Riverbanks Zoo history

In the summer of 1976, Palmer “Satch” Krantz was hired as executive director.

Knowing they had the support of the community, local government leaders voted to begin funding the Zoo as a millage agency in 1980, effectively ending the financial crisis.

In 1986, the Commission and staff turned their attention to planning the first major expansion of the Zoo.

Riverbanks Farm, an interactive display of domestic animals exhibited in a contemporary farm setting, opened in 1988.

In 1990 more than one million people visited the Zoo.

Construction of Riverbanks Botanical Garden began in 1994 following the unanimous passage of a $6 million bond issue.

The Garden opened on June 10, 1995 and is connected to the Zoo by an 800-foot-long bridge over the Lower Saluda River.

In December 1997 the members of Lexington and Richland county councils approved the most ambitious bond issue in Riverbanks history to-date—$15 million.

These monies were used to fund a number of improvements in the Zoo and Garden, known collectively as Zoo 2002.

Riverbanks broke ground on the largest expansion in Zoo history in May of 2014.

Waterfall Junction, a 3-acre children’s garden in the Botanical Garden, opened in April of 2016 completing phase two while phase three came to fruition in June of 2016 with the opening of Sea Lion Landing.

Stringfellow was named president and CEO in August of 2017.