a simulation of a national park in Africa called Ajabu Park. The first overhead rendering of the region appeared in the Summer 2012 edition of Beastly Banner (shown above). The camels are not shown on the map but meerkats are. It also looks like the tram station was going to be located in the region (and not by the Polar Frontier region as it is now). Also of note is a zipline is listed as one of the attractions, though this was probably cut to differentiate it from the Wilds who already operates a zipline (which is better than any the zoo could build quite frankly).

When: 2014
Size:43 Acres
Budget: $30.4 million
Attractions: Camel rides, giraffe feeding

The latest official plans were released in February 2014 where the name Heart of Africa was unveiled. Zoo officials decided that Valentine’s Day was the perfect time to unveil the official name for the 43 acres that will be home to nearly 150 animals. The name of the region was changed from Safari Africa to differentiate it from the Wilds (there are currently banners up at the zoo with the Safari Africa name on them, oops). The meerkat exhibit, which was still being shown in the plans a year ago, has apparently been cut. The final budget is $30.4 million dollars and will open to the public on May 22nd, 2014. Giraffes, zebras, and cheetahs will make their return to the zoo.

Future Heart of Africa Expansion Plans

The Columbus Zoo’s long range plans already call for a Heart of Africa Expansion that would include an overnight-tented camp, a meerkat exhibit and other animal and visitor attractions that would end up tripling the size of the region. A new train ride would be installed that would end up as a replacement for the one currently in North American that would be removed when that region gets its extensive and much needed overhaul.

Conclusion

Heart of Africa at the Columbus Zoo is set to open next week and it’s interesting to see how the plans for the region evolved over the years. What we ended up with will be quite different from some of the earlier ideas. The plans were scaled back from $80 to $30 million dollars and from 60 to 40 acres. That’s not to say more won’t be added in a Phase II expansion soon. It’ll be interesting to see what surprises the zoo has in store for us. It was recently revealed that aardvarks will have a home in the exhibit, a species not previously mentioned in any of the plans! I look forward to seeing the final product. Stay tuned for our coverage of the opening of Heart of Africa.