Complex sentence: By the early 1980s, the zoo featured a small roller coaster, a skyride, and a kid-sized train, among other kiddie rides, but was in need of serious repair and renovation.
Split into simpler sentences: By the early 1980s, the zoo featured a small roller coaster, a skyride, and a kid-sized train, among other kiddie rides. However, the actual zoo facility was in need of serious repair and renovation.