KEENESBURG, Colo., Oct. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Preparations are underway for what will be a record-setting event
for a Colorado-based non-profit
organization. On Monday, October 31,
2016 The Wild Animal Sanctuary will celebrate a Trifecta of
major milestones when it holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony, breaks a
world record and releases a world premiere video all within a
single event.
The Grand Opening of the new 48,000 square foot Welcome Center
and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. MDT followed by GUINNESS WORLD
RECORDS® presenting the award for the world's Longest
Footbridge at 1:00 p.m. and at
1:30 p.m. the Sanctuary will premiere
its new, world-class branding (promotional) video produced by Emmy
award winning Stage 2 Studios.
The idea and completion of a new Welcome Center is years in the
making. "We realized early on if our guests become
uncomfortable, it impedes their learning about the world's Captive
Wildlife Crisis," says Pat Craig,
the Sanctuary's Executive Director. When TWAS moved to Keenesburg in 1994, no drinking water was
available, no bathrooms, no shade, no food. "We always focus on
what's best for the animals, and our visitors get that right away,
but people needed food, bathrooms, water and a place to rest,"
Craig says.
In 2005, with donated concrete products recycled from the T-REX
expansion of I-25, TWAS's first welcome center was built. In that
space TWAS sold merchandise and tickets. But the number of
guests—more than 200,000 last year—soon outgrew the 2,500 square
foot structure, which housed the admissions kiosks, the gift shop
and orientation sessions. "It became a log jam," Craig says.
"We needed to address a number of issues," Craig recalls.
"Everything in this new space is in response to what had become an
issue in the old space, or was directly requested by the
public".
Today, the new complex is flanked by a 10-acre parking lot that
alleviates the need for overflow parking and secondary check-in
area, which is what the Sanctuary had been utilizing
previously.
Once inside, guests are greeted by life-size sculptures of
African wildlife—created from scrap metal by Kenyan sculptors and
shipped directly to TWAS. The sculptures are for sale—and indeed,
the first shipment was immediately bought before the new center
even opened and donated back to TWAS for a permanent display.
Profits from the sale of sculptures are shared with the Kenyan
artists.
After checking in at one of four admissions kiosks, guests watch
the orientation video displayed on wall-size screens. They may shop
in the new, spacious gift shop, admire the extensive, interior
landscaping and water features, order fresh-cooked food in the new,
cafeteria-style restaurant and enjoy treats from the ice cream
store.
Besides the ice cream shop, restaurant and gift shop, a fourth
building is a commissary amply equipped for caterers for TWAS
fundraisers as well as private celebrations, family reunions and
business dinners, meetings or retreats.
The new Welcome Center was built with a loan for rural
development from the USDA. It is self-sustaining. "We make sure
that anything that costs money for human benefit pays for itself,"
Craig explains. The revenues generated in the gift shop,
restaurant, ice cream shop and event rentals will go entirely to
pay back the USDA loan. All donations and other revenues that are
done in honor of or on behalf of the animals continue to go
directly to the care of the animals.
"We've developed amazing ways to take care of and protect our
animals," Craig says. "We wanted to replicate that for our guests,
and feel we have succeeded. Everyone can now come, be comfortable,
and enjoy the Sanctuary all year long!"
At the time of the opening of the new Welcome Center, an
additional ½-mile of elevated walkway was also opened—stretching
the total length of footbridge to more than 1.5 miles. It is
a one-of-a-kind structure that allows guests to view the
Sanctuary's rescued wild animals without causing the animals
stress.
With the new addition to its overall length, the walkway will be
officially measured by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® on
October 31, at which time the walkway
will receive the title for world's Longest Footbridge.
Finally, the Sanctuary will proudly premiere its finest-ever
promotional or branding video. Months in the making by Stage
2 Studios and filmed using the absolute latest digital technology
it highlights the work and the animals of the Sanctuary like never
before. Based around a poem that will evoke
previously-untouched nerves of compassion in the viewer, the work
of rescuing some of the world's most majestic creatures will be
made manifest in stunning beauty and artistry.
About The Wild Animal Sanctuary:
Located near
Keenesburg, Colorado, The Wild
Animal Sanctuary is the largest nonprofit carnivore sanctuary in
the World, with over 450 rescued Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves,
Leopards and other carnivores living in large acreage natural
habitats. Established in 1980, the Sanctuary operates a 720 acre
refuge for abused, abandoned and confiscated carnivores and
specializes in rehabilitating captive wildlife so they can be
released into natural habitats where they can roam freely and live
with others of their own kind. More information is available
at www.wildanimalsanctuary.org
About Stage 2 Studios:
Stage 2 Studios is an
innovative production studio with operations in Denver, Seattle, Alaska and Pittsburgh. Stage 2 serves clients nationwide,
specializing in creating media that inspires audiences and ignites
growth. In addition, we produce original games and short films
featuring intriguing stories and spectacular visuals. More
information is available at www.stage2studios.com
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SOURCE The Wild Animal Sanctuary