Former City Of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan Wild Animal Park Photo Gallery by Mike Stobbs at pbase.com

Former City Of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan Wild Animal Park

The City of Moose Jaw's former wild animal park is located in Wakomow Valley. It was opened in 1929 and covered some 540 acres of land. Home to over 200 exotic and native animals,a childrens zoo and later an amusement park it was closed for good on September 28th 1995.This was Saskatchewans only zoo and the last time I visited it was in the late 80's. Saskatchewan Envirorment and Resoure Management sold the land (540 acres) to the City of Moose Jaw in April of 1997 for the sum of $1.00. The city was responsible for the decommissioning of the park and restoring the land, the province agreed to provide a $50,000 grant to the city to assist with this work. I had visited this park in the summer of 2006 but it was so over grown you could not find a thing so it was on my list to return to in the fall to seek out the foundations and such. The images show what I found.....Did the city use the money wisely? Is the land restored?
Your comments are most welcome and enjoy...........Mike

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This sign tells the tale	The gates were locked for good Sept. 28th 1995	The Great Gates once welcomed vistiors	The pass gate remains open
The gates from the rear	Fences that once kept animals in now keep humans out		The only wooden light post
Foundations near the pass gate	Kids come to practice their art	R.I.P.	Former flower bed
The foundation for the Reception Area & Exhibits Building	More foundations	Exibits power box	Maintanance Building Floor
Maintenance Building Remains	The now empty parking lot	One of 3 remaining structures	From the back
Inside we see it was a washroom	One of two drinking fountains	Old sign foundation	The last thing said is "We are closed and thanks for coming out"
The second washroom	The walkways are silent	Light post foundation	Cage foundation and sidewalk
Even the Beavers left and never returned	Sidewalks to nowhere	The only hydrant in the park	The second fountain
The only thing on the range are the irrigation posts	The roads are almost gone	The weeds have overgrown the trees	The bridge to the main park area
Old alarm system not protecting anymore	All the doors are busted in	Pond area	Pond area
The pump house	Inside the pump house	Water came from the river	One of only a few garbage can stands
The only picnic table in the park	This is were the ticket entrance stand was

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Justin		02-Jul-2018 20:51
Does any one have a street address or something that is close

Brent Hansen		06-Apr-2018 04:13
Troy.... That was my buddy warren, he has a Freddy Krugar looking arm, was very messed up but some chicks really dug it!

Christine Marks		22-Feb-2018 16:47
My Grandparents were expropriated from their property in the Wakamow Valley because the city of Moose Jaw wanted to develop the property, so they were told. Nothing was ever done to this day the property is overgrown and their log cabin was burned down. My Grandparents were absolutely heart broken by the cities lack of respect for a beautiful property. I have such wonderful memories of my time spent at the cabin and probably the only person in Saskatchewan that can say I woke up to lions roaring. My Grandparents were Mac & Marge McAvoy. I hope someday the city will see there way clear to keep a promise that is so very long overdue!

Norm		23-Apr-2017 05:54
Email me at fireguy6565@hotmail.com. If you have the radiator badges or mini plates for sale

Norm		23-Apr-2017 05:52
Hi Anyone have the moose radiator badges for sale or the later miniature license plates ? I will buy Thanks

Darlene		17-Apr-2017 21:51
Did they have one or more moose? If they had a moose what became of it?

Guest		14-Feb-2016 20:34
The city could at least make it into a place where families can go and have reunions and parties a place to just go where there won't be a lot of traffic. Lots of opportunity covered in tall grass and weeds. Miss that place. We need more options yes we have Wakamow but this is just a shame to go to waste.

Ken		15-Dec-2015 20:55
I lived in Moose Jaw from 1962 until 1972. Lived on the Armed Forces Base so got to drive by the park almost everyday. Plus for some was the big dare to sneak in where the bison roamed!!! Was very sorry to see it closed when I went back for a look around.

Guest		14-Nov-2015 03:15
Whoops. I mis-typed my email address. It is Billbo.Bargains@hotmail.com If anyone knows how to contact "jas" please help us connect. Thanks.

Bill Leonhart		20-Oct-2015 14:54
Hello "jas". I still have the coin. Sorry I have not checked back at this site for a while. I cannot find a way to contact you directly so I'll do it this way. Email me at Bilbo.Bargains@hotmail.com and we can arrange to get you the coin.

Bill stevens		31-Aug-2015 20:01
I've been back in the uk for 30 years now but lived in Moose Jaw for a number of years anyone who came on holiday from the uk we took there everyone loved it . It's very sad to see it the wAy it is now

Troy		03-Aug-2015 17:10
Does anyone remember the incident when a boy had his arm ripped off at the zoo? I think I must be 30 years ago now.

Guest		14-Jun-2015 12:15
the wild animal park is moosejaws best kept secret that's really not all that much of a secret ' 46 achers of freedom -just make sure you roll more than one ehhhh :)

jas		26-May-2015 17:26
me please!! i hope it will remind my dad of his childhood

Bill		08-Mar-2015 19:56
I just found a Moose Jaw Dollar (1978) with a bison head and "Moose Jaw Wild Animal Park, 50 Years of Service" inscribed on the back side. Anyone interested? No cost, just tell me why?

Terry		05-Mar-2015 16:53
Born and raised in Moose Jaw,1945-1965, lived on the South side, garlic hill. :) The one memory i have carried with me about the park, was that poor lion who lived in a small cage about 20x20 ft. It just popped into my head to google the park, and much to my delight it has been shut down. Hopefully the land can be cleaned up and put to good use.

kimmy		12-Feb-2015 16:08
i have been there once

Susan		31-Aug-2014 02:31
I was baptized in the zoo by the river, between where the lions and monkeys. First time I've been back since early 70's, and was greatly saddened that the park had closed. I had hoped to get a photo under the sign, but no such luck. At least I have a photo of the gate. A shame this couldn't be kept open, nor kept up.

Steven		21-May-2014 19:34
I don't remember the Wild Animal Park. But i was told the tale of the happy citizens that went down there as a family to see the animals. so i think we should fight back and get it opened for a new start.

Alana		04-May-2014 16:37
After moving back from Vancouver about 3 years ago... i was shocked when i went down there& saw how neglected it's become. I had birthday parties, school trips and just the best times there until about 5th grade. I'm supper curious what the $50,000 went to, cuz it sure wasnt the park! It's barely usable for jogging, hiking or dog walking and honestly kind of embarrassing how this beautiful land wasnt cared for after being open for near 70 years. We desperately need someplace like this for children & families, as moose jaw is way behind in that department compared to where it was when i was growing up here in 80s&90s. With a 4 year old now it's challenging to find new things to do in the city other than the basics. We recently rented the ymca gym which brought back tons of memories about the nat. receiving the same sad neglected fate. I totally agree about the comment made regarding mosaic! Rather then expanding or creating new billion dollar facilities a lot of people care more about restoring the facilities we have to make them usable heritage buildings & areas before they're so far gone.if anyone is interested in putting fourth action on this subject perhaps we could start a Facebook group to communicate in a group about solutions...my email is alanarempel@hotmail.com and I'm very interested

Guest		30-Apr-2014 15:50
anyone else think moose jaw should have fixed this area and maybe put the zoo back instead of building the mosaic or any of the other over priced crap? I personally would of loved being able to take my kids here rather than an inside place!

Guest		28-Feb-2014 18:59
In the mid 50,s my father was the caretaker at the park, we lived in the house that stood at the front entrance, I was maybe 5 or 6 at the time and remember my father feeding the animals, after we moved into town and went to the park many a summer Sunday, it is such a shame the park no longer is there, in the 80,s long after I moved away, we had taken our girls there and I still enjoyed the park.

Marilyn Schmidek		02-Nov-2013 05:08
Hi Mike Just saw the movie Eerie 13, so I looked up the park. As a Albertan, I know - Sometimes you have to go after the province or city with a lot of help from your neighbours, family and friends to make them do what they all promise. They closed it down, the least they could do is clean it up and make it a good spot for hikers, bikers or just a nice picnic area with bathrooms. With a little bit of work, it could be a animal and wild life sanitary for people to enjoy for years to come. P.S. If you do go after them and do decide to clean the rest up, count me in. Our provinces are all beautiful in their own way and they deserve to be kept beautiful.

Guest		30-Oct-2013 00:46
i go there to play airsoft!

Corie.		19-Apr-2013 00:46
Hay does anyone have pictures of Coco the grizzly bear?

S. Robbins		04-Apr-2013 18:57
Hi there I visited the park a long time ago from Ontario. I am considering a move to SK and googled the park in hopes to volunteer there. I will always remember the fun i had there. My dad was showing his street rods at a car show there and it was amazing to stay right on site. I spent hours sitting with this Grizzly Bear named Coco. Sad to see it shut down was looking forward to taking my girls there if we decide to move. The pictures are definitely not the way i remember things. I think it was early 90's when i went there. I worked at the zoo in my home town for three summers as a student while I studied entomology at college. Loved it and my daughters and I go there almost daily in the summer. Sad to see its gone great to see everyones memories though

S		03-Dec-2012 18:19
Hi everyone! Does anyone remember the big wooden play house that had the draw bridge and pole that you could slide down??? Also, there was a big metal horse that could fit almost 8 kids or more!!! My wife and I took our dog down to the park yesterday and tons of faded memories flooded my mind as I tried to remember and point out the lay out of the park to my wife! I know there must be a visitors map of the park which I would to see! Can anyone help? Does anyone remember the layout?

Karla		17-Jul-2012 19:54
I have been thinking of the old zoo lately, I was supposed to go to it on a class trip months before it closed down. I didn't know what they did with the land.. too bad that it wasn't cared for in the least I was thinking that if it was still in reasonable condition a person could try to start it up again.. its something that Saskatchewan could really benefit from. Its sad that there isn't a place to take the kids in SK anymore. You have to travel to other provinces just to see a zoo.. :( Sad to see that part of Saskatchewan's history is being disregarded.

Sandy Carmichael nee May		23-Jun-2012 22:07
To see "The Wild Animal Park" looking this way is very sad for me. I was a Moose Jaw girl..graduated from Riverview Collegiate in 1962! I lived at the top of the hill on Keith Crescent, worked in the summers at "The Training School" with special needs people. I especially loved working with the children, and would go back to see them on my days off! Several times I was able to take one of the young girls home for the day so my parents could enjoy them too! I especially loved the 1:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. shifts, so I could go dancing after work in the evenings, and "sleep in" in the morning! I often visited "The Wild Animal Park" with my Parents and my Grandparents. I now live in Langley, B.C. and still dance several times a week! But ...the look of the park now, makes me so sad. Sandy May Carmichael.

Lorrie		26-Sep-2011 18:08
Oh, I miss that park. I remember being 7 mths pregnant at the time with my daughter. That didn't stop me from being in the bumper boats. Oh, what fun and the splashing!!!

Aaron		14-Aug-2011 02:42
does anyone have pictures before the park was closed? only 27yrs old and very fond memories of the park, would like to show my own kids one day

Murray		09-Aug-2011 17:17
The animal park was good place to relax and have a family barbecue it's to bad it had to close down for ever

Guest		09-Aug-2011 17:12
It's to bad the animal park had to close it was a place to vist and to relax and have a family barbacue

molly Rexilius		03-Feb-2011 17:46
my email is mollyrex1@aol.com thanks

Molly Rexilius		03-Feb-2011 17:45
I am doing a canada report for my school if someone can tell me about moose jaw wild animal park good places and things about it please contact soon

guest		26-Jan-2011 00:17
How sad it was closed sorry for moose jaws wild animal park the pics make me heart broken:(

Guest		26-Jan-2011 00:15
how sad it was closed

Guest		19-Jan-2011 15:30
The park was grat when it was a zoo and it is missed but the area is used for recreation now. People hike and it is ideal with the large fenced in area for dogs.

megin		12-Dec-2010 17:35
very very very sad

Guest		26-Sep-2010 03:11
Was just in moose jaw today trying to find the zoo. What street did you take to get in there.

Ed Tollefson		26-May-2010 23:15
Anyone interested in seeing a photo of the moose car passes can e-mail me at edbertha@sasktel.net

Ed Tollefson		26-May-2010 23:12
I have a photo of one of the metals moose car oasses that Vern curry speaks of. If anyone wants to see it you can call me at (306) 751 0276

Bill Smith		23-Apr-2010 18:02
As I wrote in my last post I have a collection of the parks pass if you have any forsale please email me. I am wanting to add to collection and any pictures or post card of the park. Thks Bill Email wl.smith@shaw.ca

Bill Smith		22-Mar-2010 03:21
Hi I grew up in mj and remember the park .Was there last july was sad to see it gone. I have a collection of the metal parks passes if anyone wants history on them email me. Email wl.smith@shaw.ca

Brent.		12-Feb-2010 20:34
I used to work at the zoo back in about 93/94. Was a great place to work. Sad to see it like it is now. I have made a return trip down there myself and have seen it in its current state. Anyways good times. Great pictures.

Ed Tollefson		20-Jan-2010 14:08
I lived just a 1/4 mile from the Park for almost 20 years. Visited it many times. The last time I was there was with a bus tour of Seniors about 1992. For nostalgic reasons it was so sad to see it close. I have 2 of the Moose entrance passes that were used at the beginning. It is dated 1932.

Red Green		05-Nov-2009 18:42
Hey Mike...could not find a thing?...you missed just 540 acres of a wild animal park full of flora and fauna in an urban setting...we need more areas like this!

Guest		12-May-2009 15:51
my auntie worked here and she told me it was awsome

Guest		12-May-2009 15:51
my auntie worked here and she told me it was awsome

Mike		25-Nov-2008 16:10
I've just been viewing colour slides of bears,eagle,deer etc taken by my father at the Moose Jaw Wild Animal Park in 1942 when he was stationed at the RCAF base 32FSTS and we lived in Moose Jaw for 3yrs.I have a 100 slides, showing Crescent Park, RCAF shots, lake Regina and Banff. Mike B

Beth		04-Apr-2008 17:06
Most of the buildings have been torn down. (Old washrooms and pumphouse remain) The "last" picnic table has been ripped apart, looks like someone wanted to burn it. www.Wakamow.com has some more photos.

LM Gildersleeve		17-Mar-2008 23:28
It seems to me if they removed those fences they'd have the natural fauna return. I realize it is a tremendous amount of work and money to clean it up, but the town create a nice public area there. But if this animal park is like others I've been to, the location is a poor one.

shayla		25-Feb-2008 20:14
very sad

Vern Curry		13-Nov-2007 14:28
Can you tell me anything about the metal Moose car passes that were used for entrance into the park? These were fastened onto the radiator of your car. How many years were they used? Were they always brass or were other metals used as well? Any information you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

Nick Begin		18-Sep-2007 02:07
hey mike this is nick. i just wanted to ask you one thing my friend does not believe there are any badgers down there could you prove it to him??? have you seen any down there?

Diane Neufeld		13-Jul-2007 22:48
Hi Mike, I remember the childrens area of the park in the early 60's. It had a barn where you climbed up a ladder to the loft & then went down a slide, a pumpkin house & best of all - a castle with a drawbridge that terrified us. Do you know anyone with pictures of the childrens area.It has my fondest memories. I don't remember when they got rid of it but in my opinion it was a big mistake. Diane

Y. Charbonneau		13-Nov-2006 16:32
Cool pix Mike!

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