Arthur Man Revives Zoo Plans With Rockome Gardens Purchase
Rockome Gardens, the tourist site that operated in rural Arcola. (www.flickr.com/photos/44603071@N00/)
An Arthur man has revived his vision of a Central Illinois wildlife park. James Aikman has purchased the former Rockome Gardens site near Arcola, with hopes of opening his ‘Aikman Wildlife Adventure’ park at the site by next May. He announced the sale on Facebook Tuesday.
His efforts earlier this year to get zoning approval to open the zoo in Moultrie County were thwarted by neighbors who cited concerns about drainage and hosting wild animals.
Rockome Gardens as seen in 2010
But Aikman says rural Douglas County - where the Rockome site is located - doesn’t have a zoning ordinance.
His plans for the wildlife park include camels, zebras, and exotic species of cattle.
“We’d have fallow deer, which come in about five different color variations, so that would definitely would be something most people around here have never seen before," Aikman said. "We’ve got a few African antelope that are more winter hardy, but then there’s a big barn that we’d be moving some of the animals into during the winter.”
Aikman, a banker in Arthur, said he’s taking inventory on the buildings at the Rockome Gardens site, and hopes to retain many of its rock structures and gardens.
Rockome Gardens operated as a family tourist attraction for many years with various owners, but has not been open since last fall.