Las Vegas Resident Champions Idea of Desert-Friendly Zoo

April 6, 2025

Steve and Caroline Lake have been a husband-and-wife couple for 37 years. They have been traveling the whole country by visiting more than 500 universities-state capitals, ballparks, libraries, and zoos. Their latest project involves Steve Lake trying to bring about a zoo into the city of Las Vegas that does not have one.

According to Steve, who did extensive research and advocated with local officials for such a zoo, it would serve as an educational resource and cultural attraction. He would prefer the zoo to be desert-friendly and not exceed 25 acres. Animals such as giraffes, African lions, and ostriches are some of those he envisions that will thrive during the extreme summer heat of the region. In addition, he believed that the zoo would be a vehicle to provide valuable learning experiences for the local students and families.

Animal experiences in Las Vegas are minimal at present, with only the flamingo habitat located on the Strip in the Flamingo resort and the Shark Reef Aquarium in Mandalay Bay. Other previous animal exhibits, like Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and the tiger habitat at the Mirage, have since closed.

Las Vegas has never been without the zoo idea. A now-defunct previous project, the Southern Nevada Zoological Botanical Park, started in the early 2000s until 2013 when it was much condemned for lack of proper animal care and eventually closed down. In more recent years, a proposal for a tiger sanctuary presented by illusionist Jay Owenhouse faced opposition from animal welfare groups and was subsequently withdrawn.

Thus, doing a lake vision inspires a conceptual process, using as reference successful desert zoos such as Reid Park Zoo, Tucson and Phoenix Zoo in creating comfortable habitats for animals of hotter climates. Reid Park Zoo keeps more than 500 animals and attracts around 500,000 visitors annually.

Lake would have to navigate a convoluted zoning of public meetings, zoning hearings, and permits for exotic animals to get his zoo established. Zoning and exotic pet laws in Las Vegas and Clark County would be strictly enforced on animal welfare concerns with consideration for the standards of animals accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and similar organizations.

Though local officials have shown interest, funding and priorities remain obstacles. Lake is hopeful that with community support and financial backing, his vision of a desert-friendly zoo can become a reality, benefiting both the community and future generations.