Fort Worth Zoo

The Fort Worth Zoo is a must visit attraction when you are in the DFW area.  Located in a wonderful location just southwest of downtown Fort Worth, visiting the zoo takes you in to many different and wonderful worlds to explore.  Built into the hill side the trails take you on unique journeys through Africa, Asia, and of course the great state of Texas.  The Museum of Living Art was opened in 2010 and is an amazing journey into the lives of reptiles and amphibians.

The Fort Worth Zoo is the oldest zoo in Texas, founded in 1909.  The zoo now has almost 7,000 native and exotic animals for visitors to see. In addition the zoo offers the Country Carousel, the Yellow Rose Express Train ride, the Tasmanian Climbing Tower, a Petting Corral and the Lone Star Mining Company movie house.

One special exhibit at the zoo is Texas Wild.  This 8 acre exhibit opened in 2001, and just celebrated its 10th anniversary.  The exhibit celebrates the wide diversity of animal life and six distinct regions of Texas. In the high plains and prairies you can see foxes, prairie dogs, owls and ferrets.  The piney woods and swamps region of eastern Texas is hope to river otters, alligators and black bears.  Traveling down to the gulf coast you learn about the aquatic animals and see waterfowl.  You are able to touch a skate and learn about wildlife around drilling platforms in the gulf.  The brush country of central Texas has bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, jaguars, ocelots, coati and raptors.  You end your journey through Texas in the mountain and desert region complete with bats, Texas horned lizards and of course it would not be Texas without rattlesnakes.

Texas Wild is also host to a whole farming community with a big red barn, shops and the petting corral.  After going though the exhibit you can watch a movie about Texas, enjoy some Blue Bell ice cream at the sweet shop.  There is another great show located in the Texas Hall of Wonders where you can learn about weather in Texas with an interactive learning exhibit after the show.

The Fort Worth Zoo is open 356 days a year, with special hours on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Zoo hours change depending on the time of the year so you want to visit the zoos web site to check on hours before heading to the zoo.  Adults are $12.00, children 3-12 are $9.00 and toddlers 2 and under are free.  Seniors are $9.00.  There are many different food options available at the zoo from a variety of local chain restaurants like Gradys, Pizza Hut and Dickey’s Barbeque.  Parking at the zoo is also going to cost $10 for non zoo members.

Location: 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76110
Phone: 817-759-7555

Web Site: http://www.fortworthzoo.org/