When is Huntsville going to get a zoo? (Birmingham, Montgomery: upkeep, living)

[DavidH74]

I agree about Harrmony Park Safari. It is alot of fun.

It takes A LOT of years to cultivate a zoo. The best zoos in the nation are "historic". It takes A LOT of private investment and corporate sponsorships and patrons to keep them going.

If you want a REAL zoo experience, go to St. Louis, Colombus, Brooklyn, San Diego, Houston. As far as our area, even ATL's is not nationally-acclaimed.

[33458]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Thanks Mawoods!

BTW, I started bird watching in my backyards. Bought a bird feeder, seeds, and a pair of bino. Now shopping for humming bird feeder. Happiness is spending money !

I better not start squirrel-watching as result

Squirrels are a given. When the raccoons start visiting, you'll either buy a battleship-worthy feeder or start selectively placing your food out at discriminating hours.

Yep.

5 hummingbird feeders all the way around the house.

I don't need binoculars for the deer, though.

[zenjenn]

A few more years in Alabama, Zenn, and you will understand where I'm coming from. A zoo will not be a beautiful, humanely run, freedom loving utopia here. OK?

The Birmingham Zoo is AZA accredited. Granted, it's no San Diego Zoo, but it is a decent, humanely-run zoo that does not have "cages" and runs educational programs. Really, I'd consider it a rather modest zoo with room for improvement, but it's still a decent zoo and only their gorilla exhibit made me uneasy. (And it wasn't awful or anything, but it was beneath other gorilla exhibits I've seen. Gorillas are a high-maintenance animal to humanely keep in captivity, as far as I know.)

And remember, I'm not coming in on the side of Huntsville having a zoo. I did state, that a decent zoo is not a possibility in Huntsville as far as I'm concerned. My most recent statement was in response to the poster who stated flatly that "zoos are barbaric".

And I'm not sure what to make of your comment regarding dogs "around here"? Aside from dog ownership being more common, I haven't really noticed dogs being mistreated with any higher frequency than what I observed in California?

[SouthernBoy205]

Huntsville will always lack in entertainment because some of you always talk about driving Birmingham, Nashville, Atlanta, and Chattanooga. Huntsville can everything and more than what Chattanooga has. Huntsville has an airport and growing population to support such entertainment. Maybe if Huntsville had such tourism and entertainment that will lure thousands of visitors, places that you people want to come here like H&M, Urban Outfiters, etc. could be supported by the locals and the tourists. I'm just so tired of some of you people always not wanting change. UGH!

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

I'm just so tired of some of you people always not wanting change. UGH!

Show me the money !

Do you even pay taxes? I'd reckon not as you are still a college student. How about if I take 50 cents of every dollar you make because I want to do many of things you talk about? You'd like that, won't you?

So here you are, crying about not having a zoo. Who will pay for a zoo? How much will you put your own money behind this idea? Come on.. tell us... I dare you !

[SouthernBoy205]

No matter how we "whine" for a zoo or want one doesn't mean it's going to come. My problem is I don't like how people in Alabama always oppose something to keep the place rural.

[HB2HSV]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

Show me the money !

Who will pay for a zoo? How much will you put your own money behind this idea? Come on.. tell us... I dare you !

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

No matter how we "whine" for a zoo or want one doesn't mean it's going to come. My problem is I don't like how people in Alabama always oppose something to keep the place rural.

Soooo.... I'd take it that you are not willing to put your own money into this "zoo" idea?

[zenjenn]

Bulldawg - You express what I like to call "one-step thinking". I don't mean that a slam - as a younger person I had "one-step thinking" too, as do most people when they are young (if they think at all.) A lot of people outgrow one-step thinking (I only wish I could say everyone did.)

One-step thinking pretty much goes something like this:

Step 1: Do I want Huntsville to have a zoo? YEAH!

Steps 2-12+: include - "Who's going to pay for the zoo?" "What kind of zoo will it be?" "Will the zoo continue to be sustainable once it is built?" "What are the consequences if a zoo is built in our city and it turns out to be financially? Will animals suffer? Will we be left with an eyesore if it is abandoned?"

And so on.

If you get through several steps of questioning and you have a good answer for all those steps/questions, then (and only then) can an idea responsibly be pushed further.

I am certainly not opposed to change in Huntsville - I've only lived here 3 years and I'm not attached to any "old ways". But, it is reasonable to make an assessment and determine: Is this doable/affordable/sustainable/etc

So what is some sort of entertainment venue that might actually be sustainable in Huntsville? Something that passes muster for Steps 2-12+ when thought out?

[33458]

Mini-golf?

[friday13]

Originally Posted by 33458

Mini-golf?

From what I can see on the Parkway overpass past Oakwood, there's mini-golf at FUNtasia. Funny, it's so grey looking, that it took me several years to notice that place.