Florida zoo gets new owners, face-lift

Out with the old, in with the new

Christina Leavenworth – fox10tv.com
Photojournalist: Eric Lowe

GULF BREEZE, Fla. – The Zoo Northwest Florida will re-open under a new owner and with a new name. It closed back in August because operators didn’t have the money to keep it running. Now the new owner has stepped in and plans to keep it around for good.

The building appears empty, and there are hardly any cars in the parking lot. What’s hidden is what’s going on back behind the gates.

“We’re adding fencing, we’re tearing down old cages that are 25-years-old. We are also moving animals around in different areas, preparing, painting, getting the train back, getting licenses and permits,” Pat Quinn, the founder of the Zoo said.

That’s because the zoo is reopening.

“It’s a major undertaking, this is not a small business. It takes $2 million a year to operate this business,” Quinn said.

Pat Quinn founded the zoo and has fought to keep it open. As soon as it closed, he hit the road looking for new owners. It was an old student of his, Eric Mogensen, who stepped up to the plate.

Next time you go through the zoo’s doors there will be lots of changes: new animals, new attractions, and a new name.

“We’ll be bringing different animals, many of the same, but some new ones coming in. The people in the community are going to be very happy with what they see,” Quinn said.

March will be the earliest time that anyone will be able to see the new face-lift that the zoo is receiving.

The new owner currently owns a safari park in Virginia. The zoo wouldn’t discuss the sale price.

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