Mill Mountain's Ruby statue to get a facelift

Mill Mountain's Ruby statue to get a facelift (Image 1) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

ROANOKE (WSLS)- A popular attraction at the Mill Mountain Zoo will be leaving for a facelift later this morning.

Workers will remove Ruby, the life-like tiger statue starting at 9:30 a.m.. Ruby was added to the zoo in October 2007 in memory of its beloved Ruby the tiger who died in December 2006. She spent 18 years at Mill Mountain before her death.

The fiberglass tiger has taken a bit of a beating over the years from children lovingly climbing on her to have their picture taken.

"When she returns she'll be better than ever," said Mill Mountain Board of Director's President Chriss Davies Ross. "Hannabass and Rowe are fixing her up and repainting her so that it will be worth the wait."

Repairs are expected to take a couple weeks. Hannabass and Rowe Collision Repair is doing the work free of charge.

Mill Mountain plans to move Ruby to a new location at the zoo upon her return. It's accepting donations to toward that yet to be determined spot.