Work Resumes On The Detroit Zoo Water Tower

Workers are back on the Detroit Zoo Water Tower, working with a giant crane and half a dozen workers on top. The 150-foot-tall Detroit Zoo Water Tower got a fresh coat of primer paint last Summer. Promises of an all-new design are in store. The details have been kept a secret from the media, and there is not even a hint of a leak on what it is going to look like.

 The Detroit Zoo said last summer that it has decided to "hold off until we could install a permanent wrap on the water tower" and will "unveil a permanent design next spring, and we can’t wait to share it with our community when the time is right." Initially, the zoo said it would create a new design in July or August in honor of its 95th anniversary.

The Detroit Zoo Water Tower is 150 feet tall and was built by the city of Royal Oak in 1928. It quit working in 1984 but has continued to serve as a landmark to help folks, especially those unfamiliar with the area, find the zoo. It also has helped advertise it, at one time with its "parade of critters," animals encircling it.

There was a big, un-reliable rumor that a popular local band would put their famous logo on the water tower, but the idea was quickly shot down after seeing the band live at Arts Beats & Eats.

In 1986, former Detroit Mayor Colman A. Young was the first to have his name painted on the water tower. The tower is in Royal Oak, but the property is owned by the City of Detroit. Later, you would think Dennis Archer would have his name on the tower, but it never happened. Then, the Hip-Hop mayor Kwame Kilpatrick had his name up until he was out of office after pleading guilty to two alleged felonies related to his attempted sex scandal cover-up. His name was scraped off when he left office.

There are no new talks about whether Detroit's Mayor Mike Duggan will have his name on the tower. It is doubtful the zoo isn’t funded by the city of Detroit anymore.

Here is the link to my original story about the Detroit Zoo Water Tower and other water towers that made the news. Click here.

There is always something going on in Royal Oak. When I think of Royal Oak, I think of the Detroit Zoo, Arts, Beats, & Eats, and the Cruise on Woodward. Congratulations, Royal Oak: City Of The Week with WCSX!  Scroll down to learn more about Royal Oak and its history!

With a location that's tough to beat, Royal Oak crosses paths with I-75 and I-696 plus another major thoroughfare, Woodward Avenue. You're never too far away from Royal Oak.

The Royal Oak website dates its establishment as a township on January 23, 1819. Royal Oak became a village on March 18, 1891. George A. Dondero had the honor of being the first mayor. In 1921, Royal Oak officially became a city with a fast-growing population of 6,000.  Today nearly 60,000 people call Royal Oak home.

In addition to tons of community events throughout the year, Royal Oak offers up some delicious cuisine and shopping for items that make me love shopping IRL.  Looking at the community as a whole, the DDA seems to be very involved and supportive of local shop owners which is key.  In my years and years of travel with City of The Week, I will tell you that communities that have a strong support system for the local shops, do not have a lot of open space.

Today's Royal Oak is always a great time (once you get past parking). You know what I'm talking about. The parking can be triggering.  A year or so ago, Royal Oak put reverse parking in on several main strips. You now have to back into parking spots which can be a bit awkward.  PRO TIP: for the love of God, use the parking decks.  I don't have to worry about getting shafted by meters or risk a fender-bender trying to back in with traffic. I love Royal Oak, but yes, I said it.

Hey kids!  Let's find out more...

Royal Oak started with farmers. The majority of Royal Oak's early settlers came from New York, among them, Orson Starr. Orson was the township's first manufacturer. He was known for making cowbells. Orson's cowbells can still be found!

Orson built his home in 1845. It still stands on Main Street!  Romi.gov states that the home and the district around it have historical designation.

A few years back, Royal Oak added the The Rink at Royal Oak to its impressive list of things to do.  Winter Blast is a fairly new event to Royal Oak.  This year it falls on February 2-4th, 2024.  The event is free to enter for the community.  Winter Blast also offers ziplining, ice skating, live music, a kids' zone, and more. The event gets more popular every year.  In 2023, more than 65,000 people visited Winter Blast in Royal Oak.

https://www.winterblast.com/

When I was in kindergarten, we took a trip to the zoo. I still remember that day. It was a big deal for 5-year-old me. Current elementary schools still do their best to hold on to the tradition despite the changing landscape (and prices for transportation).  I love our Detroit Zoo.  It's a great way to spend the day.  The Detroit Zoo is also known for its events like Zoo Boo and Wild Lights.

Let's pull back the curtain for a second and talk about copyrights.  Due to copyright issues, there's only one radio station that is allowed to name this event correctly and fully.  The rest of us have had to dance around it for decades.  The Cruise on Woodward has been going on since 1995.  The event began as a way to raise money for soccer fields in Ferndale. The 2024 Woodward Dream Cruise will take place on August 17th. I love the energy of the Cruise.  It's always a fun day but even better when Mother Nature hooks us up.  The weather last year for the Cruise was perfect!  Here are some of the pictures we caught:

Every Labor Day weekend for the last 10+ years, I've made my way to Royal Oak to enjoy Arts Beats & Eats. It's four days of exactly what you think: art, live music, and delicious food.  I love to wander Arts Beats & Eats every year.  It's also another charity-inspired event. Last year alone, local non-profit charities in our area received a total of $386,000 from this Royal Oak event (money figure courtesy of OaklandPress.com). If you would like to see more pics from AB&E 2023, check this out:

Big Jim's house helped make Glen Frey Drive a reality in Royal Oak.  The street is located right across from Glen's high school, Dondero. During Covid, we honored Glen Frey with his own City of The Week in Royal Oak and let a bunch of folks get their germy hands on the sign. :)

Work Resumes On The Detroit Zoo Water Tower Workers are back on the Detroit Zoo Water Tower. Working with a giant crane and half a dozen workers on top. The 150-foot-tall Detroit Zoo Water Tower got a fresh coat of primer paint last Summer.