Wyandot Lake transfer?

Maybe this is old news, but I just heard that Six Flags will give up control of Wyandot Lake after the 2006 season, and the Columbus Zoo will run the park, perhaps expanding it.

This came directly from the mouth of a high-ranking zoo official, so it's not a rumor. He seemed keen on developing the zoo/Wyandot Lake area into a family vacation area, including the nearby golf course and reservoir, and possibly adding a hotel and restaurants. He also seemed disappointed in Six Flags for not investing in the park.

Expansion of Wyandot Lake does appear in the zoo's master plan. It was my understanding that it isn't Six Flags fault for not reinvesting in the park, rather, expansion plans depended on a whole host of other factors, namely, the rerouting of Powell Road and new African Plains, and other expansions now taking place at the zoo

I had read in the Dispatch about a year ago that part of Zoo's expansion plans included an expansion of the water park to 35 (from its current 18) acres. The article said at the time that SF had not expressed a financial interest in the the expansion. (The zoo actually owns the land and SF has a long-term lease deal.)

With SF's other restructuring activities it doesn't suprise me that they would be getting out of Wyandot Lake. While I'm sure the zoo will do a good job running the park, I'd like to see them bring in another experienced operator under a management contract...someone like CF with an expansion of the "Knotts Soak City" brand...

The zoo was fairly recently deeded more land. One of their neighbors died or something and left their land to the zoo. So their having more room to expand may help both parks (I call the CMH Zoo a park because it has 4 rides)!

Four?

Umm.

North America Train.

Australia Boat Ride.

Carousel.

Am I missing something?

The zoo guy told me he's snagged two executives from Six Flags to help run the park.

The boat ride is not in Australia- you pass monkeys! And yes I am mistaken- there are 3 rides- we bought 4 "Attraction" Tickets, the 4th was for feeding the Lorikeets.

#4 = Pony Ride.

And a few years ago you could take a boat ride on the reservoir.

The "australia" boat ride is in the Islands of Southeast Asia, but it is sort of combined with the Australia section for some reason.

All I remember about the boat ride is that it had some nice scenic views, but we hardly saw any of the animals.

Oh and since we talking about the zoo- let me throw this question out there: I have thought about "adopting" a zoo animal for my neice's 8th birthday- I'm not very good with children- would she be "old" enough to appreciate that?

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Den said:
The zoo guy told me he's snagged two executives from Six Flags to help run the park.

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And they are currently housed in an exhibit located between the wombats and the howler monkeys.

*** Edited 3/3/2006 8:27:12 PM UTC by SLFAKE***

It'd be nice to see someone do something with the amusement section of the park. I hear it needs a little work!

Next to the zoo, on Powell Rd was a church. This church sat between the zoo and more land owned by the zoo. The Zoo or the City of Columbus, used their funds to "TAER" down the church and build a new one on the other side of the land next to the church. Does that make sense?
So, if you are looking strait down, it was like this:

ZOO LAND CHURCH LAND Housing Development

now it's:

ZOO LAND-----------LAND Church HD

That big plot of land is supposidly going to be used for an African Safari ride.