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Published on January 15, 2025
From Refuge to Residences as Big Cat Rescue Sells Majority of Hillsborough Property for $19.5M to Make Way for TownhomesSource: Google Street View

The landscape of Hillsborough County is undergoing a significant transformation as Big Cat Rescue, the sanctuary made famous by the Netflix series "Tiger King," has sold a substantial portion of its property. According to FOX 13, the once expansive 70-acre refuge has begun its conversion into residential complexes following a $19.5 million deal with a developer set to construct 280 townhomes.

Despite having relocated its felines to a larger sanctuary in Arkansas back in December 2023, the sanctuary has maintained a cultural presence, tethered to the legacies of both wildlife conservation and sensationalist media narratives. Howard Baskin, speaking of the sale and its potential to support wild cat conservation, confided in FOX 13, "The overall picture is a win-win-win." With the couple's dedication to their three-part mission, Carole Baskin and Howard look forward to using the funds to further their advocacy against wild cat extinction and captivity abuse.

However, moving beyond the legacy of Big Cat Rescue's conservation efforts, the property's sale reignites a morbid curiosity regarding the unresolved mystery of Carole Baskin's former husband, Don Lewis. Lewis had mysteriously disappeared in 1997, spawning tales and speculations that haunted the property and peppered the narrative of "Tiger King." WFLA reported that despite such theories, including accusations of Lewis being buried on-site, Chris Castillo, a former assistant state attorney, remarked, "You have to establish that there is actually facts or evidence threw sworn testimony that a crime is occuring, has occurred or will occur," to obtain a search warrant, something much more substantial than mere speculation.

As Howard Baskin relays the future of the location to townhome construction, neighbors are watching closely. Sharon Leverett, who lived next to Big Cat Rescue, recalls the property's transformation into a pop culture tourism hub after the success of "Tiger King," as per an ABC Action News interview. Leverett noted intrigued visitors taking photos by the cat statues, even as the sanctuary stepped back from seeking further limelight with Carole Baskin's attempt to block a sequel to the documentary in 2021.

The finalization of the remaining 11 acres for apartment development is on the horizon, signifying an almost complete handover from big cat sanctuary to residential real estate.

Tampa-Crime & Emergencies