Columbus Zoo and Aquarium patrons may have noticed an unusual message above them this summer.
A plane carrying a banner directing them to the website www.columbuszoosucks.org flew above the zoo’s Safari Golf Club and Muirfield Village Golf Club during the Memorial Tournament PGA Tour on June 7 and again over the zoo’s golf course on July 13 during the Jack Hanna Legacy Cup.
The story behind the sign is a years-long dispute between a father who believes the zoo mistreated his autistic son and the zoo, which believes it went above and beyond to help the teen and now say the father has resorted to harassment of its employees. That dispute has become so heated that the zoo filed a lawsuit against the father over the alleged harassment.
What happened at the zoo
Kevin Finisterre is the owner of the website and the man who chartered the plane.
Finisterre, of Dublin, has an autistic son and said the zoo was not accommodating to his needs.
In 2025, the zoo updated its policy for Gold Members, requiring them to wear wristbands for ride access instead of displaying a physical Gold Member status card for access. Finisterre and his wife requested an ADA accommodation in March of that year for their son with autism, who was unable to wear the wristband due to sensory concerns.
How the zoo says it responded
Columbus Zoo spokesperson Nicolle Gómez Racey said the zoo immediately agreed to an accommodation, stating that Finisterre’s son could wear the wristband on another part of his person, such as on a backpack or shoelace, or one of his guardians could wear the wristband for him.
The zoo also offered to have a conversation with Finisterre about the thoughts behind the changes and requested accommodation.
“After this conversation, Mr. Finisterre repeatedly contacted the zoo about a host of other issues, such as whether the wristbands are recyclable and attacks on our staff through phone calls, social media, and in-person interactions,” Gómez Racey said in a statement.
The conflict escalates
In an eight month period between March and November 2025, Finisterre had contacted zoo employees by phone and email 55 times, according to court documents. The documents state that Finisterre made at least 40 posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and LinkedIn directly addressing zoo employees or in reference to the zoo.
Finisterre is still actively sharing posts on his social media in reference to the zoo.
After the repeated communication, the zoo sent a cease-and-desist letter on Nov. 21. Finisterre contacted the zoo the same day. The zoo sued Finisterre on Nov. 25, 2025, in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas for harassment due to repeated communication. The lawsuit is ongoing.
On July 9 the zoo barred Finisterre from visiting the zoo. In the email the zoo noted that the ban applied exclusively to him, not his son. Finisterre argued that as his son’s caregiver and because the zoo is an activity the two of them do together, the ban hurts his son as well.
Finisterre told The Dispatch his son is still asked by zoo staff each time to show his wristband. He continued to say this triggers distress for his son.
According to a document prepared by Finisterre and found on his website, he claims the accommodation was not reasonable because it removes his son’s autonomy and forced him to repeatedly identify himself to staff.
“Two years now I’ve been trying to get my autistic sons voice to be heard by management,” Finisterre said. “This was the second time I’ve paid somebody to fly the plane to amplify my sons voice.”
Gómez Racey explained in a statement that the zoo is committed to providing accommodations and creating inclusive experiences for guests with disabilities.
“We continually evaluate and enhance our programs, services and accommodations to better meet the diverse needs of the families we serve. We encourage guests to review the accessibility resources available before and during their visit, including sensory-friendly offerings, companion policies, accessibility maps and personalized assistance,” Gómez Racey said.
She also shared that additional information is available on the zoo’s accessibility page.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The story behind the plane carrying the ‘Columbus Zoo Sucks’ banner
Reporting by Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
