Bill Jump, a land developer who became a co-owner of Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, died this week.
Having been involved with one of the largest businesses in Camp Verde and in land development beyond it, Jump was a powerful force in Camp Verde’s economic community.
“Bill worked with local government and business leaders, including Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Sedona and [the Arizona Department of Transportation],” Out of Africa President Dean Harrison wrote in an email. “He was greatly responsible for promoting the new construction of State Route 260 from I-17 to Cottonwood. Bill invited many entrepreneurial investors to his dream of the ‘Golden Corridor’ that would tie the local communities together by way of increased tourism. Bill was the spokesperson for Out of Africa, to advance its growth and development. He is really not replaceable in that regard.”
Jump joined up with the 103-acre wildlife park when Dean Harrison and his wife Prayeri Harrison relocated their park from a smaller location on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land east of Scottsdale. Other than cultural connections, the Fort McDowell tribe is not formally affiliated with the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Camp Verde.
In addition to developing the land of Out of Africa, Jump owned an additional 170 acres next to it and across State Route 260. Jump said he bought the land on a whim, but came to see it as a potential for expansion for the park.
“I was buying land because I could,” Jump said in 2018 of his decision to purchase the land. “It was available and it was priced right.”
Jump had plans to develop 100 acres of land north of the park, with ideas for a water park, hotels, or other recreational developments. According to Out of Africa Public and Community Relations Manager Ashton Powell, the park expects to continue moving forward with future developments, but expects some changes to the plans that had not yet been solidified.
“Nothing is going to change with the park, for its running and every- thing,” Powell said. “All of that was stuff that he’d been working on for many years, since just after the park moved up here. That additional 100 acres could change. He talked about a water park — well we’re probably not going to do a water park. There’s many different ideas about what the land use could be for. Nothing has been set in stone. So all of the 204 acres of land that Out of Africa currently owns is under our control, and we do have plans for future development. I know Bill really wanted and was really looking forward to plans in opening up the corridor back in 2008 when the housing market crashed. As things continue to move along, we will have to adjust accordingly, because it’s all finance driven.”
“The future of Out of Africa remains strong,” Dean Harrison wrote. “Bill was a minor owner, a principal, as he would call himself. He leaves his investment and contribution to his two sons and daughter. We are pleased to believe that Bill has rejoined Pat, his wife, in heaven — a true celebration of life.”
