In 1999, Part I of Phase I opened, including Gelada baboon habitat and Xaxaba African village and 100th Anniversary of Virginia Zoo and Lafayette Park.

In 2001, design for Master Plan Phase II: North America exhibit began.

The Zoo launched an Emergency Operations Fund to aid in financial impact due to the closure.

Among the animals in this exhibit are Malayan tigers, oriental small-clawed otters, Bornean orangutans, Siamangs, Northern white-cheeked gibbons, Malayan tapirs, Binturongs, Red pandas, Southern Cassowaries, Sarus Cranes, Rhinoceros hornbills, Asian fairy-bluebirds, azure-winged magpies, and chestnut-breasted malkoha.

The animals here include Masai giraffes, Hartmann's mountain zebras, white rhinoceros, African lions, cheetahs, meerkats, Ankole-Watusi, eastern bongoes, yellow-backed duikers, red river hogs, ostriches, southern ground hornbills, Aldabra giant tortoises, Meller's chameleons and a few other reptiles.

Three exhibits house American bison, black-tailed prairie dogs and a rescued bald eagle.