San Antonio Zoo adds a nearly 50-foot tall giraffe off U.S. Highway 281
Lions and bears didn’t make the cut as stars on the new San Antonio Zoo parking garage, but a giant tiger, behemoth butterflies and a towering giraffe tower might make passersby say “Oh my.”
The installation of the massive animal graphics on Tuesday marked the completion of the $11.75 million parking garage. The structure, which provides 612 more parking spaces for the zoo, has been in the making since 2017, when city voters approved a bond to pay for the addition. October 2019 was the first time zoo guests were able to access the much-needed parking spaces, but the just-added decor makes the addition official.
The eye-catching structure will be hard to miss for drivers heading north on U.S. Highway 281 towards the zoo. A larger-than-life Sumatran tiger, four monarch butterflies and a three reticulated giraffes (the largest towering nearly 50-feet high) greet guests as they exit for the highway for their animal adventure.
The installation of the massive animal graphics on Tuesday marked the completion of the $11.75 million parking garage. The structure, which provides 612 more parking spaces for the zoo, has been in the making since 2017, when city voters approved a bond to pay for the addition. October 2019 was the first time zoo guests were able to access the much-needed parking spaces, but the just-added decor makes the addition official.
Courtesy, San Antonio Zoo
The installation of the massive animal graphics on Tuesday marked the completion of the $11.75 million parking garage. The structure, which provides 612 more parking spaces for the zoo, has been in the making since 2017, when city voters approved a bond to pay for the addition. October 2019 was the first time zoo guests were able to access the much-needed parking spaces, but the just-added decor makes the addition official.
Courtesy, San Antonio Zoo
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Unlike other zoo stars, like Timothy the Hippo, the additions haven’t been officially named yet, but spokeswoman Hope Roth says she’s heard families already welcoming the decorative animals to the city with nicknames.
The new garage cements the zoo’s presence on the other side of the highway. Roth says many visitors don’t realize that the zoo’s property extends west of the freeway.
“That is the zoo’s foot print. Most people think of the zoo only being on one side of 281,” she adds. “The other side is going to be the future expansion of the zoo behind the new parking garage.”
The new parking garage isn’t alone on the piece of land. The zoo’s extended exhibit, a medieval-themed “Dragon Forest” is also at the spot on Tuleta Drive.
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Though spliced by the highway, Roth says the parking garage is the same distance from the zoo entrance as the Train Depot lot is.
The giraffes aren’t the only ones standing tall amid the big reveal. Zoo CEO Tim Morrow is, too.
“I stand by my belief that we have created the most beautiful parking garage on the planet, and I hope that this garage inspires and delights everyone that sees it,” his statement reads.
Roth says there are some fun “Easter eggs” hidden in the graphics of the giraffe. If you spot them, let us know!
