Lordy, Lordy Riverbanks Zoo is 40

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — The largest gated attraction in the state is getting even larger, undergoing a $32 million expansion, all while celebrating its 40th anniversary. Noisy, dynamic, state-of-the-art, and something to see are all words and phrases Riverbanks Zoo officials use to describe its massive, $36-million dollar expansion and development project. Four million of that has already gone into building a new parking lot to alleviate traffic congestion on Greystone Blvd. and I-26. “Saturday, a week ago, we had 12,000 at the zoo that day,” said president and CEO Satch Krantz. ” For the first time in four years, we did not back up cars on the interstate.” The project, dubbed ‘Destination Riverbanks,’ comes just as the largest gated attraction in South Carolina celebrates 40 “wild” years. Officials say lots of anniversary surprises are in store. “We will demolish the old grizzly bear exhibit, gift shop, and entrance to make way for new ticketing facilities.,” said Krantz. “That will take a year. The sea lion exhibit will begin in August and take about 18 months, and the children’s garden will open by next summer.” But, as with any big move, sometimes the residents have had to seek refuge elsewhere. “Just this week, we transferred our brown bears to the Tulsa zoo to house them for the next year because our former bear exhibit will be a construction zone,” said mammal curator, John Davis. The uproar will be all worth it come 2016, say officials, when the changes are set to be completed. They add, new look and feel will definitely increase the already estimated one-million visitors a year. Thirty-two million dollars came from bond referendum money from Richland and Lexington counties. Four-million came from the Richland County transportation penny tax referendum to alleviate traffic congestion, according to Krantz.