It was renovated and reopened on February 18, 2010, as Gulf Breeze Zoo. In December 2009, the zoo was purchased and rescued by a team of zoological professionals from Virginia Safari Park of Natural Bridge, Virginia. On August 20, 2009, county officials announced that the closure of the zoo would be permanent. It closed temporarily on August 17, 2009, awaiting the decisions from the governments of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to provide $125,000 each in funding. In 20, hurricanes Ivan and Dennis struck the area with devastating effect to the Zoo. In 2004, unable to make a profit, the founders handed over ownership to the nonprofit Gulf Coast Zoological Society. The zoo began with about 60 animals on 19 acres of land.
Pat Quinn, one of the founders, became its first director. It was established in its current location in 1984 by four local businessmen. The zoo started on an acre of land on Burgess Road and later on a larger tract in Cantonment, Florida. The Gulf Breeze Zoo supports captive breeding, wildlife conservation, and habitat preservation programs. Activities include hand-feeding of some animals including giraffes. It has over 900 exotic animals including rhinos, hippos, Western lowland gorillas, and orangutans that visitors can view during an African preserve train ride. The Gulf Breeze Zoo (originally The Zoo Northwest Florida) is a 50-acre (20 ha) zoo located in Woodlawn Beach, Florida, neighboring Navarre and Gulf Breeze, Florida.
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