Miller Park Zoo reopens Katthoefer Animal Building

Posted on August 1, 2024

*Visitors can access the animal building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the zoo is open. (Photo courtesy Miller Park Zoo)*

BLOOMINGTON – Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington is reopening one of its historic buildings.

Starting Thursday, the Katthoefer Animal Building will be open to the general public. The building first opened its doors in 1914.

It closed during the onset of the pandemic to protect the animals. With the reopening comes new ventilation, an education center and a transport crate for kids to explore.

Zoo director Jay Pratte says opening the building gives both visitors and the animals more options.

“We are open year round except for, you know, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And so when people come here, if it’s really cold days, we’re limited on those options where someone can go inside. So for me, it was like, great to have another option where people could walk across the zoo, see some of their favorite animals. We can give these animals access both inside and outside. They can choose where they want to be, so that’s good for their well-being,” said Pratte.

Pratte also said the animals have been vaccinated.

Visitors can access the animal building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the zoo is open.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…