ME's Zoo facts for kids

ME's Zoo was a special place in Parker City, Indiana, where you could visit many amazing animals. It was a privately owned zoo that covered more than 40 acres (16 ha) of land. Over 300 animals called ME's Zoo their home! This zoo was super popular, especially around Christmas, because it was decorated with over 200,000 sparkling lights. ME's Zoo welcomed visitors for many years before it closed on September 27, 2009.

The Story of ME's Zoo

How the Zoo Began

ME's Zoo opened its doors to the public in 1988. It started with 45 animals on 55 acres. The name "ME's Zoo" came from the first names of the owners, Max and Eileen Oren, with "s" added for "several people" who helped.

Max Oren became very sick in 1986. His friends and neighbors wanted to cheer him up, so they decorated his farm with over 10,000 Christmas lights. Many cars drove by to see the beautiful display, and Max received lots of encouraging messages.

Even when he was very ill, Max remembered how many people loved the Christmas lights. He used to run carnival games, and he started selling his equipment to buy more animals. Max had a big dream: he wanted to build a zoo! With help from Eileen, friends, and family, Max's dream came true.

Growing the Animal Family

Max faced more health challenges in 1989. Despite this, he loved to entertain kids with bird shows, especially with his favorite parrots. He even wrote poetry!

ME's Zoo grew to have over 300 different kinds of exotic animals. During the spring, more than 1,800 teachers and students visited the zoo each week for educational programs. Paul Cross, who took care of the animals, taught visitors about animals like Zeus the lion.

The "ME's Zoo House of Lights" became even bigger, with over 200,000 lights, special displays, and even Santa Claus at the outdoor fireplace. In 1990, Max and Omar the camel got a lot of attention when Max rode Omar to protest something he disagreed with.

Continuing the Dream

Sadly, Max D. Oren passed away in 1993 after a long illness. But his family and friends, including Eileen, Kim, and Paul, kept his dream alive. Over the years, the zoo celebrated new animal births and mourned the loss of beloved animal friends.

In 2003, Eileen married Bob Taylor. Bob also loved the zoo and helped support it. He even bought two beautiful white Siberian tigers for the zoo!

ME's Zoo was a special place for many people in East Central Indiana for a long time. It finally closed its doors on September 27, 2009.

What You Could See and Do

Animal Exhibits

ME's Zoo was home to many different types of animals. You could see primates (like monkeys!), wild cats, bears, and many kinds of birds. There were also llamas, deer, and reptiles.

Visiting Hours

The zoo was open from 10 AM to 5 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On Sundays, it was open from 12 PM to 5 PM. The zoo was closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Christmas Lights Tradition

One of the most famous things about ME's Zoo was its amazing Christmas light display. Every year, from Thanksgiving through Christmas, the zoo grounds were lit up with over 180,000 lights! It was a magical sight.

Other Fun Facilities

Besides the animal exhibits, ME's Zoo had other fun things for visitors. There were picnic areas where families could enjoy a meal. There was also a large shelter, about 40-by-50-foot (12 by 15 m), perfect for outdoor parties. Kids loved the playground, and everyone could visit the gift shop to find souvenirs.

Why the Zoo Closed

In 2009, there was an idea to move ME's Zoo to a new location where more people could visit. However, this plan didn't work out. It would have cost more than $3 million to buy 100 acres of land and build a new zoo. This was too much money to raise. Also, many of the zoo's animals had already been promised to new homes.

So, ME's Zoo closed as planned on September 27, 2009. The day after it closed, over 60 animals were moved to their new homes, and more followed later. The owners found new homes for all the animals except for their bison, which they decided to keep.

(on Wayback Machine)