Bass Pro gives update on Wonders of Wildlife

Last edited 4:12 p.m., March 27, 2017

A bevy of building permits on file with the city of Springfield indicate construction, demolition and remodeling is in the works at Bass Pro Shops at Sunshine Street and Campbell Avenue.

Building permits filed with the city show Nabholz Construction Corp. is working on projects at 1935 S. Campbell Ave. and 600 W. Sunshine St. Bass Pro spokesman Jack Wlezien said the permits are related to continued work on Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, formerly known as Wonders of Wildlife.

“There’s been literally hundreds of permits filed throughout its construction,” he said.

Wlezien said animal care and museum installation work is currently underway, as well as signage outside Wonders of Wildlife’s main entrance on the back side of the property facing Sunshine. Patrons also would be able to enter through the connected Bass Pro store.

In recent days, lettering appeared on the back side of Wonders of Wildlife before being taken down. Specifically, a large W and R were placed on the building. Wlezien said the company is testing different signage sizes that will appear when the center opens.

Two years ago, Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris said the attraction was 80 percent complete and would reopen in spring 2016. The center has been closed for renovations for around nine years.

Since 2015, Wlezien said Morris has expanded the scope of the project, leading to the timeline being pushed back.

“There are significant portions of the aquarium and the museum that are totally complete. There’s other areas where we’ll be developing and expanding,” Wlezien said. “The finish line has moved, and the project is absolutely going to be better because of it.”

Wlezien declined to estimate an opening timeline or say how close to completion the center is to date.

This morning, city officials declined to provide Springfield Business Journal with specific documentation on the work without a Missouri Sunshine request for records. An estimated cost for the Sunshine request from the city clerk’s office came in at nearly $100, noting two hours of research and compiling records was needed. City engineer Seward Meintsma said this morning the Sunshine request was required to release additional documents, including drawings of planned work at Bass Pro. SBJ chose not to issue a Sunshine request.

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