Big Cat Rescue, Featured in “Tiger King,” Up for Sale in Tampa

The Tampa animal sanctuary featured in the hit Netflix documentary “Tiger King” is now up for sale, with 56 of its 67 acres already finalized for sale on Dec. 24, 2024. Big Cat Rescue, which gained popularity after the documentary aired, will be transformed into townhomes and apartments. The remaining 11 acres will be used for apartments, with the proceeds from the sale going towards wild cat preservation efforts globally.

The lions and tigers that were once housed at the sanctuary have been relocated to a facility in Arkansas, providing them with more living space. Carole Baskin, who was featured in the documentary, attempted to stop the release of a potential “Tiger King 2” but was denied by a judge in 2021.

Boos Development acquired the land and plans to develop 228 townhomes for D.R. Horton, America’s Builder. Howard Baskin, husband of Carole Baskin, released a statement expressing that the sale was a win-win for both the captive cats and those in the wild.

The documentary also brought attention to the disappearance of Carole Baskin’s first husband, Don Lewis, in 1997. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has been unable to interview Baskin about the case or search the property. The investigation into the case is ongoing.

In a separate news story, a Hardee County grandmother is on trial for leaving her 7-month-old granddaughter in a hot car, where the baby tragically died. This is the second grandchild to die under Tracey Nix’s care, and the trial is set to begin soon.