Thompson Park leases: the Amarillo Zoo and Wonderland Amusement Park (2025-2026)

The October 14, 2025 council minutes record discussion item 9.B, "Potential new land lease agreement for the Wonderland Amusement Park," introduced by Mayor Stanley and presented by Mr. Hooper "and Jimmy Holmes and Steve Miklosi, with 360 Parks of Amarillo." No vote was taken on a discussion item. ^[1]

The October 28, 2025 minutes record discussion item 9.B, "Potential lease of the Amarillo Zoo to the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WWWRC) of Amarillo," introduced by Mayor Stanley; "Stephanie Brady with the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, presented the item." ^[2]

Consent item 8.O, "Consider Award - Wonderland Lease Agreement" with 360 Parks of Amarillo, LLC ($130,000 for the initial 15 years: $0 for years one and two and $10,000 a year for years three to 15; $430,000 if all options are exercised), "was pulled from the consent agenda, and no action was taken." The minutes do not record a reason. ^[2]

Michael Kashuba, Director of Parks and Recreation: The Parks Board's November 12, 2025 minutes record the Parks director saying "the zoo is currently not leased and remains a city-owned facility, operated by city staff," that the idea of a 501(c)(3) to manage it "was brought forward by a former council member, driven by the city's limited funding," that a nonprofit "could generally raise more philanthropic support than a city department," and that the zoo land "is city-owned property and cannot be sold without a referendum from the citizens." ^[3]

Under an item on communication of council agenda items, the minutes say "Several park board members expressed their frustration regarding the zoo lease, with many feeling blindsided by the fact that it had not been mentioned until now," and record a consensus that a council member should attend park board meetings. ^[3]

As recorded in the December 3, 2025 minutes, the presenter outlined "a projected initial annual budget of $1 million, funded through city subsidies, existing revenue, and donor support," with the City subsidy reduced "by $50,000 each year over the next six years until the zoo is fully nonprofit funded"; wages starting at $15 an hour "without any employee benefits the first few years"; and hiring some current zoo employees. The board raised concerns about fundraising, employee benefits and "the risk of increased admission fees if revenue falls short." ^[4]

The board "recommends the city council ensures and evaluate a proposed lease agreement with Wild West Wildlife for operation of the Amarillo Zoo, including an evaluation of future budgeting, fundraising capacity, and operational capabilities"; the motion by Thomas Riney, seconded by Bob Altman, passed 9-0. ^[4]

The Parks director told the board the proposed Wonderland lease "is set at $10,000 annually, with the first two years waived to allow for immediate capital improvements," contrasting it "with previous revenues of $96,000 in 2022, with a projected decline to $70,000 by 2025." The board recommended the council proceed with negotiating the lease "at the reduced rate to ensure Wonderland remains operational," 7-0. ^[4]

The December 9, 2025 minutes list consent item 5.16, "Consider Award - Wonderland Lease Agreement," for a portion of Thompson Park known as Wonderland Amusement Park, lessee 360 Parks of Amarillo, LLC, "Revenue: $130,000.00 for the initial 15 years. ($0.00 annually for years one and two, and $10,000.00 annually for years three to 15)," and $430,000 over the lease if all options are exercised. Mayor Stanley asked whether any items should be removed; hearing none, the consent agenda passed 5-0 (Prescott, Tipps). ^[5]

The council minutes reviewed do not state why the lease rate was set below the park's earlier revenue; the only stated rationale found is the Parks Board minutes' "to allow for immediate capital improvements" and "to ensure Wonderland remains operational." ^[5][4]

Item 5.6 of the March 10, 2026 minutes, "Consider Award - Zoo Lease Agreement," describes an operations and maintenance lease of the portion of Thompson Park known as the Amarillo Zoo, with a lease option for future expansions, an original term of 20 years and three five-year renewal options (35 years maximum). Lessee: "Amarillo Zoo & Sanctuary, a Texas nonprofit organization"; revenue: "Lease amount of $1 annually"; City grant funding of $150,000 (FY2025-26), $250,000 (FY2026-27), $200,000 (FY2027-28), $150,000 (FY2028-29), $100,000 (FY2029-30) and $50,000 (FY2030-31), a total of $900,000; budgeted. ^[6]

Councilmember Reid asked that item 5.6 be pulled from the consent agenda; it was taken up immediately after the consent agenda, presented by Parks and Recreation Director Michael Kashuba, and approved 5-0 on a motion by Councilmember Prescott, seconded by Councilmember Simpson. ^[6]

KFDA reported that the City keeps ownership of the zoo, its land and the animals; that the initial term ends December 30, 2046; that the lessee must obtain accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums or the Zoological Association of America and have a veterinarian with zoological experience available; that existing programs such as field trips and camps can change only with council approval; and that the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Amarillo Zoo & Sanctuary will be separate nonprofits. Councilmember Tim Reid said: "This really is an important thing that we have a legitimate nonprofit that has the bona fides to run a zoo." ^[7]

The City support for the zoo was described differently at different stages.

At the same meeting the council adopted Ordinance No. 8240, the 2026 Standards of Care for Parks and Recreation youth programs, on first reading 5-0 "with any reference to the Zoo removed" (motion by Simpson, second by Tipps). ^[6]

On March 11, 2026 the Parks director told the Parks Board the lease had been approved and that remaining steps were "providing proof of the required reserve fund, proof of insurance, and obtaining the signed document." Earlier, on January 14 and February 11, 2026, he told the board negotiations with Wild West Wildlife were ongoing and that final decisions would be made by the council. ^[8][9][10]

No source reviewed for this storyline gives the date operations passed to Amarillo Zoo & Sanctuary or the date the lease was signed. The proposed FY 2026-27 budget book says operations "transferred to the nonprofit organization." ^[11]

The proposed FY 2026-27 budget book (after council review) lists "Various Zoo Positions" at -13.0 full-time positions (page 12), proposes eliminating adult, child and senior zoo admissions "due to the lease of the zoo property to a third-party who now operates it," with a budgetary impact of ($286,200) (page 31), and budgets $250,000 from the General Fund for zoo grant funding in 2026-27, followed by $200,000, $150,000, $100,000 and $50,000 (page 513). ^[11]

For the Zoo Maintenance cost center (CC_1862) the same book (page 514) lists revenues of $277,180 (FY2022-23 actual), $364,880 (FY2023-24), $401,662 (FY2024-25), $348,253 budgeted for FY2025-26 with a revised estimate of $138,462, and $0 for FY2026-27; and expenditures of $648,260, $636,932 and $730,274 for FY2022-23 to FY2024-25, a FY2025-26 revised estimate of $518,979 and $250,000 for FY2026-27. A department summary table (page 394) lists different, higher Zoo Maintenance amounts; the two tables were not reconciled for this storyline. ^[11]

Under future agenda items on April 14, 2026, "Councilmember Don Tipps also requested an analysis of the zoo and parks," and Mayor Stanley asked staff to look "from 2020 forward to see what was removed from the parks and recreation budget." ^[12]