Growing Small: An Alternate Definition of Success

Growing Small: An Alternate Definition of Success

My company is just me. And that’s by design. I do not intend to hire employees and I purposefully keep my fees and client volume low. I view it as a complete success, but given the common perception of “business success,” I often wonder if others would agree… In this article, I outline my business strategy of Growing Small as an alternate measure of success.

Tips for Working with Introverted Consultants

Tips for Working with Introverted Consultants

Believe it or not, many consultants, including yours truly, are actually introverts! Learn the best practices for working with introverts by reading Felis Consulting’s somewhat self-effacing and certainly vulnerable ‘Top Tips for Working with Introverted Consultants.’

Master Planning 101

Master Planning 101

As a designer dedicated to the long-term planning of zoos and aquariums, I’ve had to explain the process of master planning many times, and although every zoo and aquarium is different, the best master plans (i.e. those which have been implemented) always follow a similar structure. In this post, we address the most commonly asked questions to help you understand what master planning is, when is the right time to start, and who should be involved.

Columbian Park Zoo: Gold-Standard Small Municipal Zoo

Columbian Park Zoo: Gold-Standard Small Municipal Zoo

The city of Lafayette, Indiana has one of the oldest—and best—small zoos in the country. Recent renovations, thoughtful and modern designs, and focusing on providing for their local guests as top priority are a few reasons they are successful.

Addressing DEAI in Zoos and Aquariums

Addressing DEAI in Zoos and Aquariums

Zoos and aquariums have a long way to go related to being community assets that are truly reflective of their surrounding communities. Recent discussions in the AZA suggest that instead waiting for ‘best practice’ solutions, that individual organizations must start somewhere acknowledging that our strategies will evolve as we all learn the most productive ways to approach DEAI.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm: What’s in a Name?

St. Augustine Alligator Farm: What’s in a Name?

St. Augustine Alligator Farm, located in beautiful and historic tourism destination, St. Augustine, Florida, holds the honor of being the only zoo in the world to care for every species of crocodilian known to man. In addition to the alligators, crocodiles, gharials, and caimans, the zoo is also a showcase for native Floridian birds, especially during nesting season in spring and early summer. The nine-acre zoo itself is beautiful. It’s all old-growth live oaks, dripping in Spanish moss, but one of the greatest attributes of the Farm is its preponderance of demonstrations, shows, and keeper chats. Does the Zoo’s name hinder its success due to its reliance on often first-time visitors?

ZooWorld: Embracing the Kitsch

ZooWorld: Embracing the Kitsch

If you’ve ever spent time at a popular beachside destination in the U.S., you are probably well-acquainted with the kitschy, uniquely American, tourist trap vibe that often accompanies these places. Panama City Beach is no exception. Brightly colored signs dot the roads inviting guests into themed or ramshackle seafood joints. Mini-golf courses with tall waterfalls and pirate ships are squeezed between ice cream shops and places to rent scooters and slingshot cars. It is in this context that we delighted in the tourist destination of ZooWorld. To be sure, the five-acre ZooWorld is not without its problems, but overall, the experience is happy and fun with a dose of humor, and the park is clean and comfortable, if not outdated in places.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park: No Frills Old Florida

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park: No Frills Old Florida

Along the old stretch of Hwy 19--where folks escaping the winter blues from ‘up north’ would travel in search of Florida sunshine, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park remains a rest stop for today’s scenic driver. In its glory days, the park was a vintage Old Florida gem; one of many kitschy tourist traps that dotted the Florida roads before Disney infilled the wetlands in Orlando to stake its claim. As with many of its kind, business declined in the 70s, and decimated by new highways and the flush of theme parks, the park was taken over by the state to become a government entity--and the experience feels as such.

Tallahassee Museum: Immersed in History

Tallahassee Museum: Immersed in History

Tallahassee Museum is a hybrid institution focusing on experiential storytelling of the region—natural and cultural. History and wildlife are presented segregated, colliding at the farm featuring authentic historic structures and equipment alongside heritage farm animals. Set within an old growth forest and stunning cedar swamp, the experience is magical, if rustic and passive. Even with the addition of an impressive and affordable ropes course, attendance is lagging, illustrating the ‘one and done’ nature of the experience today. What’s missing?

Zoo New York: A New York State of Experience

Zoo New York: A New York State of Experience

The rustic New York State Zoo in Watertown, New York reflects a clear brand and mission, and translates those into a cohesive guest experience. Not without its flaws—mainly due to outdated habitats, the zoo feels larger than its 30 acres due to an overwhelming sense of being lost in an authentic landscape complete with historic interpretation.

Giraffe Ranch: Luxury Model, Backyard Experience

Giraffe Ranch: Luxury Model, Backyard Experience

Giraffe Ranch, a privately owned, family-run safari experience, located in rural Dade City, Florida benefits from the tourism market of Orlando. Drawing from decades of knowledge and experience in the zoo community, the owners created an intimate and beautiful experience focused on one-on-one interactions between the keepers, guests, and the animals. The high ticket price per person, however, sets expectations very high, and although the experience is lovely, feels like it misses the luxury price point. Focusing on improvements to the core of the facility could begin to address this issue.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo: Developing the BIG Identity

Rosamond Gifford Zoo: Developing the BIG Identity

Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York is a modern, small zoo saddled with the challenges many face: steady, slow attendance growth; mish-mash of design ideas; nearly zero winter attendance; outdated exhibits and buildings next to innovative ones. Focusing on telling the story that the ‘small zoo can do big innovative things’ by building on the existing modern exterior entry experience and green practices will solidify its foundation for the future.

Hattiesburg Zoo: The Littlest Big Zoo

Hattiesburg Zoo: The Littlest Big Zoo

Hattiesburg Zoo in Hattiesburg, Mississippi—home to Ole Miss—is a small zoo (12 acres) in a small town (50,000). Yet, despite the ‘small’ challenges, Hattiesburg Zoo delivers on a level of guest immersion that would be expected from much larger facilities. Highlights include the steampunk education center, splash play area at the core of the zoo, themed Africa and overnight camp, Australia, and children’s play area. However, despite the well-thought out place-making and storytelling, the zoo is missing one core element—the heart and soul.

Jackson Zoo: A Southern Diamond in the Rough

Jackson Zoo: A Southern Diamond in the Rough

The charming Jackson Zoo in Mississippi suffers from lack of decision-making about its future. Sitting in limbo for years over the decision to move it entirely to a new site or to re-invest in its current state, the once lovely zoo sits deteriorating while still in operation. Opened in 1919, this zoo has incredible potential to showcase the best of zoo history with unique Southern storytelling and hospitality, potentially bringing revitalization to a part of Jackson much in need.

Louisiana Purchase Zoo: Band-aids and Boat Rides

Louisiana Purchase Zoo: Band-aids and Boat Rides

In small, economically disadvantaged Monroe, Louisiana, the Louisiana Purchase Zoo struggles to make ends meet. The lack of funding is visibly apparent in the myriad of deferred maintenance projects around the large zoo site. The animals appear well-cared for, but visual deterioration of the zoo likely keeps people from visiting. However, the zoo has a beautiful site complete with a bayou boat ride, and a wonderful collection of animals. A drastic change is needed to ensure this diamond in the rough’s future.

The Reign of Tiger King in the Time of COVID-19

The Reign of Tiger King in the Time of COVID-19

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix released its controversial “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” to a captive, on-edge (and also bored) American audience. The COVID-19 crisis caused many, but not all, American zoos and aquariums to shut down temporarily as social distancing orders were implemented. Felis Consulting, a strategic master planning and design firm focused on the needs of smaller zoos and aquariums, set out to understand the states of mind of zoo professionals during this unprecedented time.

The Wild Animal Park: The Cabela’s of Zoos

The Wild Animal Park: The Cabela’s of Zoos

Relatively new and growing, The Wild Animal Park, in rural central New York still has its brand new shine. Efficiently well-planned, aesthetically pleasing, and a wide variety of animals and interaction possibilities makes this a great short stop for road-trippers. However, a few details detract from its potential, including lack of naturalistic vegetation & topography and the compact nature of the site.

Alexandria Zoo: A Chihuahua of Zoos

Alexandria Zoo: A Chihuahua of Zoos

From the outside, the Alexandria Zoo in Louisiana seems like many of the small zoos we all know and love: a city-owned facility for the enjoyment of the town’s residents and the surrounding rural area, usually located inside a park, sometimes in the rougher part of town. An unassuming (read: underwhelming) entry sequence with barely visible signage and an undersized parking lot. Check, check, and check.

But once inside (and past the entry / gift shop / administration building), the Zoo reveals herself. A historically successful, 30+ acre zoo with triple the penetration of its local city’s population, the zoo has been able to invest deeply in immersive, thematic and deeply layered and complex exhibit experiences. With this high level of guest experience implemented historically the Zoo faces a challenge for its future—continuing to present this high level of immersion within a diminishing budget of a small town.

Adirondack Animal Land: Tough Love

Adirondack Animal Land: Tough Love

Adirondack Animal Land in upstate New York benefits from a stunning site filled with tall pine forest and natural stream and features a nice safari experience. Yet, this small zoo is a great example of a private zoo in need of improvements to incorporate modern animal husbandry and welfare standards. The zoo has great potential, but in its current state, makes for an experience that may not be acceptable by many.

Seneca Park Zoo: An East Coast Charmer

Seneca Park Zoo: An East Coast Charmer

County-owned, AZA accredited Seneca Park Zoo is a twenty-acre gem set into Olmsted-designed Seneca Park in Rochester, New York. Unlike many publicly owned small zoos, this one is unique for many reasons. The biggest, and most challenging, lies within the site itself—a long linear sliver of land following the edge of the park and not nearly wide enough for a loop path. This challenge manages to become an attribute in surprising ways.