Discovery Wildlife Park is closed for the season but zoo officials are still busier than ever preparing for 2014 following a memorable 2013.
It was memorable because attendance was up again -- 20 to 30 per cent over last year -- and the increasingly popular local tourist attraction has already initiated significant operational initiatives for the future.
“We are still busy with National Geographic being here and with all the improvements we have done,” said zoo co-owner Doug Bos. “We've done close to $250,000 worth of improvements – transplanted 200 trees into the park, built our road across the creek which was 11 years in the making, putting our picnic shelter in this year and we've got our world's largest animated grizzly bear.”
The 23-foot tall steel animated grizzly, mounted on an oilfield pumpjack, was installed this summer and widely publicized across the province as Alberta's newest and most unique icon.
And while it promises to attract more locals and out-of-town tourists in the future, Bos is hoping the new road – and the access it offers -- will draw even more.
“Having the road in gives us the ability to have camping on a regular basis. We can easily accommodate up to 50 people,” said Bos, adding the zoo could previously offer only one-night camping but the improvement now will allow at least full weekend camping.
He said the plan is to charge $100 a night for camping. While only dry camping will be available for guests they will get free admission to the zoo.
“We will have a wildlife experience in the evening. This will be unsurpassed – bringing an animal to a campfire and people can interact with them. We've got bears and raccoons and stuff like that. It will be unique,” said Bos. “When you do the math for an average family for four it is not that much. If you end up at a local campground and come here for two days it would end up being the same price.”
This month Bos and the zoo had a bigger reason to be optimistic for next year with a visit from a National Geographic film crew that shot footage for an upcoming television series. Bos said the exposure from the show will be a boost not only for the zoo but also for the entire community.
“It is going to put Innisfail on the map. This is going to air in 35 countries,” said Bos. “This could do a lot for Innisfail.”
