By Dr. Curtis Varnell
Growing up in the delta area near England, AR., my family were often able to visit the zoo at Little Rock and it is still some of my earliest memories. Located near War Memorial stadium, 1 (Zoo Drive Little Rock, AR 72205-5403) the zoo is the only accredited zoo in the state. Actually, a department of the city of Little Rock, most people think it is a part of our state and is a state educational and tourist treasure. Today, the zoo houses over 400 animals and more than 200 species in an area covering some 33 acres of downtown Little Rock.
The zoo was started by Mayor Brickhouse in 1924 when he established a commission to begin a municipal zoo. The first animals were local and often donated to the zoo as they were captured locally. With the involvement of local clubs and organizations, the zoo was able to acquire a menagerie of more exotic cats, bears, and other animals. One of the more famous acquisitions was Ruth the elephant and many of us can remember visiting her in the large rock house and enclosure in the center of the park. Most of us remember her standing patiently with watering, sad eyes munching on hay, probably dreaming of roaming in a much larger pasture land. She was a zoo fixture for over 40 years, much loved by all the visitors.
Better known but not nearly as adored was Big Arkie. Billed as the largest alligator in captivity, he was 13-foot-long and weighted over 500 pounds. Big Arkie was captured near Hope, Arkansas after a big flood stranded him in a farmer’s pasture. Wrapped up in steel cable, he was deposited in the kiddie pool at the local swimming pool until he could be delivered to the zoo. It took seven men to unload him but, most of his life, he just laid there docilely in the pool and glared at all his many visitors. More than 3,000 visitors came by the first day to see him, followed by thousands more over the years. After his death, his corpse was stuffed and can still be seen at the zoo.
Many of the buildings are of native stone and were constructed by the WPA during the depression years. They add much to the zoo and are reminders of our past. For years, War Memorial Amusement park sat next door to the zoo. My first carnival ride was on the Ferris wheel at the park, something my mother told me I done alone when I was five. Not afraid of any of the rides, I was scared stiff by Laffing Sal, a life-sized mannequin enclosed in a case at the entry. Laughing manically, she bobbed around in her case and looked like a reject from a Stephen King movie. Fortunately, she has gone on to some museum in Springfield, MO. where she, no doubt, is still creating nightmares for kids. The park also included several other rides including an over-the-jumps carousel which was built in 1924. Only five were ever built and it is the only one left in the world. The carousel still includes the original painted wooden horses which have been completely restored and moved into the zoo. It is a part of the National Register of Historic places and can still be ridden while visiting the zoo. The carousel, along with the miniature train ride, remain some of the favorite activities for children. In addition to the various animal habitats is the kids petting zoo featuring chickens, donkeys, goats, and several miniature species.
Each year, the zoo includes many family activities but one of the favorites is the Boo at the Zoo which is coming up very soon. A part of the educational and cultural history of Arkansas, the zoo is a great place to visit and a one-hundred-year-old treasure for our citizens.
