Lincoln Park Zoo: New lion exhibit opening

Where: Pepper Family Wildlife Center, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark St.

When: Thursday, October 14, 2021. Open Every Day 10 a.m.–5 p.m.The Lincoln Park Zoo is always free.

The Lincoln Park Zoo Kovler Lion House has been undergoing a $41 million gut renovation since December 2019. Our old lions were shipped off to another zoo. Now we’re getting a new pride of African lions, including one male and three females, two red pandas, two Canada lynx, and two snow leopards.

Roxelyn and the late Richard Pepper (of Pepper Construction who also happens to be the General Contractor on the project) donated $15 million to get their name on the renovated building. The new lion habitat includes updates to the interior and exterior of the historic building plus a new habitat for the lions.

The original lion house was constructed in 1912 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 2005. The Pepper Family Wildlife Center renovation team worked with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to preserve, restore, and enhance the architecturally significant features of the historic building. Read more about it here and here. Below are pics of the old Kovler Lion House. Anything would have been an improvement over that antiquated and inhumane set up for these poor felines. The building itself has beautiful architectural features inside and out.