When do growing cities get amenities to match the city? (Houston: sales, house)

[HappyTexan]

You have a zoo in SA and a zoo in Waco.
Makes for a nice day trip.

Does everything have to be within a 20 minute drive inside the city limits ?

[riaelise]

Well I grew up with the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium. Those are the least things that I miss.

My tone is somewhat surly because for years Austin didn't even have the "mediocre" versions that we have now. Someone, whether it be a for-profit or a non-profit entity, decided to change that and start up both attractions from scratch. Instead of putting them down, why don't you contribute more so that the Austin Zoo can grow? Why don't you back up your words with your wallet? I applaud the Austin Zoo for being a rescue sanctuary. They are not designed to have a monorail and drive through safari. Then again, the admission is still relatively inexpensive, and the value for the cost is still good. I will continue to support through my patronage such a worthwhile cause as the Austin Zoo. As for the Aquarium, it's a fun venue for my kids and they ask to go there regularly. It isn't world class, but it is fun. If you want more, then again, back up your words with your wallet.

Austin needs to fix its transportation issues to "compete with the big boys" long before it needs to even think about funding a zoo or an aquarium or some Riverwalk ripoff. The downtown area is lacking IMO compared to Manhattan, despite the high rents. I like the fact that Austin isn't like the "big boys" because if it is, then hell I'd just stay in New York City, where at least you can ride from 241st Street in the Bronx to Coney Island, Brooklyn for $2.75 and you have way more. I wanted to leave the big city behind, not turn the fine city of Austin into the city where I was born.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Well I grew up with the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium. Those are the least things that I miss.

My tone is somewhat surly because for years Austin didn't even have the "mediocre" versions that we have now. Someone, whether it be a for-profit or a non-profit entity, decided to change that and start up both attractions from scratch. Instead of putting them down, why don't you contribute more so that the Austin Zoo can grow? Why don't you back up your words with your wallet? I applaud the Austin Zoo for being a rescue sanctuary. They are not designed to have a monorail and drive through safari. Then again, the admission is still relatively inexpensive, and the value for the cost is still good. I will continue to support through my patronage such a worthwhile cause as the Austin Zoo. As for the Aquarium, it's a fun venue for my kids and they ask to go there regularly. It isn't world class, but it is fun. If you want more, then again, back up your words with your wallet.

Austin needs to fix its transportation issues to "compete with the big boys" long before it needs to even think about funding a zoo or an aquarium or some Riverwalk ripoff. The downtown area is lacking IMO compared to Manhattan, despite the high rents. I like the fact that Austin isn't like the "big boys" because if it is, then hell I'd just stay in New York City, where at least you can ride from 241st Street in the Bronx to Coney Island, Brooklyn for $2.75 and you have way more. I wanted to leave the big city behind, not turn the fine city of Austin into the city where I was born.

Wild applause!

[alwaysmiling]

While some monkeys and other smaller species tend to live slightly longer in captivity, and sick animals that may die in the wild can survive better/longer in captivity, larger species almost always die younger and for anyone that tries to argue that an animal is better off in a zoo or they don't know the difference, etc., I suggest you go live in a minimum security prison where you are fed and taken care for a few days and then report back on which way of life you like better. I'm not a big animal rights person or anything, it's just common sense IMO. There are much more terrific causes that need to be championed in and around Austin other than a glitzy zoo or aquarium. If we could get an MLS partnership with UT that would play at the mike myers soccer stadium, that'd be sweet. Carry on...

Zoo Elephants Die Very Young

Killer Whales in Captivity - Killer Whale Facts and Information

Ten Fast Facts about Captive Orcas and Dolphins

[HappyTexan]

Why not enhance what you already have...Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center ?
I visited it quite often when I lived in the Austin area.
I'm still a member though and donate.

[ATX Wahine]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Well I grew up with the Bronx Zoo and the New York Aquarium. Those are the least things that I miss.

My tone is somewhat surly because for years Austin didn't even have the "mediocre" versions that we have now. Someone, whether it be a for-profit or a non-profit entity, decided to change that and start up both attractions from scratch. Instead of putting them down, why don't you contribute more so that the Austin Zoo can grow? Why don't you back up your words with your wallet? I applaud the Austin Zoo for being a rescue sanctuary. They are not designed to have a monorail and drive through safari. Then again, the admission is still relatively inexpensive, and the value for the cost is still good. I will continue to support through my patronage such a worthwhile cause as the Austin Zoo. As for the Aquarium, it's a fun venue for my kids and they ask to go there regularly. It isn't world class, but it is fun. If you want more, then again, back up your words with your wallet.

Austin needs to fix its transportation issues to "compete with the big boys" long before it needs to even think about funding a zoo or an aquarium or some Riverwalk ripoff. The downtown area is lacking IMO compared to Manhattan, despite the high rents. I like the fact that Austin isn't like the "big boys" because if it is, then hell I'd just stay in New York City, where at least you can ride from 241st Street in the Bronx to Coney Island, Brooklyn for $2.75 and you have way more. I wanted to leave the big city behind, not turn the fine city of Austin into the city where I was born.

Mad truth spoken here. Well said!

[passionatearts]

Originally Posted by cBach

Okay, so Austin was a small sleepy southern town until the 1990's, at the time it didn't need a world class zoo or an aquarium. Fast forward to 2014 and Austin is the fastest growing city in America and the largest:
* without a pro sports team
* without a world class zoo
* without a world class aquarium

Even Galveston and Corpus Christi have better aquariums than us and they are far smaller, San Antonio zoo rocks and ours well, isn't really a zoo.

When are the citizens going to start demanding some better amenities here? I understand about the pro sports and I don't really want the discussion to head in that direction, we have talked about that at length.

What I'm talking about mainly is a zoo and an aquarium. I believe that a "real city" must have those things. The Austin Aquarium is a joke and so is the zoo.

Why do we accept mediocre attractions? Is there nobody that is bothered by this besides me?

I think you're in a minority of people who care about this stuff. There just doesn't seem to be a huge demand in Austin for these kind of amenities, especially with San Antonio and Houston nearby. Like others have mentioned in this thread, I think more Austinites are concerned about Austin's affordability and woefully-inadequate transportation system than anything else.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

You have a zoo in SA and a zoo in Waco.
Makes for a nice day trip.

Does everything have to be within a 20 minute drive inside the city limits ?

It would be nice.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

Why not enhance what you already have...Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center ?
I visited it quite often when I lived in the Austin area.
I'm still a member though and donate.

I went there once during wildflower season, what a total ripoff. You can see more wildflowers on the side of the road going down 360.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by cBach

I went there once during wildflower season, what a total ripoff. You can see more wildflowers on the side of the road going down 360.

Likewise thanks to Lady Bird Johnson, who was the mover and shaker who got all of that kind of thing started.

When exactly did you go to the Wildflower Center? I've been a few times, and it being wildflowers, some times are better than others.