Tucson’s International Wildlife Museum Hits the Auction Block—And No Animals are Up for Grabs!

The former International Wildlife Museum in Tucson is set to be auctioned off. The museum, which showcased taxidermied wildlife since its inception in 1988, closed its doors at the end of December 2022. Bidding for the property will open online on September 23.

Located at 4800 W. Gates Pass Rd., the 51,331-square-foot, three-story building resembles a stone castle. It features a 96-seat theater, a commercial kitchen, a cafeteria, exhibit halls, conference rooms, and office spaces. According to Ten-X, the commercial real estate firm managing the auction, the facility could be transformed into a new museum, educational center, spa, medical facility, and more.

Over its 35-year operation, the International Wildlife Museum showcased over 400 species, including notable exhibits like a rhinoceros obtained by President Theodore Roosevelt and a woolly mammoth. Following its closure, the taxidermied specimens were relocated. The museum faced criticism during its operation for allegedly providing tax benefits to wealthy safari participants who donated animals they hunted abroad.

The auction begins with a surprising starting bid of just $1.