During the 1960s, planning began for one of the Zoo’s most monumental undertakings: building the Wild Animal Park, later to become the Safari Park. The Park was Dr. Charles Schroeder’s dream. He saw it as a place that would make a vital contribution to breeding and caring for rare and endangered species, a cause he felt was vital for the future. Initially he didn’t think of the Park as being open to the public at all. But as his plans began to take shape, he realized that it could provide visitors with a unique and educational experience, in addition to its role in conservation. Charlie Schroeder was passionate about making his vision for the Park come true, and he was involved in every step of its development. In 1969, this sign was all there was to the Park—but it was a start. San Diego voters had approved the $6 million bond issue to fund the building of the Park, and at last Charlie could roll up his sleeves and get started on what he had envisioned for so long.

San Diego Zoo associate director Charles Shaw points out the location of

Zoo designer Chuck Faust had traveled to Africa and gone on safari to begin conceptualizing what the Wild Animal Park might look like. He filled notebooks with sketches of what he saw in landscapes and villages, and he began to interpret those images into designs, like this one. You can see some of the Park's now-familiar features starting to take shape.

A Dream Come True

In 1969, San Diego voters passed the $6 million bond issue on the November ballot to fund the building of the Wild Animal Park—by a 75.9% “yes” vote. Dr. Schroeder’s dream was on its way.

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1969

New Era 1967 - 1976

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