Barbie Butz Says You Can't Take It With Zoo: The Woman Behind the Wildlife Circle | Central Coast Zoo | Up+Adam
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At 90 years young, Barbie Butz isn't particularly interested in slowing down, and SLO CAL is all the better for it. A fixture in Atascadero for nearly five decades, Barbie has helped shape everything from the Lakeside Wine Festival to organizations serving thousands of local families. Now, the Central Coast Zoo, formerly the Charles Paddock Zoo, is honoring her with the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle, a new giving initiative designed to support animal welfare, improve habitats, and secure the zoo's future. Barbie joins Adam Montiel in the SLO CAL Studios alongside Central Coast Zoo Foundation President Angela Cisneros for a conversation that's equal parts heart, humor, and hometown pride. From Barbie's 90th birthday celebration and her belief that generosity might just be in her DNA, to Angela's perspective on why experiencing wildlife in person can change a child's life, this one goes well beyond the zoo gates.
And there's plenty happening behind those gates. Angela shares what it takes to maintain an AZA-accredited zoo, the realities of funding animal care and conservation, plans to improve habitats, and some of the animals stealing hearts, including the red pandas and a baby meerkat named Bowie. There's also a $250,000 matching grant opportunity with a December 1, 2026 deadline, giving donations the potential to go twice as far. The Wildlife Circle is seeking 100 founding members contributing $1,000 annually, with flexible payment options. But perhaps the most meaningful moment comes when Barbie insists that, despite all the recognition, she never accomplished any of it alone. It's a wonderful reminder that the things we treasure about a community don't happen by accident. They happen because people care enough to show up.
Learn more, visit, or get involved:
- Central Coast Zoo | Official Website
- Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle | Donate or Become a Member
- Wildlife Circle | Membership Information and Benefits
- Central Coast Zoo | Animals
- Central Coast Zoo | Conservation and Education
- Central Coast Zoo | Plan Your Visit
Central Coast Zoo: 9100 Morro Road, Atascadero, CA
Foundation: 805-470-3184
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