TOLEDO, Ohio — The Reptile House at the Toledo Zoo is closed to visitors, but activity inside is picking up.
Built during the Great Depression, the nearly 90-year-old building is undergoing one of the most significant renovations in its history. Zoo leaders say the goal is to preserve the building’s historic character while modernizing how it functions for animals, staff, and guests.
The project is nearing completion, with reopening planned around Memorial Day weekend.
A new crocodile exhibit — designed around sunlight
At the center of the renovation is a brand-new crocodile exhibit — the largest and most complex part of the project.
The exhibit is built directly beneath retractable skylights, a feature Zoo leaders say is critical to animal welfare. The skylights allow natural sunlight to reach the exhibit, something the original 1930s building was never designed to do…