ATLANTA — When the Cyclorama makes its move to the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead, Zoo Atlanta will take over its old building and turn it into an event space.
That space is something officials say the city needs and could be a big revenue generator for the zoo.
When the zoo takes over the Cyclorama building, it will not only mean a new event space, but it will also mean more space for some of the animals, too. They plan to save the historic façade, but the inside of the building will be updated to include a huge event space that will overlook the Savannah exhibit, which features ostriches, zebras, kudus and Zuberi the giraffe.
“You look behind you, and there are elephants and giraffe parading before you. I mean, it will look like an African savannah,” said Atlanta Zoo CEO Raymond King.
King isn’t sure how much money it will wind up costing. He says when the city approached him with the idea, he jumped at it. But he does expect to have to launch a major fund raising campaign.
Visitor Nyah Britt came to the zoo to see the zebras and other animals, too. Her uncle likes the idea of expanding the Savannah exhibit.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea. I like that idea. More space for the animals,” said Warner Britt. King thinks more space is great, too. “You’ve got to have giraffe and elephants and those kinds of animals and you want them to have a lot of room. And, so, the elephants are going to have quadrupled the amount of room they have,” said King.
King says that could mean Zoo Atlanta could get more elephants. Part of the plan includes the construction of a four-level parking deck. Watch a live report on the changes on Channel 2 Action News at 4.