Toledo Zoo to close Reptile House for renovations until 2026

Anyone who likes seeing the reptiles and amphibians at the Toledo Zoo might want to take one last look before the month is out.

After that, it’ll be months before the zoo’s Reptile House will be open again.

The Toledo Zoo will start making major updates to the Reptile House on Jan. 1, which is the first time the zoo has had major renovations done since the 1990s, said John Chastain, general curator of ectotherms for the zoo.

“Some of the construction has actually already begun,” Mr. Chastain said.

The $14.5 million renovations, which are expected to be completed in mid to late 2026, will address general wear-and-tear issues but will mostly involve enlarging exhibits in the Reptile House like the crocodile exhibit, which is getting a new event center, Mr. Chastain said.

“Some of the center exhibits in the Reptile House will have better surround viewing, allowing for underwater viewing opportunities as well,” Mr. Chastain said. “It’ll be a nice, bright centerpiece for us.”

One of the last renovations the Reptile House underwent was when the Toledo Zoo added extra storage space and a curator office in the 1990s, Mr. Chastain said.

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