Rackham Golf Course in Huntington Woods

133 acres were donated to the city of Detroit with its beautiful art deco building back in 1924 by Horace and Mary Rackham. The stipulation was that beautiful Rackham Golf Course which began in 1923 and was located adjacent to the Detroit Zoo would remain a golf course. In 1926, the area became Huntington Woods, all of its 1.5 square miles, 20% of which is the golf course!  It is listed as one of the top ten municipal golf courses in the state. The street leading to the golf course off I-696 now sports a new name after the legendary African-American golf pro Ben Davis who used to give lessons out at Rackham. The dedication took place today.  Ben passed away in Southfield last month at the age of 101.

Detroit Zoo's Rackham Fountain Bears

The Horace Rackham Memorial Fountain was built in 1939 by Corrado Parducci. Horace was a philanthropist and the first president of the zoo back in 1924-1928. He donated the land for the zoo and the adjacent Rackham Golf Course (Michigan's first 18 hole golf course!). The two bronze bears are 10 feet tall and one of the most photographed sites at the zoo. It appears so refreshing during our hot, hot summer, doesn't it?

Detroit zoo new carrousel ride

Our Detroit Zoo has a brand new custom-designed carousel ride complete with music. Some young children might find it a little intimidating at first, but she is a beauty. All the animals--horses, snakes, rabbits, sea lions, a peacock and even a T-Rex-- were hand-carved and carefully painted. Rides are just $2 a person.  It will be open through October and then close down until mid-April. Thanks, Adia, for posing! Photo credit: Sara Rokicki

New Lions Exhibit at the Detroit Zoo

There's something new and great a the Detroit Zoo.  The lions exhibit brings the mighty beasts so close you can almost touch them! There is a special reinforced tempered glass that separates us, the gawkers, from them, the kings of the jungle. Hats off to Zoo Director, Ron Kagan, for his constant progress in improving our world class animal arena. This 7500 square foot exhibit doubles the size the lions had before.  The moats were filled in and the glass has replaced them.  Pretty roaring awesome.