Memphis Zoo lays out $250 million campus plan, asks city for $1.5 million more in annual operating support

The Memphis Zoo told a city committee on April 22 that it has a new comprehensive campus plan, that capital campaigns and a recent state appropriation have advanced the project, and that the zoo needs additional ongoing municipal operating support to restore depleted reserves.

Matt Thompson, president and CEO of the Memphis Zoo, told the Budget and Public Service committees the zoo attracts roughly 900,000 to 1 million visitors a year and that roughly half of paid attendees come from beyond 50 miles — making the zoo a regional destination. He said a recent economic-impact study estimated the zoo’s contribution at about $89.4 million.

Capital plan and projects: Thompson described a roughly $250 million multi‑phase plan to finish the campus. The first major project is an African savannah exhibit — a 14‑acre facility with elephants, rhinos and giraffes — that the zoo estimates at $75 million; Thompson said the state budget included $20 million toward that project and that private fundraising has put the Africa project “almost fully funded.” He also described a proposed three‑story “Oceans to Forest” indoor aquarium and rainforest hybrid and a smaller stingray exhibit expected to open next spring.

Operating request: Thompson said the zoo has seen declines in operating revenue tied to lower attendance after a high‑profile violent incident in the city and that the zoo has drawn down operating reserves. He described the city’s current annual management‑fee contribution as approximately $1.2 million and told council members the zoo is asking the city for roughly an additional $1.5 million in annual operating support; he said the zoo has proposed that the city and Shelby County split an additional $3 million in operating support so each jurisdiction would provide about $1.5 million. The zoo asked that operating support be paired with continued private fundraising and oversight. Thompson said the zoo’s operating shortfall was driven in part by a roughly 20% drop in attendance in the years after several high‑profile public‑safety incidents.

Council response and follow‑up: Council members pressed for details on the long‑term operating plan, maintenance costs for new exhibits such as an elephant facility, hiring and training needs, and proof of private commitments. Several members asked for a clearer breakdown of what the city already pays to the zoo (the committee asked parks and zoo staff to prepare a detailed, recent multi‑year breakdown of operating transfers, capital support and existing grant relationships). Council members asked the zoo to provide quarterly financial and performance reports and to identify specific maintenance and operating-cost estimates for each new exhibit.

Why it matters: The zoo argued that new attractions and conservation programs are key drivers of tourism and non‑local visitation and that restoring operating reserves is necessary to sustain day‑to‑day operations and animal care. Council members said they were open to supporting the zoo but that any additional city commitments need more detailed budgeting, maintenance plans and proof of shared county support.

Ending: The zoo left committee with clear next steps: provide a detailed multi‑year operating budget, estimates of ongoing maintenance costs for each new exhibit, and quarterly reporting timelines for the council to review during budget season.