COST: $800,000 (1990 Expansion)
OPENED: 1990 (Expansion)
The Expansion
In the 1960s, the AK-SAR-BEN Nature Kingdom, which is now Dairy World, was built. The entire area was reconstructed, expanded and upgraded in 1990. Designed to compliment the existing petting zoo area, the Dairy World Complex consists of three barn-like structures and a brick plaza area which includes two large pools that house various ducks and other water fowl and "Henry" the trash eating hippo. The expansion was supported by the American Dairy Council of Nebraska.
The Dairy World Complex
The Education Barn houses a number of electronic displays, including a life-size replica of a dairy cow demonstrating the milking process, Cal-C-Um showing milk's importance to bone growth and other hands-on exhibits. The Dairy Store barn houses a concession stand and restrooms. The expanded Red Barn yard houses exotic and farm animals for viewing and some for petting. In 1996 a 90-year-old, restored windmill was added to the area. The wooden structure is 20 feet tall, supporting a wheel 10.5 feet in diameter.
Bancroft Elementary Kindergarten Class
The theater in Dairy World was originally equipped to present educational videos on the necessity of milk and calcium. It is now a kindergarten classroom for students from nearby Bancroft Elementary during the school year. The students reading, writing, language, math, science and social studies learning skills are enhanced through the animals and Omaha's Zoo.
Other Animal Exhibits
Up the hill from Dairy World is the North American river otter pond featuring above and below water viewing, the renovated Budgie Encounter and a prairie dog town. The Small Mammal Building houses a variety of animals including raccoon dogs (Omaha's Zoo is one of only two North American institutions which house these animals) and black-footed cats. World-Herald Square provides the summer home for some of the Zoo's monkeys. Firstier Wolf Woods is where the African Hunting Dogs are located.