• Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Missouri: Exotic Animal Paradise shuts its gates, animals up for auction

Carole by BCR
November 12, 2016
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
437
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Ron Armitage says the land’s new owner did not purchase business.

News-Leader Staff
Published October 3, 2006

Strafford — The empty parking lot is locked, most workers are gone, and about 500 animals are spending their last few days at Exotic Animal Paradise.
The animals — which include zebras, bears and lions — will be auctioned off next week.

After 35 years, the drive-through park has closed its gates. It was last open to the public Sunday, and in two weeks the business will no longer exist.

“I have very mixed emotions,” said owner Ron Armitage on Monday afternoon from inside a truck. “I had a wonderful team of employees, whom I would miss, and we’d come to have the animals as part of the family.”

Early Monday, Armitage laid off all the employees except the six-person animal staff, who will stay behind to take care of the animals until they are auctioned off.

“This is not a surprise to the employees,” Armitage said.

About 10 employees — most of them students working part time — were let go Monday, said Armitage.

“No one is keeping the job,” he said. “We’re closed.”

It is unclear whether Tony Oddo, who has purchased the 465 acres where the 225-acre animal park is located, will reopen the attraction.

He could not be reached for comment Monday.

The Lake of the Ozarks-area developer said in June said he wanted to sell the land for luxury homes.

Then, in late July, Oddo announced his plan to reopen the park.

During the busy summer season at the park, Oddo expressed an interest in buying the business, said Armitage, who sold the land to Oddo but has been leasing the park land back for the business.

The lease ends Nov. 1, Armitage said.

“We talked about (the business sale),” said Armitage. “He chose not to do it.”

“He is not going to buy the business. That’s for certain,” Armitage said.

The decision to close the animal park was first made public in June.

Flat revenue, rising operation costs and changes in regulations were reasons to call it quits, said Armitage, who purchased the attraction in 1996.

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

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

As for the animals, their fate will be decided Oct. 13-14 when auctioneers from Lolli Brothers Livestock Market Inc. of Macon raise their gavels.

The auction will begin at 9 a.m. each day.

As for Armitage himself, “I’ll probably take it easy for a couple of months,” he said. “I’ll be involved in tourism in the region.”

AID=/20061003/NEWS01/610030339

Tags: News World
Previous Post

Exotic pets: ‘A disaster waiting to happen’

Next Post

Captive tigers in China fed live farm animals

Next Post

Captive tigers in China fed live farm animals

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Summer Bobcat LIVE! June 26, 2022
  • Cat VS Dog…Fennel? June 22, 2022
  • Black Leopard Bath time! June 22, 2022

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

More from Big Cats

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV
Summer Bobcat LIVE!

Summer Bobcat LIVE!

June 26, 2022
Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

Cat VS Dog…Fennel?

June 22, 2022
Black Leopard Bath time!

Black Leopard Bath time!

June 22, 2022
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • Account
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat NFTS
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Rescuers
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Browse Submissions
  • Connections
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Donate Crypto
  • Embed Link
  • Followers
  • Following
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Join Us
    • Registration
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Login
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Logout
  • Malaya Bobcat
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Member Directory
  • Members
  • My Profile
    • Edit Profile
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Live Feeds
  • Password Reset
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register
  • Register
  • Register
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Welcome
    • Your Membership
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Submission Confirmed
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • User
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2022 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist