Tyler Morning Telegraph (October 6, 2003)

Rain Dampens Sunday Attendance at ZooFest
By KRISTI FLIPPIN, Staff Writer

More than 600,000 visitors a year tour the 80-acre Caldwell Zoo to see its open naturalistic habitats for East African, South American and North American animals.

And for the past 50 years, it was the only zoo with free admission that did not receive public funding, according to zoo officials. All funding for the $4 million a year operating cost came from the Caldwell Foundation.

But Monday, the "free" part changes.

Executive Director Hayes Caldwell said he decided to make the zoo self-sustaining by charging admission to allow the foundation to work on other projects in the Tyler community.

 "This is our system to maintain the future of the zoo, the standard of the animal care and conservation of their habitats." Caldwell said. "We want it to be as good in the next 50 years as it has been in the past 50 years."

Area zoo lovers were treated to a special ZooFest event this past weekend, with the final two days of free admission.   Attendance was estimated at 7,000 to 10,000 Saturday but was dampened somewhat Sunday by rainfall throughout the day. Many people still turned out, however, in spite of the wet weather for a final free visit.

Mario Gintella, a frequent visitor from Shreveport, La., said he understands why the zoo is going to start charging admission.

"They've got to do what they need to in order to keep the zoo enjoyable and new," he said. "The Dallas and Fort Worth zoos have been charging admission for years."

Sally Borucki, who moved to Tyler a year ago, said going to the Caldwell Zoo was one of the first things she and her daughter did. She said the admission prices wouldn't affect her and they would still visit the zoo, but she feels the cost will be an obstacle for some families.

"I think longtime Tylerites will be more upset about the price than us from other areas who are used to paying admission," she said.

Some people might find the general admission price high since it went from nothing to $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 55 or older, and $3.50 for children aged 3 to 12.

"I think it should be $5 for adults and free for all children," Carolyn Johnson said, who comes to the zoo about three times a year.

Teresa Rushing agreed with her friend and said, "We will still come back though, just not as often, maybe once a year."

To combat this obstacle, the zoo has set up the Caldwell ZooMembers program.

"We know our visitors come multiple times a year, so that was the beginning of our thinking for a membership plan," Caldwell said.

Memberships are for a full year starting in January, but people who sign up now will receive admission to the zoo for the rest of 2003 for free.

"We have huge community support and starting the membership plan gives them the opportunity to make that relationship official," zoo spokeswoman Laurey Peat said.

Members will also receive a 10 percent discount on gift shop purchases throughout the year, a biannual newsletter to inform them of new developments, and discounts on education classes and camps for children.

"Another benefit will begin in January - members will receive free or discounted admission to more than 200 zoos in America," Caldwell said. "We just wanted to set up a number of advantages for our members."

Membership prices are:

•  $20, individual - unlimited admissions for one adult member;

•  $35, individual plus - unlimited admission for one adult member plus one guest each zoo visit;

•  $45 - unlimited admission for two adults living at the same address and up to four children or grandchildren age 18 and younger;

•  $60 - family plus, unlimited admission for two adults living at the same address and up to four of their children or grandchildren age 18 and younger, plus one guest per zoo visit.

"We will probably get a membership because we come three to four times a year now, since we had kids," Catherine Bennett said. "I can see why they are going to start charging because they can't expand and add more stuff without revenue."

Families with more than four children can add additional children to the membership for $5 each.

"We have three children, so if we just come twice, then the membership fee is paid for," Gintella said. "And we usually come at least six times a year."

Accredited school groups through the fifth grade will still be admitted free. Groups of 15 or more will get $1 off the regular admission price.

The Caldwell Zoo is located at 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd. and is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through March 31 and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 1 through Sept. 30. The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Used with permission, Tyler Morning Telegraph