ASHEBORO — The public will get a chance to glimpse into the past as the North Carolina Zoo plans to open a time capsule from 1984 that’s buried at its iconic African Pavilion.
It’s part of ceremonies that are marking the end of the African Pavilion, which is scheduled to be demolished later in March. The building that overlooks the Watani Grasslands opened the same year the time capsule was buried. It closed in 2015.
Former Zoo employees who worked in the Pavilion are also invited to participate in the time capsule opening and to say goodbye to the decades-old landmark.
In addition to revealing what’s inside the time capsule, the Pavilion will be opened for one last walk-through. Several current and former zookeepers plan to attend and will share memories of the building that stood at the Zoo for more than 30 years.
The 53,000-square-foot structure stood as a symbol for the Zoo and once housed 3,300 trees and plants and 22 habitats for 25 species.
In its place will be a new baboon habitat, walking trails, a conservation education center and an overlook for the Watani Grasslands, a 40-acre habitat.
