EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Zoo celebrated the opening of the Gateway to the Prairie exhibit Friday afternoon with a Hutch Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony.
"Not only does this give the opportunity for our guests to get to see these animals and really fall in love with them up close and personal, but this feeding space especially gives our staff the opportunity to manage our bison in a protected contact but in positive reinforcement situations," Zoo Director Nicole Mantz said.
The new exhibit is home to pronghorn, whitetail deer, mule deer and bison. In the portion of Gateway to the Prairie where the bison reside, a feeding station is available for guests.
The bison already resided at the zoo prior to the new exhibit opening, but in the last year, a pronghorn and two-white tailed deer were added.
Justin Combs, director of parks and facilities for the City of Hutchinson said the Gateway to the Prairie exhibit project isn't exactly what he would call city-led. He said the city had very little financial involvement.
"I think in 10 years we are going to look back at this," Combs said. "This is a really important project for the growth of the zoo because now we are really inviting our guests much deeper into the heart of the zoo and expanding to some spaces we never had guests. Beyond just the bison experience, I think just getting visitors back here is a huge step in the right direction so I'm super excited about that."
Mantz said the project cost a little over $200,000. A portion of the project was funded through a contribution from Dan and Shirley Power for $103,000. In September of last year, the Hutchinson Zoo celebrated the couple's donation for the new area and the donation of their 15-year-old Bison Norman. He was donated to the zoo's herd in September of 2021.
More information about the the Hutchinson Zoo is available at hutchinsonzoo.org.
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