'Keep This Momentum Going': Oklahoma City Zoo Reveals Plan For Next Decade

The Oklahoma City Zoo has plans to connect more people with wildlife by introducing new and engaging exhibits, according to the zoo's recently released master plan.

Part of the zoo's decade-long plan is to create "world class" exhibit for their indoor and outdoor reptile and amphibians.

“With the recent opening of Expedition Africa, the arrival of five lion cubs, and our centennial celebration at Lincoln Park, I’m excited to keep this momentum going,” Oklahoma City Zoo executive director and CEO Dr. Dwight Lawson said.

Another goal for the Oklahoma City Zoo is to create a central gathering place for all visitors by improving guest accessibility and experiences.

Some of these advances include renovation of some of the Zoo’s most popular habitats including Oklahoma Trails, Great EscApe, and the Children’s Zoo.

“This 10-year plan, informing Zoo construction from 2024 to 2034, is perhaps the most ambitious in the Zoo’s 122-year history,” Lawson said. “The plan outlines multiple construction projects that will modernize some of the Zoo’s oldest structures into immersive habitats that provide superior animal care and guest experiences.”

The Oklahoma City Zoo said the conclusion of this master plan will be celebrated with the opening of a brand-new marine mammal habitat, Shore to Sea, that will be home to the Zoo’s California sea lions, harbor seals and African penguins.

Zoo officials say this enhanced space, which will encompass 3.5 acres in the eastern section of the park overlooking Zoo Lake, is slated to open in 2027.

According to the Oklahoma City Zoo, total investment for the Zoo’s 2024 master plan is estimated between $115 million and $230 million. Funding for master plan projects will come from a combination of private fundraising efforts, possible historic tax credits and funding from a dedicated 1/8-of-a-cent sales tax, approved by Oklahoma City citizens in 1990.