Utah's Hogle Zoo has broken ground on a $10.8 million expansion of its African Savanna exhibit, according to a report published October 9, 2026. The More Room to Roam project aims to provide giraffes with a year-round indoor home and improve facilities for zebras and warthogs while increasing guest access.
The expansion features a new indoor giraffe herd room that will be built where the current giraffe barn stands. This new space will include specialized flooring, integrated medical areas, and enhanced spaces for daily husbandry to assist keepers with year-round care. Additionally, the project includes a hoofstock facility upgrade with three additional stalls, automated watering systems, and variable-height enrichment feeders designed to encourage natural foraging behavior.
Beyond the animal facilities, the expansion will add year-round guest viewing spaces and increase capacity within the outdoor habitat. A new VIP deck will serve as a veterinary care space for voluntary husbandry and veterinary procedures, while a keeper training wall will double as a VIP viewing area to allow guests to observe husbandry work.
Construction work affecting the animals began on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Giraffes, zebras, and an ostrich started moving into the current barn and adjacent outdoor yards to accommodate building crews. Zoo officials stated that animal care teams have prepared the animals for changes in noise and access during this relocation process.
While the zoo estimates the project cost at $10.8 million, a commercial building permit filed with Salt Lake City listed a job value of $5.65 million. The permit describes a work area exceeding 22,000 square feet and a building exceeding 8,593 square feet. The permit also notes the facility is intended to eventually allow the zoo to bring new species into its multispecies exhibit.
The expansion is being funded largely through private donors and individual contributions rather than relying solely on public money. Utah Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Jamie Barnes attended the groundbreaking and stated that the savanna expansion represents visionary planning and a commitment to animal care and conservation education.
Hogle Zoo currently cares for more than 150 animal species, including 65 that are classified as threatened or endangered. The zoo sits on 42 acres of hillside terrain donated by the Hogle family in 1931.
The zoo expects the expansion to be complete and ready to welcome guests by summer 2027.
