The Buffalo Zoo in Buffalo, New York, is planning Expedition 360, a one-story, walk-in virtual reality dome theater intended as an immersive educational attraction for zoo visitors. The project is part of the zoo's broader campus development plan, a program the zoo's President and CEO Lisa Smith describes as spanning the next 10 years.
In September 2026, New York State Assembly member Jon Rivera announced that he had secured $225,000 in state funding to support the dome's installation. The theater is planned rather than operating; no opening date has been given.
Planned experience
The dome is meant to host several dozen viewers per show for a rotating lineup of virtual experiences, including:
- African safaris and jungle adventures
- Arctic expeditions and underwater explorations
- Planetarium programs
- Family-friendly animated features
Earlier proposal details
A 2025 zoo proposal for a VR Dome Immersion Theater set out a smaller-scale design, located in the former Arctic Edge pavilion, which the proposal suggested renaming the Buffalo Zoo Science Center:
- A 24-ft diameter dome
- Capacity of up to 20 seated or 30 standing visitors per show
- Projected revenue of up to $500K a year, an estimate rather than a result
The 2025 capacity figure is lower than the several dozen viewers per show described in the 2026 funding announcement, and it is not yet clear which design will be built.
