This is the year we will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Wildlife Museum. In the five years since opening, 255,000 guests have taken a journey around the world as they visited the seven regions found within the museum. The Earl Bane Gallery has hosted 15 exhibits, the Conference Center has welcomed more than 35,000 guests, and children have spent countless hours playing in the Helen L. Graves Hideaway Hollow. The museum has been a wonderful addition to the park, allowing for expanded educational messages and additional opportunities for our guests.
The zoo is undertaking two significant construction projects in 2010. The first is the renovation of the chimpanzee exhibit. Having housed an all male group for 13 years, we look forward to adding two female chimpanzees to the troop this summer. With the addition of females and the possible addition of infants in the future, modifications must be done to the current space. Funds raised at the 2009 ZooLaLa will be used to modify the exhibit and prepare for the girls’ arrival mid-summer.
The ground-breaking for a new veterinary clinic will also occur in 2010. The Louise C. Averill Veterinary Hospital will include space for treatment, surgery, laboratory, hospital, and necropsy. The new building will also provide much needed quarantine space. All new animal arrivals to the zoo are required to spend a minimum of 30 days in quarantine before being moved into their exhibit. This 3,700 sq. ft. building will provide functional space and will serve the needs of the animal collection for many years to come.
As always, the park has a full calendar of special events and education programs scheduled for the year. The popularity of these activities continues to grow. Check the calendar on our website for a full list. If you would like to receive updates about the zoo and upcoming events by email, contact Vickee Spicer at (785) 827-9488 ext. 131, or email: vickee@rollinghillswildlife.com.
Thank you for visiting our website today. We hope you will be able to visit the zoo and museum in 2010. Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure is your passport to discovery!
Kathy Tolbert
RHWA Park Director |
The History of Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure
In the early 1980’s, Salina businessman Charlie Walker purchased a section of ground in western Saline County. A large barn was built to house a number of Belgian horses and Rolling Hills Ranch was born. During the early years, hundreds of schoolchildren visited the “Main Barn” each year to learn about the large draft horses.
In the late 1980’s, Charlie decided to add a few animals to the barn, such as two black bear cubs, a few llamas, and a lioness. The tours were no longer requested only by school groups. Family reunions, class reunions, and other groups were requesting tours of the Main Barn to see these incredible animals. The excitement generated by these animals convinced Charlie that the Salina community and surrounding area would benefit from having a wildlife park.
In 1995, the exotic animal portion of the ranch formally broke its ties with Rolling Hills Ranch and became a private, non-profit foundation dedicated to the conservation and propagation of rare and endangered species. The animal collection, land, and equipment were donated into the newly-formed foundation, Rolling Hills Refuge Wildlife Conservation Center, and construction of the zoo began in earnest. After five years of construction, the zoo opened to the public in the fall of 1999. When guests visit the zoo, they see the animals living in naturalistic exhibits within a beautifully landscaped, yet rural setting. Guests are able to view animals living out their lives with the dignity and respect they deserve.
In 2000, the vision was expanded to include a wildlife museum. A 64,000-square-foot building was constructed. A portion of this building was designated as a conference center that could be rented out for business meetings, receptions, or used for the zoo’s own events. The conference center held its first event in April 2002.
Construction began on the interior portion of the wildlife museum in 2003. Keeping respect of the animals firmly in mind, the museum offers guests a journey around the world while visiting seven different regions such as Africa, North America, the rain forest, and much more. The museum also offers a 2,000-square-foot traveling exhibit area, a children’s exploration room, and a domed ADM Theater. The museum opened to the public in March 2005 and has expanded the educational message of the park by exhibiting animals not found in the zoo and offering a year-round, climate controlled experience for guests.
In 2009, the park underwent an official name change to Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure. Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure is a public, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife through participation in conservation programs and by providing fun and interactive educational experiences. |
