According to the Sioux Falls Police, a Mountain Lion was spotted roaming the greenway in the city’s downtown last week. But for longtime residents of Sioux Falls, having a “Big Cat” nearby is actually something they’ve seen (and heard) before.
Long before the Great Plains Zoo opened its doors on June 30, 1963, Sioux Falls was home to two legendary African Lions that didn’t just pass through – they moved in for the winter.
Download the KXRB Mobile App Now
Meet Leo and Lena – Sioux Falls Most Famous “Big Cats”
In the 1950s, the City of Sioux Falls operated a small zoo at Sherman Park, but it wasn’t well equipped for the brutal, unforgiving South Dakota winters, especially given that some of its residents hailed from the African savanna.
Leo and Lena, two full-grown African Lions, had already become the city’s two most famous residents by that point, so, to keep them from freezing, the city moved the lions to the Phillips Carriage House at Terrace Park. This wasn’t just any old garage, though- it was built from local Sioux Quartzite, which featured a potbelly stove that burned all winter long, keeping the lions nice and toasty…