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Niabi Zoo
Weathering the "Snowpocalypse"
The zoo experienced significant damage during a record-breaking snowstorm in January 2024. Over 25 inches of heavy, wet snow caused the roofs of several habitats to collapse. The outdoor cat house, the snow leopard enclosure, and the eagle exhibit were hit the hardest. Thankfully, no animals were harmed! The zoo used it as an opportunity to expedite some conservation moves, like sending their Amur leopards to the Toledo Zoo for a breeding program while their home in Coal Valley was being rebuilt.
Niabi in 2026: Rebuilding and Growing
If you visit this year, you'll see a zoo that is "growing stronger through the snow." While some reconstruction is still ongoing (like the Pallas cat exhibit), much of the park has been beautifully restored. Niabi recently received over $500,000 in grant funding to build new outdoor education spaces, a fossil playground, and even a splash pad for those humid Illinois summers. The "Phoenix" Habitats is the newly rebuilt enclosures for the guinea pigs and the eagle exhibit, which have been modernized to be even better than they were before the storm.
Classic Niabi Favorites
Despite the changes, the core of what makes Niabi special is still there. The "Niabi Zoo Express" is back in action! It’s still the best way to see the back perimeter of the park and spot the bison and elk. The zoo has doubled down on interactive experiences. You can still book face-to-face encounters with Kito the White Rhino and giraffes. The iconic carousel had its canopy destroyed in the snow, but it has been fully restored and remains a must-do for kids. Niabi actually means "young deer" in the Osage language, and the zoo’s spirit of resilience definitely lives up to that name. It’s smaller and more walkable than the big city zoos, making it the perfect pace for a family that wants to get up close without the massive crowds.
