A rainforest in Arizona seems a bit wild; however, that's exactly what the development team of the Arizona Boardwalk is trying to accomplish.
The entertainment district, which houses OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland and the recently opened SkyWheel, was planning to build the largest indoor rainforest in North America. Paradise Earth would include a 92,716-square-foot indoor exhibit. The proposal would span 10.5 acres of land at 8450 N. Dobson Road on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, off Loop 101.
The interactive experience would be in a four-story building with bird-safe glass on the upper floor, a retail store, snack bar and restaurant. It is described as an "environmental adventure" with experiences such as an indoor rainforest,
animal encounters, an avian air show, a walkthrough aviary and a children's play area.
When is the indoor rainforest opening?
Ran Knishinsky, a managing partner at Arizona Boardwalk, told The Arizona Republic in July that it was too early to announce specific developments in the expansion, but that new additions would follow the theme of family entertainment.
The status of the largest indoor rainforest
Paradise Earth was announced in 2017 as a new attraction to be added to the Arizona Boardwalk in 2020. However, COVID-19 and other issues delayed the project.
The idea was recently resurfaced by the Arizona Boardwalk and presented to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community council for permits and approval.
During a July 29 meeting, the tribal council raised concerns about the building's potential water use, infrastructure, waste management and wildlife procedures. Councilmembers also inquired about the facility's rescue and rehabilitation process for the birds and exotic animals they planned to include.
Councilmember Deanna Scabby made a point of mentioning the glass ceiling that would be at the top of the structure. She said that animals might need protection from the extreme heat and light that could come through, especially during the summer. Developers said the ceiling would be the same as the one in Butterfly Wonderland, which includes drapes; the facility would also be climate-controlled.
Ultimately, the immersive experience did not receive approval for a conditional use permit at that time. The tribal council unanimously decided to postpone a vote on the permit until they received more information about the indoor rainforest at a future meeting.
The timing of any future council consideration will be determined by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community's review process, according to a statement sent to The Republic.
"Our team remains committed to designing and operating the project to the highest standards of animal care and environmental stewardship while creating an exceptional guest experience," Arizona Boardwalk founder Amram Knishinsky said in the statement. "We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively as the review process moves forward."
Do you have a tip or a question you need answered? Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Instagram @dina_kaur.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why this Arizona group is trying to build a rainforest in the desert
