Asia Archives | Randolph News Now

May102024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

What’s New at the Zoo | New animals, Asia, and more!

NC Zoo

Anana, the North Carolina Zoo's female polar bear looks through the glass into the Polar Bear Cave. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO — This year marks the North Carolina Zoo’s 50th anniversary, and while Asia isn’t opening until 2026, 2024 is still a big and busy year for one of the state’s best attractions. Late last year, the Zoo welcomed their 1millionth guest for the year, and those attendance numbers are not letting up. In April, the Zoo recorded a record for single-month attendance with 192,000 guests, and the Zoo says it is approaching 30 million all-time visitors. Whoever it happens to be is going to be in for a surprise. Summer comes to the Zoo Each April, as temperatures and the number of daily guests rise, the Zoo switches into summer mode. The entra...

Dec72023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

North Carolina Zoo Announces Call for Artists: Artwork for New Asia Region

NC Zoo

"Elephant Group," by Peter Woytuk located at the NC Zoo Entrance (Acme News Archive) ASHEBORO, N.C. (NC ZOO) — The North Carolina Zoo and North Carolina Zoo Society announce a new public art opportunity for artists and artist teams to design art for the new continent of Asia. With a budget of $250,000 provided through the Zoo Society, this project will join the more than 150 works of art in and around the Zoo. The first step of the process, the Request for Qualifications, has begun and calls for artists (and artist teams) to submit their qualifications for the design, fabrication, and installation of a permanent outdoor public art project for installation within Asia. The request will run through Feb. 2, 2024. The art collection at the Zoo includes monumental works rangi...

Sep202023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

One Year In, Construction on Asia on Schedule

NC Zoo

Construction is underway on the new Asia expansion at the NC Zoo. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - One year after breaking ground, construction on the Asia expansion at the North Carolina Zoo is on track, but with the planned opening still years away there is still a lot of work to be done. General construction on Asia is halfway complete with Rodgers Builders, the general contractor for the project, reporting no significant delays thus far. Work constructing the buildings and infrastructure is expected to be completed by fall of 2024. Once Asia’s construction is complete, the work of turning ten acres of gravel, dirt, and concrete buildings into a new continent is where the Zoo’s work will really start, says Diane Villa, Director of Communications & Marke...

May182023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

SECU Foundation Donates $2 Million to Asia at NC Zoo

NC Zoo

Pat Simmions, Director of the NC Zoo, poses for photos with the leadership of the NC Zoo Society and the SECU Foundation. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - On May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation gifted $2 million to go towards the new Asia expansion currently under construction. Asia, the NC Zoo’s first new continent since North America in 1994, broke ground on August 17th, 2022, after $46 million in funding from the state budget was allocated to the project. Combined with the approximately $28 million raised through donations by the NC Zoo Society’s capital fundraising campaign brings the approximate total for Asia to around $75 million dollars. At a private event held at the newly renovated baboon habitat on May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation presented a che...

Aug172022 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC Zoo Breaks Ground On Asia Expansion

NC Zoo

ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo has officially began construction on Asia, the NC Zoo's first new continent since North America in 1994 after a ground-breaking event this morning. The private event was attended by staff at the NC Zoo along with city, county, and state officials and elected representatives, members of the media, and companies and organizations involved with everything from local tourism to construction. "Asia has been a long time coming" said Walker Moffit, North Carolina Zoo Council Chairman and Asheboro Mayor Pro Tempore. Construction on the 10 acers set to become the new continent is expected to take around 3 years, with the goal being to open sometime around the summer or fall of 2026. While its not yet know exactly how many new animals will be coming...

Jul222022 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

North Carolina Zoo Announces Record-Breaking 1 Million Visitors

NC Zoo

Credit: NC Zoo ASHEBORO N.C. - Today the North Carolina Zoo announced that they broke their all-time attendance record by welcoming 1 million visitors in the 2021-2022 fiscal year ending June 30. If you counted each visitor that came to the NC Zoo last year, out loud, one visitor per second, with no breaks, it would take you 23 days to count all of the the 1 Million visitors who came to the NC Zoo last fiscal year. That breaks the previous record highest fiscal year attendance of 879,990 set in 2018-2019. "We’re thrilled to welcome so many guests from North Carolina and around the world," Zoo Director Pat Simmons said. Coming soon, even more reasons to visit as the Zoo looks forward to building and opening Asia, its first new continent added to the Zoo since the North America ...

May142021 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

NC Zoo Set To Start On Asia This Fall, Hopefully!?

NC Zoo

Photo by Scott Pelkey / Acme News Archive ASHEBORO NC - The NC Zoo is set to begin work on the new Asia expansion with plans already approved and companies lined up to start construction as early as this fall. That is, provided the N.C. General Assembly passes a budget that includes the funds needed to complete the budget for the project. The originally expected budget for Asia was $65 million, but that estimate had to be increased. “When we did a lot of these estimates, it was several years ago. We’re starting to see inflation in construction costs,” said Diane Villa Director of Communications and Marketing for the NC Zoo. “Right now we’re looking at $75 million for Asia, and our hope is to complete Asia all in one fell swoop rather than phase things.” Gov. Roy Cooper's bu...

Apr292021 by Sky Emerson1 Comment

NC Zoo Welcomes Spring And Future Changes

NC Zoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqehT8lUkT4 ASHEBORO NC- Just over a year after the NC Zoo was forced to close for several months under the first wave of restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the NC Zoo is officially open for the spring season. That was the message from Reid Wilson, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources last Friday at the North Carolina Zoo. With the official spring opening comes the return of attractions, an announcement of a new animal, an update on Asia, and updates on the proposed increase in admission. Re-Opening The initial phases of the state’s stay-at-home order went into effect between March and June last year, when attendance is typically at its highest. The Zoo reported a record low attendance for 2020 of only 350,039, t...

Feb112021 by Randolph News NowNo Comments

NC Zoo – Price Increases, Asia Update, And More

NC Zoo

ASHEBORO NC - The NC Zoo Council, a 15-member board appointed by the Governor to oversee the operation and development of the NC Zoo, held its annual meeting through Zoom Wednesday morning. On the agenda; impacts from COVID-19, updates on projects, repairs, new animals, and budgets, as well as an increase in admission prices. Admission Rebounding Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people who visited the zoo plummeted in 2020. The initial phases of the state's stay at home order went into effect between March and June when attendance is typically at its highest. The Zoo reported a record low attendance for 2020 of only 350,039, the lowest yearly attendance since they started keeping track in 1980. What came as a surprise to many was despite still being limited to 3,000 visi...