Exotic Animal Paradise may be saved after all

A few weeks ago, it was announced that Exotic Animal Paradise in Strafford, Mo., just off Route 66, would close down its drive-through zoo, auction the animals, and luxury homes would be built on the site.

However, the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader reported Tuesday that the new owner is partially reconsidering the plan:

The new owner still plans to sell land for luxury homes on the site, but Tony Oddo announced in a press release Monday that he is planning to reopen the park, along with a miniature golf course and possibly restaurants, hotels and gas stations. […]

In the release … he said, “My goal is to try to reopen the Exotic Animal Paradise and keep it as a vacation destination.”

At the same time he announced that he plans to sell 24 or more home sites of 3 to 19 acres each in a gated community called Paradise Lakes, which apparently will be adjoining the Paradise Links Driving Range.

It was not clear Monday evening how this announcement will affect the planned sale of the 35-year-old Exotic Animal Paradise’s 1,500 animals. Owner Ron Armitage had said he planned to auction them off.

(Thanks to Tonya Pike for the tip.) 

One thought on “Exotic Animal Paradise may be saved after all

  1. i cant belive this is true, it breaks my heart to see that it may close. My family has enjoyed this place so much, feeding the animals, being up close and personal to them. My son loves it and my daughter the first time she went only 1yr. old and feeding deer. I will miss it if it closes and for more houses and the money that is crazy. This gives the animal alot more place to roam than a zoo. where they are all caged up in so little space. I wish I had the money to just pay him and take all of it. Everytime I went there the place always had alot of people there.

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