If You’ve Ever Dreamed Of Owning A Zoo, There Are 2 For Sale In North Carolina
In the 2011 movie We Bought a Zoo, Matt Damon plays a journalist who decides to quit his job and move his two kids to an 18-acre wildlife park following his wife’s untimely death. Ultimately, with the help of Scarlett Johansson, they renovate and reopen the zoo. You don’t have to experience anything quite so dramatic to have your own zoo, but you do need a lot of money. There are two zoos right here in North Carolina that are up for sale.
Lions and tigers and bears…and a lot of other animals…oh my! They could all be yours. According to the New York Post, two North Carolina zoo properties are on the market and one of them is very close to Charlotte. Both wildlife attractions are currently owned and operated by Scottie Brown, who is looking for the right people to carry on his legacy.
Which Zoo Is For You?
Zootastic Park, which sits on 186 acres in Troutman, is described as the largest privately owned and operated zoo in the state. In addition to its many exotic animals, Zootastic Park features a carousel, train ride, and hosts a holiday-lights drive-thru. The asking price is $16 million. If that’s a bit too steep for you, there is another option.
Brown’s other zoo is Aloha Safari Park, which offers visitors an immersive, hands-on experience with roughly 300 species costs considerably less. Situated on 68 acres close to Fayetteville, Aloha Safari Park is listed at only $4.5 million. Prospective buyers of either or both zoos must prove that they’re qualified to work with exotic animals in order to comply with federal licensing standards.
