The New York Times
June 28, 2036
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Plans for two additional biblical-themed animal exhibits—Ezekiel’s Petting Zoo and St. John’s Petting Zoo—have been indefinitely suspended, city officials confirmed Wednesday, following last weekend’s widely reported incident at Daniel’s Petting Zoo that left several children injured and prompted an ongoing safety review.
The proposed attractions, announced earlier this spring, were intended to expand the apocalyptic-themed educational park on the city’s outskirts. Promotional materials described the future exhibits as “immersive, family-friendly environments designed to help visitors engage physically with prophetic history.”
But in the wake of Saturday’s events, organizers say they are reconsidering.
“We are taking time to evaluate everything,” said Daniel Mercer, one of the project’s lead developers. “Our intention has always been educational. We want to make sure any future experiences are appropriate and safe.”
City officials say the pause is prudent.
“Given recent concerns, it would be premature to move forward,” said Deputy City Manager Elise Warren. “We need to fully understand what happened before approving additional installations.”
Ambitious Plans Now in Question
According to planning documents submitted earlier this year, Ezekiel’s Petting Zoo would have featured animals inspired by the prophet Ezekiel’s visions, including representations of creatures described as having multiple faces and wings.
A separate exhibit, St. John’s Petting Zoo, was slated to depict imagery drawn from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, traditionally attributed to John of Patmos.
Concept sketches showed elaborate enclosures and interactive viewing areas. Marketing language promised visitors the chance to “experience prophecy up close.”
Some who reviewed the plans now express relief they were not completed.
“In hindsight, it’s hard to imagine how those concepts would have translated into something suitable for children,” said Dr. Helen Carter, a religious studies professor at Wake Forest University.
She noted that the imagery in those texts was never intended to be comforting.
“These visions weren’t given to entertain,” Dr. Carter said. “They were given to reveal.”
Community Reaction Mixed
Reaction among local families has been divided.
Some parents said they had looked forward to the planned exhibits.
“It sounded unique,” said Thomas Greene, a father of two. “Educational. Different.”
Others now say they’re uneasy.
“If they couldn’t safely manage a ram and a goat,” said Laura Jenkins, whose son was present at Saturday’s incident, “I can’t imagine what the others would have been like.”
An Empty Field
At the site where construction had been expected to begin on the Ezekiel exhibit, the ground remains undisturbed.
A single wooden post marks the future entrance.
Attached to it is a temporary placard, now weathered and curling at the edges.
It reads simply:
Coming Soon
Ezekiel’s Petting Zoo
Below it, in smaller letters, someone has taped a printed notice:
Plans Postponed Until Further Notice
City officials have not said whether the projects will be permanently canceled.
For now, they remain on hold.
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