FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
     Laurey Peat
     Laurey Peat + Assoc.
     214/871.8787

CALDWELL ZOO ANNOUNCES NEW "ZOOFEST" COMMUNITY EVENT FOR OCTOBER 4th AND 5th, 2003 FROM 12 TO 4 P.M.
Free days of fun and entertainment unveil major renovations, offer friends of the zoo first-ever membership opportunity to join in the Caldwell tradition of educating children, delighting more than 600,000 visitors each year

TYLER, TX - September 8, 2003 - On October 4 th and 5 th , 2003 from 12 to 4 p.m., Caldwell Zoo will unveil major renovations during a free festival of fun and entertainment. "ZooFest" celebrates the recently completed $6.5 million renovation and construction project at Caldwell Zoo.   The construction and renovation   provides visitors with an exciting new entryway that includes new exhibits for Lemurs, Squirrel Monkeys, Tamarins, Flamingos, and Spoonbills, construction of a new animal hospital, animal holding buildings, picnic area, parking lots, along with a new Children's Zoo animal contact area, gift shop, visitor services building and other visitor amenities.

During ZooFest, visitors will be treated to complimentary popcorn as well as plenty of free family entertainment, including face painting, caricature artists, clowns, and more. Caldwell Zoo's tradition of providing educational and enrichment activities to the community will also be showcased with zookeeper talks, giraffe feedings, animal encounters, bird shows, behind-the-scenes tours, and other animal enrichment activities.

On October 4th, DJ Gary P. "Blue Eyes" Walker from KNUE 101.5 fm will also provide entertainment during ZooFest with a live remote broadcast from 12-4 p.m. Visitors attending ZooFest may also enter hourly raffle drawings for special offerings from the zoo such as T-shirts, gift shop and concession gift certificates, and zoo memberships.  

The lucky grand prize winner will receive a "breakfast with the elephants" party for 10 people and an original painting created by an elephant.   Each day there will be additional prizes.

"We are excited about sharing these major new exhibits with our community of supporters," said Executive Director Hayes Caldwell, "and to offer a new way for zoo lovers to get involved at Caldwell Zoo through the Caldwell ZooMembers program. For many years, the community has embraced Caldwell Zoo as its own, and the membership program is a way to make that relationship official."

During ZooFest, visitors will be offered the first-ever opportunity to become members of Caldwell Zoo and join in its mission to provide positive educational experiences and entertainment to the community. While Caldwell Zoo has been solely supported by grants from the Caldwell Foundation, following ZooFest, it will begin charging a nominal admission fee in order to ensure that it becomes a self-sustaining organization for future generations.

Those joining Caldwell ZooMembers during ZooFest will receive three months of membership free since the annual memberships purchased during the event will not expire until December 31, 2004. They will also receive immediate discounts of 10% off gift shop purchases during ZooFest.

Other ongoing benefits for Caldwell ZooMembers include:

• Annual admission to the zoo
• 10% discount in the zoo gift shop
• Discount on classes and camps for children
• Beginning January 2004, free or discounted admission to other AZA-accredited zoos across the country (visit the Caldwell Zoo website at www.caldwellzoo.org for complete details)
• Free subscription to the Caldwell Zoo newsletter
• Caldwell ZooMembers photo pass card for each member

Four membership categories designed for families and individuals:

• Individual - $20: Unlimited admission for one adult member.
  
• Individual Plus - $35: Unlimited admission for one adult member, plus one guest each zoo visit. The member must accompany the guest.
  
• Family - $45: Unlimited admission for two adults living at the same address and up to four of their children and/or grandchildren age 18 and under. Families with more than four children may add additional children to the membership for $5 each.
  
• Family Plus - $60: Unlimited admission for two adults living at the same address and up to four of their children and/or grandchildren age 18 and under, plus one guest per zoo visit. The member must accompany the guest. Families with more than four children may add additional children to the membership for $5 each.

Following the free Zoofest event, Caldwell Zoo will begin charging admission as follows:

General admission: children two years and younger are admitted free; children ages three through 12, $3.50; adults 13 to 54, $6; seniors 55 and older, $5.

Accredited public or private nonprofit school groups, 5 th grade and under, will be admitted to the zoo for free. All other groups will receive a $1 discount off the regular general admission prices. Groups are defined as any public or private nonprofit schools with any size group, or any group of 15 or more persons.

Over the last 50 years, Caldwell Zoo has delighted millions of visitors. The zoo began as the backyard menagerie of legendary Tyler businessman and philanthropist D.K. Caldwell. Today, true to Caldwell's vision and under the caring guidance of his nephew, Executive Director Hayes Caldwell, Caldwell Zoo has become one of the finest small zoos in the country with 2,000 animals representing 250 different species. A regional destination, the zoo attracts over 600,000 visitors each year and has been recognized as one of the top zoos in the South.

Caldwell Zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. from April 1st through September 30th and from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. from October 1st through March 31st . The zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.