Fort Worth Zoo
Fort Worth has long been known as “Cowtown,” and has been considered the cattle capital of Texas. Historically Ft. Worth was the last major stop on the famous Chisholm Trail, and was the place where millions of cattle were driven north to market. Today, the Chisholm Trail is found only in the history books, but thanks to the award-winning Fort Worth Zoo, the city still maintains its place as the animal capital of Texas.
The Fort Worth Zoo, founded in 1909, is home to more than 350 different species. Since 1992 the zoo has added fifteen permanent exhibits, taking it from a nice little zoo in North Texas to arguably the best zoo in the entire United States. Numerous times over the years the zoo has earned its place on lists of the top zoos in the country, and is often voted the best.
Permanent Exhibits
The museum’s permanent exhibits include: World of Primates, Asian Falls, Raptor Canyon, Asian Rhino Ridge, Gloria Lupton Tennison Education Center, Portraits of the Wild Art Gallery, Chee•tos Cheetahs, Flamingo Bay, FUJIFILM Komodo Dragons, Terminix Insect City, Meerkat Mounds, Thundering Plains, and Texas Wild!, which is actually seven exhibits in one.
The zoo is also in the process of completing a brand new permanent exhibit, the Museum of Living Art (MOLA). By the time it is completed in the spring of 2009, the MOLA will be a first of its kind, home to reptiles and amphibians. The MOLA will showcase an unparalleled number of species while focusing on conservation and endangered species.
Attractions
To go along with the permanent and temporary exhibits the Fort Worth Zoo has several additional attractions sure to delight visitors.
The Country Carousel is a western-style ride located in Texas Wild!.
The Lone Star Mining Company Movie House is the final stop in Texas Wild!, where guests see what it truly means to be “wild” in Texas.
The Petting Corral is full of goats, pigs, chickens, and a longhorn calf. All ages will enjoy getting up close and personal with these wonderful barnyard animals.
The Playbarn is an interactive play area that helps young visitors to the zoo experience life on a farm. Visitors to the Playbarn can dress up as animals before experiencing more crawling, climbing, and sliding than Old McDonald’s farm ever had.
The Portraits of the Wild Gallery is a circular art gallery that is home to a tremendous art collection by famous wildlife artist Wilhelm Kuhnert. Besides the opportunity to tour the art, the gallery is available for a seated dinner or cocktail reception. The wildlife theme even extends onto a deck created to resemble the African plains.
The Tasmanian Tower is a 25-foot rock climbing wall next to the Australian Outback part of the zoo. All that is required is a parental release form and the purchase of a ticket.
The Yellow Rose Express is a train that runs between the Safari Depot and the Texas Wild! portion of the zoo. Visitors to the zoo may purchase one-way or all day tickets at the train depots that are located at both ends of the track.
The Weather Theater helps the zoo visitor experience the outdoors, all while inside this interactive education theater. The Weather Theater is located in the Texas Wild! portion of the park in the Hall of Wonder.
Planning your trip
There are some things to keep in mind when planning a trip to the world-renowned Fort Worth Zoo.
Eating
Throughout the zoo there are several restaurant and concession stands located for the visitors’ culinary convenience. Among them are places that prepare pizza, barbecue, home-cooking, and ice-cream. There are even dessert spots for hot pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, and still more ice cream.
Hours
The Fort Worth Zoo is open 365 days a year, though with shortened hours on major holidays.
Admission
The price of admission for adults thirteen and over is $10.50, $7 for adults over sixty-five, $8 for children three to twelve, and children under three are free.
The Fort Worth Zoo, founded in 1909, is home to more than 350 different species. Since 1992 the zoo has added fifteen permanent exhibits, taking it from a nice little zoo in North Texas to arguably the best zoo in the entire United States. Numerous times over the years the zoo has earned its place on lists of the top zoos in the country, and is often voted the best.
Permanent Exhibits
The museum’s permanent exhibits include: World of Primates, Asian Falls, Raptor Canyon, Asian Rhino Ridge, Gloria Lupton Tennison Education Center, Portraits of the Wild Art Gallery, Chee•tos Cheetahs, Flamingo Bay, FUJIFILM Komodo Dragons, Terminix Insect City, Meerkat Mounds, Thundering Plains, and Texas Wild!, which is actually seven exhibits in one.
The zoo is also in the process of completing a brand new permanent exhibit, the Museum of Living Art (MOLA). By the time it is completed in the spring of 2009, the MOLA will be a first of its kind, home to reptiles and amphibians. The MOLA will showcase an unparalleled number of species while focusing on conservation and endangered species.
Attractions
To go along with the permanent and temporary exhibits the Fort Worth Zoo has several additional attractions sure to delight visitors.
The Country Carousel is a western-style ride located in Texas Wild!.
The Lone Star Mining Company Movie House is the final stop in Texas Wild!, where guests see what it truly means to be “wild” in Texas.
The Petting Corral is full of goats, pigs, chickens, and a longhorn calf. All ages will enjoy getting up close and personal with these wonderful barnyard animals.
The Playbarn is an interactive play area that helps young visitors to the zoo experience life on a farm. Visitors to the Playbarn can dress up as animals before experiencing more crawling, climbing, and sliding than Old McDonald’s farm ever had.
The Portraits of the Wild Gallery is a circular art gallery that is home to a tremendous art collection by famous wildlife artist Wilhelm Kuhnert. Besides the opportunity to tour the art, the gallery is available for a seated dinner or cocktail reception. The wildlife theme even extends onto a deck created to resemble the African plains.
The Tasmanian Tower is a 25-foot rock climbing wall next to the Australian Outback part of the zoo. All that is required is a parental release form and the purchase of a ticket.
The Yellow Rose Express is a train that runs between the Safari Depot and the Texas Wild! portion of the zoo. Visitors to the zoo may purchase one-way or all day tickets at the train depots that are located at both ends of the track.
The Weather Theater helps the zoo visitor experience the outdoors, all while inside this interactive education theater. The Weather Theater is located in the Texas Wild! portion of the park in the Hall of Wonder.
Planning your trip
There are some things to keep in mind when planning a trip to the world-renowned Fort Worth Zoo.
Eating
Throughout the zoo there are several restaurant and concession stands located for the visitors’ culinary convenience. Among them are places that prepare pizza, barbecue, home-cooking, and ice-cream. There are even dessert spots for hot pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, and still more ice cream.
Hours
The Fort Worth Zoo is open 365 days a year, though with shortened hours on major holidays.
Admission
The price of admission for adults thirteen and over is $10.50, $7 for adults over sixty-five, $8 for children three to twelve, and children under three are free.
