COST: $2 million original, $1 million renovation
OPENED: June 1987
RENOVATION: January 2007 - April 5, 2007
Expansion and Transformation into the Exploration Station
The Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
Pavilion has been transformed into a state of the art exhibit, Exploration
Station. The Station serves as a safari-themed "Trail Head" where
visitors begin their "wild" adventure at Omaha's Zoo. The Exploration
Station includes a detailed interactive map of the Zoo and video previews
of major attraction such as the Scott Aquarium, Lied Jungle, Desert
Dome and Hubbard Gorilla Valley and Orangutan Forest. The Exploration
Station also features the History of the Zoo, Explorer Zone Classroom,
Discover Biodiversity area, a 312 seat auditorium, numerous animal displays
and interactive animal demonstration stage.
Daily Programming
At the Animal Discovery show guests can meet a Zoo Keeper and live animals at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the Learning Zone stage. Animals often making appearances include sulphur-crested cockatoos, black footed penguins and indigo snakes.
Piece together animal clues during the Animal Detectives program at 10:30 a.m. in the Learning Center classroom.
Scherling-Plough Tree of Learning
The center of the Wild Kingdom Pavilion features a 20 foot high netted tree, with free-flying birds. Below
the tree includes water displays with turtles, archer fish and more.
The Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom Pavilion Original Facility
Situated inside the Zoo's main entrance,
the 21,000 square foot Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom Pavilion was completed
in the spring of 1987. The membership drive theme was "Go Zoo U".
More than 32,000 household membership were sold and over 600,000 visitors
enjoyed this new complex its first year.