Augusta’s Very Own Tiger King

Did you know that Augusta was once home to a Safari Zoo? The old building is located on U.S. Highway 25 in Hephzibah.

The Augusta Zoo was run by former circus trainer Helen McKinnon and her family.

While many people are in disbelief that Augusta had a zoo, others recall visiting the zoo through the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Some people even spoke about going there on school field trips and others remember going with their family as a kid.

Several incidents took place over the years that caused the zoo to finally be shut down for good.

It was reported that on Monday, April 29, 1968, three 400-pound adult lions escaped from the zoo. This escape was caused by visitors who decided to unlock the gate.

Imagine getting word that lions were on the loose in your community. Well, that's what happened. Farmers were called to protect their livestock and parents were told to pick up their kids from school and keep them indoors.

For six days, the search was on for these lions. Richmond County sheriff deputies joined by military personnel from Fort Gordon were on the ground looking for these lions.

Eventually, the lions were recaptured two of them were shot with a tranquilizer dart gun and the last one was captured by putting out a bucket of chicken necks that were spiked, but he didn't go down without a fight. While being pinned down by Helen, her 17-year-old soon shot the lion with a tranquilizer dart.

The next incident didn't happen until about a decade later. This time a bear escaped and mauled Helen herself.

The 600-pound bear escaped the cage and mauled on her leg. Luckily, a bystander saw this happening and hit the bear with a pipe. She was able to get loose, grab a pistol, and then shoot the bear.

Helen later died in 1987. Her estate was sued soon after her death by a former employee who was also attacked by one of the zoo animals, a tiger.

How about that for some Augusta History?

Spring is here and Summer is not too far behind. These are the seasons to get out and explore, whether that's out of town or right here in the CSRA.

For those who want to unleash the adventure right here in the area, below are just a few local attractions that can help with that. Most fascinating discoveries are right under our noses you just have to get out and find it -  even in your hometown,  sometimes you have to put on your tourist hat. By doing that you can uncover hidden gems like local markets, new restaurants, and more.

With the weather getting warmer and the days getting later, many of us are looking to have a good time outdoors. That can be with a morning jog, a picnic in the park, or a night under the stars.

Augusta and the surrounding cities are filled with a lot of things, but sometimes you've just got to look for them. A great way to keep up with what's going on in the area is to find a schedule of events and mark them down. Oftentimes, if something fun is going on in the area, it may pop up on our social media page and then we forget what the event or business was and never see the pop-up again.

Concerts, plays, sports events, block parties, food festivals, and more are all starting to ramp back up.

But maybe you're looking for something to really wow you. Something different than your everyday activity. We've got you! These local attractions below have a little bit of it all. From camping in style to feeding and petting donkeys.

Here is a list of 5 local attractions in the CSRA that you probably haven't heard of - but it's okay these will have your spring and summer days filled with local fun.

Eudora Wildlife Safari Park, home to over 300 exotic animals, is located in Salley, South Carolina. It is home to the first drive-thru safari park in South Carolina. It is about an hour away from Augusta.

The Glamp Inn features 4 Luxury glamping sites on Clarks Hill Lake, Lincolnton GA. Domes come complete with ensuite bathrooms, kitchenettes and the option of a queen bed suite or the double queen loft, an outdoor 10 X 24 furnished deck, and a fireplace. You also request food and spa service.

One of the first things you think of when it gets hot outdoors is when can I get to the water? Take a few trips up and down the Savannah River with Jetski Augusta.

Stallings Island is an archeological site, located in the Savannah River. There are wild donkeys on the island that many people go to see by Kayak.

For those that want to get active outdoors, this is for you! Located in Hephzibah, this place has it all from fishing to a gun range. They also have ATV/UTV and dirtbike trails, along with axe throwing and pond rafting.