A capybara, the animal behind the project's planned "Capybara Cove" habitat. Illustration: AI-generated by Only In Ocala; not a photo of the project or of any Ocala site.
Community
2026-10-255 min readA Zoo Is Coming to Ocala? We Tried to Find It
This is a community news article published on 2026-10-25 covering local Marion County, Florida news. Social media posts keep promising a zoo and aquarium in Ocala. The project behind them asks for $500 to $5,000 founding memberships, but as of Oct. 26, 2026, its website names no site or opening date, and a Property Appraiser owner search shows no Marion County land under its name.
Updated 1 weeks ago
By Only In Ocala Staff
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If you have scrolled through local social media lately, you have probably seen the posts advertising a future zoo and aquarium for Ocala. They point to a project called the Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium, and its own website promises animals and an aquarium. Ocala has never had a public zoo, so the idea is an easy one to get excited about. We were a little confused, because none of the posts told us where it would go, who is building it or when it might open. So we read the project's own website and checked the public records a zoo would leave behind, and we came away with more questions than answers.
The project lives at ocalazoo.com. Its home page greets visitors with "Something Wild is Coming" and the line "We're working on something amazing. The Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium is under construction. Check back soon!" The header already lists "Future Hours: 9am-5pm" next to a "Buy Tickets" button.
The plans are ambitious. The site's FAQ page describes a master plan with "Capybara Cove, the Sulcata Tortoise Trail, the Florida Discovery Zone, a walk-through aviary, Flamingo Lagoon, and a future aquarium," and lists an African Savanna and a Predator Ridge as long-term additions. The aquarium, it says, "will feature freshwater and saltwater exhibits, interactive touch tanks, and reef displays," and Capybara Cove "is envisioned as a lush South American-inspired habitat."
What the site does not say is where any of this will be built. Asked where the park will be, the FAQ answers that it "will be located in Ocala, Florida" and that the "full address and directions will be published closer to opening day." No street, parcel or site plan appears on any page we checked. The FAQ entry "When will the Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium open?" still holds the website template's placeholder text rather than an answer. None of the pages we checked names an architect, engineer, contractor or animal-care director.
What the site does have is a way to pay. Its FAQ says development is "supported through founding memberships, donations, sponsorships, and community partnerships," and the Support Us page offers three founding memberships, each labeled a one-time payment:
In other words, the perks are admission, discounts and tours at a park whose website does not yet list an address. The details do not line up, either. The FAQ says "founding memberships are valid for one year from the membership start date," while the $500 Patron tier promises "lifetime founding member recognition." Below the tiers, the page's donation section still carries a note that reads "(This is just a temporary image until I add the real donation tool)." Each tier's button leads to a sign-up page on the site. We did not fill out the form or pay anything, so we cannot say what that page collects.
A separate Partners page names two local organizations, Ocala Breeders' Feed & Supply as a "Founding Partner" and Marion Audubon as a "Conservation Partner," and invites businesses to sponsor exhibits, animals and events. We did not contact either organization, so we cannot say what, if anything, either has agreed to.
The site's Join Us page lists ten full-time jobs, including an Interactive Animal Keeper, Crocodilian & Herpetology Keepers, a Veterinarian and an Aquarist, each with an "Apply Now" button. The Interactive Animal Keeper listing says species assignments "will depend on OZPA's developing animal collection." The FAQ page on the same site reads differently: "We are not actively hiring yet," with recruiting expected "during the later stages of development."
The contact details are just as mixed. The site's mobile menu lists a phone number of 555-555-5555 and the email address mymail@mailservice.com, which look like template placeholders. Elsewhere, the pages list 803-318-2780 as the number to call and ocalazooaquarium@gmail.com as the email. The Facebook, Instagram and Twitter icons on the pages we checked link to those sites' general home pages, not to a project profile.
The pages we read do not name the project's leadership, but Florida's business records do. The Division of Corporations' Sunbiz database lists Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, document number L26000412233, filed Aug. 4, 2026, and active. Its principal and mailing address is 73 Dave Dr., Palmetto, Georgia, and it lists two managers at that address, Jalen Watson and Aliscia Dodson. On Google Maps, that address is a residence inside a mobile home park in Palmetto, not a business office. The registered agent is Inc Authority RA in Orlando. The FEI/EIN field reads "NONE," and the record shows the formation document as the only filing, with no annual reports filed.
That record shows the company exists. It is a limited liability company, not a registered nonprofit, and an LLC filing says nothing about whether a company owns land, holds permits or has raised money.
A zoo needs a lot of ground, so we checked the Marion County Property Appraiser's property record search. An owner-name search for "OCALA ZOOLOGICAL" on Oct. 25, 2026, returned no records, and we ran it again on Oct. 26 with "OCALA ZOO" and "ZOOLOGICAL," with the same result. The same search returned parcels for other local businesses, so the tool was working. An owner search only shows land already recorded in a company's name; it cannot show a pending purchase contract, an option or a lease, and recent sales can take time to appear. Because the project has not named a site, there was no address to look up instead. We have not yet searched Marion County or City of Ocala planning records for a rezoning or site-plan application, so we are not saying whether one exists.
The land question matters because the rules for exhibiting animals in Florida are built around it. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says on its exhibition page that "exhibition of wildlife in Florida requires a permit." For the larger and more dangerous Class I and Class II species, an applicant needs 1,000 hours of documented experience with the species over at least a year, two reference letters and a caging inspection before a permit is issued, and a Class I holder must show financial responsibility, such as a $10,000 bond or liability insurance. FWC's acreage rule says a new Class I facility "shall not be constructed on less than five (5) acres," a Class II facility needs at least two and a half acres, there must be a buffer of at least 35 feet to the property line, and "the property must be owned or leased by the applicant." FWC lists exceptions and a separate Class III permit for other species, and which class each planned animal falls under depends on the species. FWC's pages do not offer a public search of permit holders, so we could not check whether the company holds one. The project's own keeper listings mention FWC requirements and permits.
At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Care Public Search Tool says "animal dealers and exhibitors must obtain a license" for "certain warm-blooded animals" covered by the Animal Welfare Act, and that inspectors check licensees' animals, records and facilities. We did not search that list for the company.
Then there is accreditation, which is voluntary but is the main outside review of how a zoo is run. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums says its application "takes many months to complete and six months to study and evaluate," followed by an on-site inspection of "every area" over "several long days" and a hearing before its Accreditation Commission, with renewal every five years. The project's website does not mention AZA, USDA licensing, county zoning or acreage.
We cannot say it is, and we cannot say it is not. What we can say is that, as of Oct. 26, 2026, the Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium is a website and a Florida LLC, formed Aug. 4, whose only listed address is a residence in a Georgia mobile home park, that is offering founding memberships of $500 to $5,000. The website names no site and gives no opening date, the Property Appraiser's owner search shows no Marion County land under the project's name, and the site's contact details still include what look like placeholders. Building a zoo and aquarium leaves a long paper trail, and the first pieces of that trail would be easy for anyone to check:
Until those show up, anyone thinking about buying a founding membership may want to ask for them first. We will update this story if the project names a site or files with the county, and the project is welcome to send us those details.
Ocala has no public zoo today, but there are places to see animals close by. Our guide to zoos and wildlife sanctuaries near Ocala covers the EARS big-cat sanctuary in Citra and Petting Zoo Ocala, and our kids activities guide has more family options. Our editorial guidelines explain how we check what we publish.
A capybara, the animal behind the project's planned "Capybara Cove" habitat. Illustration: AI-generated by Only In Ocala; not a photo of the project or of any Ocala site.
A Website That Says "Under Construction"
The project lives at ocalazoo.com. Its home page greets visitors with "Something Wild is Coming" and the line "We're working on something amazing. The Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium is under construction. Check back soon!" The header already lists "Future Hours: 9am-5pm" next to a "Buy Tickets" button.
The plans are ambitious. The site's FAQ page describes a master plan with "Capybara Cove, the Sulcata Tortoise Trail, the Florida Discovery Zone, a walk-through aviary, Flamingo Lagoon, and a future aquarium," and lists an African Savanna and a Predator Ridge as long-term additions. The aquarium, it says, "will feature freshwater and saltwater exhibits, interactive touch tanks, and reef displays," and Capybara Cove "is envisioned as a lush South American-inspired habitat."
What the site does not say is where any of this will be built. Asked where the park will be, the FAQ answers that it "will be located in Ocala, Florida" and that the "full address and directions will be published closer to opening day." No street, parcel or site plan appears on any page we checked. The FAQ entry "When will the Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium open?" still holds the website template's placeholder text rather than an answer. None of the pages we checked names an architect, engineer, contractor or animal-care director.
Founding Members Before There Is a Site
What the site does have is a way to pay. Its FAQ says development is "supported through founding memberships, donations, sponsorships, and community partnerships," and the Support Us page offers three founding memberships, each labeled a one-time payment:
- Patron, $500: lifetime founding member recognition, unlimited annual admission for two, 20% off dining and the gift shop, founding member events and a name on the donor wall
- Champion, $1,000: everything in Patron, plus unlimited annual admission for four, behind-the-scenes tours four times a year, an animal naming opportunity and a quarterly impact briefing
- Legacy, $5,000: everything in Champion, plus a dedicated exhibit sponsorship, private event access, an annual conservation trip invitation and prominent name recognition
In other words, the perks are admission, discounts and tours at a park whose website does not yet list an address. The details do not line up, either. The FAQ says "founding memberships are valid for one year from the membership start date," while the $500 Patron tier promises "lifetime founding member recognition." Below the tiers, the page's donation section still carries a note that reads "(This is just a temporary image until I add the real donation tool)." Each tier's button leads to a sign-up page on the site. We did not fill out the form or pay anything, so we cannot say what that page collects.
A separate Partners page names two local organizations, Ocala Breeders' Feed & Supply as a "Founding Partner" and Marion Audubon as a "Conservation Partner," and invites businesses to sponsor exhibits, animals and events. We did not contact either organization, so we cannot say what, if anything, either has agreed to.
Hiring, or Not?
The site's Join Us page lists ten full-time jobs, including an Interactive Animal Keeper, Crocodilian & Herpetology Keepers, a Veterinarian and an Aquarist, each with an "Apply Now" button. The Interactive Animal Keeper listing says species assignments "will depend on OZPA's developing animal collection." The FAQ page on the same site reads differently: "We are not actively hiring yet," with recruiting expected "during the later stages of development."
The contact details are just as mixed. The site's mobile menu lists a phone number of 555-555-5555 and the email address mymail@mailservice.com, which look like template placeholders. Elsewhere, the pages list 803-318-2780 as the number to call and ocalazooaquarium@gmail.com as the email. The Facebook, Instagram and Twitter icons on the pages we checked link to those sites' general home pages, not to a project profile.
Who Is Behind It?
The pages we read do not name the project's leadership, but Florida's business records do. The Division of Corporations' Sunbiz database lists Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, document number L26000412233, filed Aug. 4, 2026, and active. Its principal and mailing address is 73 Dave Dr., Palmetto, Georgia, and it lists two managers at that address, Jalen Watson and Aliscia Dodson. On Google Maps, that address is a residence inside a mobile home park in Palmetto, not a business office. The registered agent is Inc Authority RA in Orlando. The FEI/EIN field reads "NONE," and the record shows the formation document as the only filing, with no annual reports filed.
That record shows the company exists. It is a limited liability company, not a registered nonprofit, and an LLC filing says nothing about whether a company owns land, holds permits or has raised money.
We Looked for the Land
A zoo needs a lot of ground, so we checked the Marion County Property Appraiser's property record search. An owner-name search for "OCALA ZOOLOGICAL" on Oct. 25, 2026, returned no records, and we ran it again on Oct. 26 with "OCALA ZOO" and "ZOOLOGICAL," with the same result. The same search returned parcels for other local businesses, so the tool was working. An owner search only shows land already recorded in a company's name; it cannot show a pending purchase contract, an option or a lease, and recent sales can take time to appear. Because the project has not named a site, there was no address to look up instead. We have not yet searched Marion County or City of Ocala planning records for a rezoning or site-plan application, so we are not saying whether one exists.
What It Takes to Open a Zoo in Florida
The land question matters because the rules for exhibiting animals in Florida are built around it. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says on its exhibition page that "exhibition of wildlife in Florida requires a permit." For the larger and more dangerous Class I and Class II species, an applicant needs 1,000 hours of documented experience with the species over at least a year, two reference letters and a caging inspection before a permit is issued, and a Class I holder must show financial responsibility, such as a $10,000 bond or liability insurance. FWC's acreage rule says a new Class I facility "shall not be constructed on less than five (5) acres," a Class II facility needs at least two and a half acres, there must be a buffer of at least 35 feet to the property line, and "the property must be owned or leased by the applicant." FWC lists exceptions and a separate Class III permit for other species, and which class each planned animal falls under depends on the species. FWC's pages do not offer a public search of permit holders, so we could not check whether the company holds one. The project's own keeper listings mention FWC requirements and permits.
At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Care Public Search Tool says "animal dealers and exhibitors must obtain a license" for "certain warm-blooded animals" covered by the Animal Welfare Act, and that inspectors check licensees' animals, records and facilities. We did not search that list for the company.
Then there is accreditation, which is voluntary but is the main outside review of how a zoo is run. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums says its application "takes many months to complete and six months to study and evaluate," followed by an on-site inspection of "every area" over "several long days" and a hearing before its Accreditation Commission, with renewal every five years. The project's website does not mention AZA, USDA licensing, county zoning or acreage.
So, Is a Zoo Coming to Ocala?
We cannot say it is, and we cannot say it is not. What we can say is that, as of Oct. 26, 2026, the Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium is a website and a Florida LLC, formed Aug. 4, whose only listed address is a residence in a Georgia mobile home park, that is offering founding memberships of $500 to $5,000. The website names no site and gives no opening date, the Property Appraiser's owner search shows no Marion County land under the project's name, and the site's contact details still include what look like placeholders. Building a zoo and aquarium leaves a long paper trail, and the first pieces of that trail would be easy for anyone to check:
- a street address or parcel, and a deed or lease in the company's name
- a rezoning, special-use or site-plan application with Marion County or the City of Ocala
- an FWC exhibition permit for the planned species
- a USDA exhibitor license
- named staff, a local phone number and a mailing address on the website
- an explanation of how founding-member payments are held and used
Until those show up, anyone thinking about buying a founding membership may want to ask for them first. We will update this story if the project names a site or files with the county, and the project is welcome to send us those details.
Animals You Can See Near Ocala Now
Ocala has no public zoo today, but there are places to see animals close by. Our guide to zoos and wildlife sanctuaries near Ocala covers the EARS big-cat sanctuary in Citra and Petting Zoo Ocala, and our kids activities guide has more family options. Our editorial guidelines explain how we check what we publish.
Sources: Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium website (ocalazoo.com): home, FAQs, Support Us, Join Us, Partners and other pages, checked Oct. 25-26, 2026 (Join Us re-read Oct. 26). Florida Division of Corporations (search.sunbiz.org), entity detail for L26000412233. Google Maps place listing and map for 73 Dave Dr., Palmetto, Ga., checked Oct. 26, 2026. Marion County Property Appraiser (pa.marion.fl.us) owner-name searches, Oct. 25 and 26, 2026. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com) exhibition and acreage pages. USDA APHIS Animal Care Public Search Tool. Association of Zoos and Aquariums (aza.org) accreditation page. AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this article; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing.
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