The Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium we can't wait
After combining forces in 2023, the Great Plains Zoo and the Butterfly House & Aquarium of Sioux Falls have been hard at work on a “rezoovenation.” “Our planned projects—including the butterfly garden, aquarium, and education center—resonate deeply with the community, not only because they enrich the quality of life in our region, but also because they drive tourism in southeastern South Dakota and deliver significant economic benefits,” said Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium COO Audrey Otto-Pepper . To help bring this vision to life, T. Denny Sanford donated $25 million the summer of 2024 and encouraged the community to match his gift. When this gift is matched, he promised to provide an additional $10 million to help continue the efforts of the campus revitalization. Dubbed the We Can’t Wait Campaign , the funds not only go towards this new vision, but also will rejuvenate outdated exhibits, like the current penguin, giraffe, and red wolf habitats.
written by alana snyder + photos by alana & john snyder
34 | 605MAGAZINE.COM
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