Drive-through zoo closing after 35 years

STRAFFORD, Mo. -- Zebras, bears and lions are among the animals looking for new homes after the drive-through exotic animal park where they have lived closed, ending 35 years of business.

The Exotic Animal Paradise closed Sunday, and the animals are expected to be auctioned off in the next two weeks, owner Ron Armitage said Monday.

"I have very mixed emotions," said Armitage. "I had a wonderful team of employees, whom I would miss, and we'd come to have the animals as part of the family."

Armitage laid off about 10 employees -- most of them students working part time -- on Monday.

The six-person animal staff will remain to take care of the animals until they are auctioned off.

"This is not a surprise to the employees," said Armitage, who announced in June that he planned to close the attraction.

The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau ranked the park among the top four tourist draws in the Springfield area, with around 190,000 visitors a year.

Armitage, who bought the attraction in 1996, said he closed it because of flat revenue, rising operation costs and changes in regulations of such attractions.

Pat Jones, father of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, founded the park in 1971.

Lake of the Ozarks developer Tony Oddo has purchased the 465 acres where the 225-acre animal park is located.

During the busy summer season at the park, Oddo expressed an interest in buying the business, said Armitage. But Armitage said Oddo has decided not to buy the business.

Armitage sold the land to Oddo but has been leasing the park land back for the business. That lease ends Nov. 1, Armitage said.

The animals' fate will be decided Oct. 13-14 when auctioneers from Lolli Brothers Livestock Market Inc. of Macon conduct auctions.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com