City officials and project leaders gathered on April 1 to break ground on Zoo Midland and The Preserve, two large-scale developments set to transform the former Nueva Vista Golf Course into a recreational and commercial destination.
The Preserve, spanning over 173 acres, will include retail, office spaces, and dining options. Half of the development will be dedicated to parks, open areas, and natural recreational spaces featuring hiking and biking trails and fishing ponds.
Zoo Midland will cover more than 50 acres and will feature a variety of animal exhibits as well as a restaurant, event venue, and farmhouse rental.
“This is a special and unique property, and we wanted to make sure we kinda crossed our t’s and dotted our i’s and made sure we did everything properly to the best of our ability, and to the best of our professional ability,” said Ian Denholm, co-founder of The Preserve, during the groundbreaking ceremony.
According to Jeff Beard, a board member for Zoo Midland, the idea for the zoo first emerged in 2018. A feasibility study was conducted in 2020, and five years later the project is officially moving forward. Beard noted that Zoo Midland will be the first zoo built from the ground up in the United States in 25 years, calling it “no small undertaking.”
“Midland is an amazing family town, and it needs some amazing family amenities," Beard said. "This project as a whole, the zoo and The Preserve, will really fill a hole to fix that, and we're very excited about that."
City officials highlighted the project's alignment with Midland’s long-term growth strategy.
“Together, these projects reflect the goals of our city council’s strategic plan supporting a strong economy, quality of life and place, and fostering the kind of private sector partnerships that help our city grow in the right way,” said District 4 Councilwoman Amy Stretcher Burkes.
Mayor Lori Blong also emphasized the development’s impact on local families.
“Our children and our families are going to benefit so much from this vision and from this investment," Blong said. "When we look at the broader Preserve and the zoo together, this is a part of the investment back into our community by so many Midlanders who love Midland."
Both projects are expected to open in early 2028.
Midland Times publishes an exclusive series of articles covering the development of Zoo Midland and The Preserve. Readers can follow ongoing updates and in-depth coverage at midlandtimes.com.
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| Jeff Beard (left) and Jason Green (right) | Credit: Midland Times |
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| The Preserve team members | Credit: Midland Times |
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| Midland City Council gather for the groundbreaking of Zoo Midland and The Preserve | Credit: Midland Times |