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Lowry Park Zoo's New Safari Lodge Gets First Guests

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

Lowry Park Zoo opened Safari Lodge, a $3.5 million, 17,000-square-foot facility that will be used as a food court and as rental space.

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: December 15, 2008

TAMPA - Beth Weinstein wanted something different for the Ocean Optics' employees' holiday party.

So the 200 adults and 100 children rode camels and fed giraffes. They also strolled among thousands of lights and decorations at Lowry Park Zoo's Winter Wonderland.

Ocean Optics' party on Dec. 5 was the first rental for the zoo's $3.5 million Safari Lodge. The 17,000-square-foot dining and meeting facility is designed to be used by zoo visitors as a food court and sit-down restaurant during the day and for private rentals. It can host weddings, corporate parties, graduation events, bar mitzvahs or other celebrations.

Rental contracts can include extras such as carriage rides, zoo visits or animal encounters.

"We wanted something out of the ordinary and to include the children. I let my 4-year-old daughter choose the excursions she wanted there. She chose the giraffe feeding and camel rides," said Weinstein, who is corporate event and tradeshow manager for Ocean Optics, which makes instruments to measure light.

She said the party, which included food, drinks, the zoo extras, door prizes and more, cost about $25,000.

"It was rather inexpensive for all we got," she said."We paid that much for 200 people last year."

David Zimmerman, the zoo's executive vice president, said the lodge "is designed as a collection of what would be seen in South Africa. It includes architectural styles of Dutch colonial, Moorish and others."

It will also include artifacts from Swaziland, secured through a cultural grant.

Thursday night, about 500 people gathered for the facility's business opening. It will be formally dedicated in the spring.

The zoo built the lodge as a way to increase revenue, zoo officials said. Private and corporate rentals must use the zoo's catering services, but nonprofit groups will be allowed to use outside caterers.

"Research showed we were turning away $600,000 a year in revenue. People wanted to do things here but they wanted a climate-controlled facility," Zimmerman said.

During peak visitor seasons, the food court, called the Grand Hall, will offer pasta selections, chicken dishes and ice cream with meals ranging from $7 to $12. Reilly's Reserve, a sit-down restaurant, will offer entrees of grilled pork, ribs and beef with prices from $17 to $20, and limited salads and sandwiches for $9 to $12. Both are set to open Dec. 26 and had a trial run Thanksgiving weekend.

Zoo officials express optimism for success despite a downturn in the economy and a temporary loss of accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums because of issues about zoo President Lex Salisbury's involvement with a private animal facility.

"We do recognize that the meeting planner market has had a downturn. But we have so many other options for rental use that we don't expect to have the impact felt that of other limited facilities," said Rachel Nelson, the zoo's director of public relations.

She does not expect the accreditation issue to alter camel rides or giraffe feedings.

"None of these things are affected in a temporary suspension. If it extends beyond a temporary suspension, you might see a change."

For rental information about the Safari Lodge, call (813) 985-8552, ext. 421.

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