UPDATED Monday, February 15, 2010 --- 8:23 p.m.

The Wisconsin Dells Mayor Eric Helland tells us that the city council has unanimously approved the tiger enclosure at Chula Vista.

He also says the city reserves the ability to review the enclosure operations.

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Posted Monday, February 15, 2010 -- 5:09pm
By Zac Schultz

Wisconsin Dells: Outside the window in the Chula Vista lobby, all you see is white snow, but Mike Kaminski sees white tigers. "We plan on adding about 500-600 square feet right in this area. It will be a themed jungle habitat."

Kaminski is the CEO, and he's asking the Wisconsin Dells City Council for permission to build a tiger enclosure. "The habitat would become a permanent home for two of what we call the sub-adults; two years old and younger."

The Chula Vista has something of a southwest theme now, but adding tigers wouldn't distract from their message, it would compliment their magic show. Jeremy Allen's Grand Illusion Show will be playing seven days a week this summer. "He works with cub white tigers in his show, so everything just started to develop from that perspective," says Kaminski.

"It will be a big billboard for their magic show that involves smaller tigers yet too," says Mayor Eric Helland. He says the city has to approve a zoning variance for the animals. He says concerns over animal welfare and public safety have been addressed. "This is a creative idea and we're there for the public safety aspect of it. When we can merge both of them it works out well."

"We're very excited about the opportunity," says Kaminski. Putting the tiger enclosure off the lobby gets them maximum exposure. "You'd be able to see it as you drive in and register. You'd be able to see it from lobby, and you'd be able to see it from some of the corridors, as well as waiting in the queue line for the magic show."

Kaminski says they hope to have the tigers in place by the end of summer. He says they plan to use an animal service to rotate the tigers every six months.