[FEL-L] MO: Developer says he'll reopen animal park

[SOUTHZOO at aol.com]

Posted: Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006 - 06:28:34 pm  CDT
Developer says he'll reopen animal  park 
STRAFFORD, Mo. (AP) - Don't close the gate on Exotic Animal Paradise  just 
yet. 
The Lake of the Ozarks developer who bought the 35-year-old  drive-through 
animal park last month said he still plans to develop part of the  500-acre site 
with luxury homes. 
But he said Monday he will reopen the southwest Missouri animal park  next 
year, possibly as part of a tourist center with miniature golf, restaurants  and 
hotels. 
“My goal is to try to reopen the Exotic Animal Paradise and keep it  as a 
vacation destination,” Tony Oddo said in a written statement. 
Oddo also said he plans to sell at least 24 home sites of between  three and 
19 acres each in a gated subdivision called Paradise  Lakes. 
Oddo's reversal - he said last month that he planned to close the  park in 
October - hasn't changed owner Ron Armitage's plans to auction off the  park's 
1,500 animals. 
Armitage said he is closing the park because of a drop-off in  visitors and 
added animal welfare regulations, which have made running the park  more 
expensive. 
The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates Exotic  Animal 
Paradise attracts 190,000 visitors per year. 
_http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2006/08/01/news_state/152state25park.prt_
 
(http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2006/08/01/news_state/152state25park.prt) 
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