Parks! America commemorated Tuesday the one-year anniversary of the tornado that wreaked havoc on the grounds of its Wild Animal Safari Park in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
Despite facing unprecedented challenges, the park has demonstrated resilience, undergoing extensive reconstruction efforts to restore and enhance animal habitats, park infrastructure, and the guest experience to continue providing an unforgettable wildlife adventure for visitors.
In the wake of the tornado on March 26th, 2023, Wild Animal Safari® Pine Mountain encountered significant setbacks from immediate storm damage, including over 4,500 fallen trees, miles of damaged fencing, with nearly 20 structures and animal habitats sustaining significant damage. This led to a twenty-day park closure and a loss of over $1 million in revenue. Through unwavering determination and community support, the park immediately initiated recovery efforts, investing approximately $1 million in the considerable clean-up and rebuilding endeavors, including extensive tree removal, repairing nearly 3 miles of fencing and the construction of a new giraffe barn.
“The past year has been a testament to our team’s resilience and the unwavering support of our community,” remarked Lisa Brady, President, and CEO of Parks! America, Inc. “Despite the challenges we faced, we remained steadfast in our commitment to restoring Wild Animal Safari® Pine Mountain to its former glory, and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made.”
Katie Harrison, Zoo Director, expressed her gratitude for the collective efforts that enabled the park to overcome adversity. “The dedication of our team and the outpouring of support from our community have been instrumental in our recovery journey,” said Harrison. “We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to continue providing a safe and enriching environment for our animal residents and visitors alike.”
Despite the remarkable progress achieved over the past year, Wild Animal Safari® Pine Mountain acknowledges that there is still work to be done. Reconstruction efforts have included repairing the majority of the dozen-plus enclosures that were damaged, including the construction of a new giraffe barn, and new wolf and bear habitats. Additionally, significant repairs have been made to sidewalks and fencing in the walkabout area, enhancing both safety and aesthetics.
Looking ahead, the park remains committed to its ongoing revitalization efforts, with a focus on key projects that will further elevate the visitor experience. Among these initiatives is the construction of a new restroom building, as the prior structure sustained irreparable damage in the tornado. This project will also feature an enhanced arrival experience and entry plaza, expected to be complete in late summer of 2024. Additionally, the first phase of a multi-phase rebuild of the park’s big cat area is underway, with an all-new carnivore night house for the park’s tigers and lions. Furthermore, new in 2024, visitors can experience our all-new South America encounter featuring capybara feeding, enriching the park’s diverse array of attractions.
Ms. Brady adds, “Our 2024 projects are well underway, and while we look forward to the completion of new and improved restrooms and the arrival experience, we are all grateful to be welcoming guests for our 2024 spring break and continuing to deliver epic laughs, smiles, and memories for our visitors.”
The one-year anniversary of the tornado coincides with the start of Wild Animal Safari® Pine Mountain’s busy spring break and summer season. As the park welcomes visitors old and new, it stands as a symbol of resilience, strength, and the enduring power of community spirit.
This is a press release.
