Great Plains Zoo presents 'transformative' vision for next 15 years

The Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium presented a "transformative 15-year vision" for the zoo's campus to the Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday, promising a "world-class aquarium" and a rainforest ecosystem that management said could nearly double annual attendance.

Major proposals made within the master plan include renovated indoor and outdoor giraffe habitats, the transformation of the zoo's administration building into a guest-focused area and the potential to move the Delbridge Museum of History elsewhere on the zoo's campus.

Other projects marked as priorities include a new café and African grasslands area, an interactive flamingo experience, a red panda exhibit and additions to the zoo's educational opportunities.

“Our vibrant community deserves an accessible, modern zoo and aquarium that is uniquely Sioux Falls,” CEO Becky Dewitz stated.

The timescale on those plans range from a new lion exhibit — expected to finish construction this year — to work on a tiger area, which the plan sets at sometime in 2031.

More: Butterfly House to eventually move to Great Plains Zoo; merger announced

A business plan included in the presentation pointed to the aquarium as a significant driver of attendance, while bringing more activities that would appeal to visitors no matter the weather.

"We assess that the zoo and aquarium will host between 400,000 and 450,000 guests within a decade," the presentation read. A statement from the zoo placed current annual attendance at 250,000 people.

The plan also pointed to a need for diversification of revenue programs, as well as an update to the zoo's current café, which it called "far too small and placed at an inopportune location."

More: How the confusing, controversial saga of the Delbridge Museum unfolded

In that vein, the plan called for moving from a static admission fee to a season-based model where tickets could be discounted during "off-peak times."

While hard numbers on cost weren't shared at the presentation, Dewitz teased a "transformative" gift that the zoo had received to assist with its first phase. She added that the donor and the amount would be announced at a later date.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: See the Great Plains Zoo's plan for the next 15 years