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New 'Air Zoo' to open next year...

Posted by B Darnell on Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:47:44 AM

Looks like Michigan will be target of many road trips next summer.....
New Air Zoo zooms toward target

Thursday, July 24, 2003

BY JANE C. PARIKH
KALAMAZOO GAZETTE

Aviation history is being made at the southeast corner of East Milham Avenue and Portage Road in Portage as construction continues on the New Air Zoo, the nation's first "truly immersive" aviation museum, officials of the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum say.

"We'll be able to put you in real time into situations that happened years ago," said Robert Ellis, executive director of the Aviation History Museum, known as the Air Zoo. "We'll put you in the clouds with a formation of B-17 bombers."

Ellis said by September the New Air Zoo should look like a finished building. He said the $20 million project, which began in April, is expected to be ready for a soft opening in April 2004.

"All of the steel substructure is up, and they're starting to side and roof the building," Ellis said. "We're on schedule in spite of the rainy weather."

In addition to the 120,000-square-foot, 50-foot-tall building, grounds are already being prepared for the second phase of the project, which is still a "few years away." Phase two would double the size of the attraction and provide new space for even greater flight adventures, Ellis said.

Vintage aircraft, simulated flight missions and aircraft exhibits are among the attractions planned for the New Air Zoo.

"We're working with exhibit firms and suppliers from Italy, England and of course the United States," Ellis said.

Two major park rides, one a balloon ride and the other a biplane ride, are coming from a firm in Italy, and a Missions Theater in 4-D is being built by a British company.

Seventy percent of the total project cost has been pledged through foundation grants and private funding sources, Ellis said, adding that no public money will be used to build the facility.

Project organizers have said the New Air Zoo is expected to attract 300,000 visitors from within a 250-mile radius annually and pump an additional $10 million into the Kalamazoo County economy. Ellis said he expects the New Air Zoo to employ about 50 full-time employees, double the current Air Zoo staff.

Ellis said about 70 percent of the visitors to the current Air Zoo are from out of state.

Until Dec. 31, anyone renewing or purchasing a new membership to the Air Zoo will receive free admission to the New Air Zoo for the entire period of the membership.

People interested in becoming members can contact the Air Zoo at 382-6555.

Jane C. Parikh may be reached

at 388-8558 or jparikh@

kalamazoogazette.com.

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