Lifestyle Inside the plan to grow a huge rainforest in the Arizona desert

ny post ^ | 08/15/2026 | Kevin Barr

[BenLurkin]

Developers are plotting a nearly 93,000-square-foot indoor rainforest with free-flying birds, sloths, snakes and exotic plants — smack in the middle of Arizona’s scorching Sonoran Desert.

Dubbed Paradise Earth, the four-story attraction is planned for 10.5 acres of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land near Scottsdale and is being billed by its creators as the largest indoor rainforest in North America.

The elaborate wildlife exhibit would also house freshwater fish, two-toed sloths, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, according to a conditional-use presentation submitted to tribal officials.

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TOPICS: Travel
KEYWORDS: biodome

[BenLurkin]

Needs slot machines.

[rktman]

FAFO with mother nature. Just sayin’.

[I want the USA back]

“indoor rainforest”
If it’s indoors, it’s not a rainforest.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

And they want other states to give them water.

[Leaning Right]

Fortunately, there’s lots and lots of extra water in the American southwest for projects like this one.

Oh, wait. The American southwest doesn’t have any extra water. So cancel my last remark.

And now it’s time for my fearless prediction:
The developers behind this project will collect money from investors. And maybe even get some government loans. Then the developers will declare bankruptcy and disappear.

💸

[dfwgator]

Doo-doo-doo, za-do-do-do-wow!
There's a place called the rainforest that truly sucks ass
Let's knock it all down and get rid of it fast
You say "save the rainforest," but what do you know?
You've never been to the rainforest before

Getting Gay with Kids is here
To tell you things you might not like to hear
You only fight these causes cause caring sells
All you activists can go ____ yourselves!

Someday if we work hard boys and girls
There'll be no more rainforests left in the entire world
(world!)

Gеtting Gay with Kids is here
To spread thе word, and bring you cheer
Getting Gay with Kids is here
Let's knock down the rainforest, whaddaya say?
It's totally gay, it's totally gay!

[simpson96]

I presume the bottom line is, they’re doing this to make money (it’s referred to as “an attraction”).

Doesn’t seem like they’ll sell a ton of tickets in the middle of the Sonoran desert.

[PeterPrinciple]

And now it’s time for my fearless prediction:
The developers behind this project will collect money from investors. And maybe even get some government loans. Then the developers will declare bankruptcy and disappear.

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A fake fortuneteller can be tolerated. But an authentic soothsayer should be shot on sight. Cassandra did not get half the kicking around she deserved. Robert Heinlein

[PeterPrinciple]

presentation submitted to tribal officials.

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key point

[alternatives?]

So someone can come in from the dry heat into a refreshing humid heat. Sounds like a winner.

[PeterPrinciple]

saving the rain forest was in fashion 20-30 years ago. fashions come back, next is the Nehru jacket and hula hoops.

and bell bottoms

[PeterPrinciple]

https://www.rainforestcafe.com/store-locator/

remember the rainforest cafe?

[Labyrinthos]

“Needs slot machines.”

Talking Stick Casino is walking distance.

[Dr. Sivana]

If it’s indoors, it’s not a rainforest.

Well, its a rainforest in the same way that fat-free ice cream is ice cream.

[Big Red Badger]

The Bio-Dome just North of Tucson was an interesting Experiment.
.
Still it was In The DESERT!
.
Sam Kinison
RIP
We miss Ya

[Dr. Sivana]

Remember it? I picked my kids up in front of it when they went to the mall in Phoenix/Tempe.

5000 S Arizona Mills Cir, Tempe, AZ 85282

[Sirius Lee]

I think Venture Bros. already did this in the “Children of Palaemon” episode.

[doorgunner69]

Calif is already stealing most of the water Arizona needs.

How they going to water this idiot idea?

[Carriage Hill]

“Mother Nature’s In Charge; We’re Just along For The Ride.” — Me, Jan, 1996.

[PeterPrinciple]

Developers are plotting

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secretly make plans to carry out (an illegal or harmful action):
“the two men are serving sentences for plotting a bomb campaign””brother plots against brother”