Fort Worth Zoo

Have  a free Saturday or Sunday coming up this fall?  We have a great idea for you!  We are blessed to have 2 fantastic zoos in our area.  Just a short drive away, the Fort Worth Zoo has so many activities going on this fall, it's a fantastic place to spend the day with the family!

The Ft. Worth Zoo is the oldest zoo in Texas, opening in 1909 with less than 10 animals.  Since then, it has grown into a nationally-ranking zoo with over 7,000 native and exotic animals.  Currently, the Ft. Worth Zoo has 12 permanent exhibit areas (The World of Primates, Meerkat Mounds and Texas Wild! being some of our favorites).

What we love best about the Fort Worth Zoo is the all the trees.  Located South of downtown Fort Worth, there are tons of pathways that are shaded and cool, making this a great place to go anytime of the year.

This fall, the Fort Worth Zoo has added a few new additions.  Be sure to meet Asha, a baby rhino who was born in August.  This was the first rhino birth at the Fort Worth Zoo and the first in Texas!  Also, make sure you meet Tatu, the Zoo's 6-foot tall baby giraffe, born in July.

There are a ton of hands on activities for all ages too.  Every half-hour a "Creature Feature" is scheduled at the zoo, providing you with the opportunity to meet these animals up close.  Click here for details. The Texas Wild! Petting Corral, the Tasmanian Tower rock climbing wall, and the Texas Rose Express Train are a few other fun activities to try.

The Museum of Living Art (MOLA) opened in 2010 and was a fantastic exhibit for my 9 year old son who is obsessed with reptiles.  The MOLA houses more than 100 amphibian and reptile species, including North America's largest saltwater crocodile, a 15.5 foot Burmese python, and a Komodo Dragon.  You can get up close and personal with many of them - we particularly enjoyed having lunch and watching the turtles and crocodiles swim right by us in their natural "ocean".

Another favorite Exhibit of ours at the Fort Worth Zoo is Texas Wild! Texas is home to more species of animals than any other state in the nation!!  And the Texas Wild! exhibit houses most of these, providing visitors a glimpse into every area of Texas - the dusty desert of West Texas to the piney woods and swamps of East Texas.  You can see the WHOLE state in one exhibit - foliage and animals included.

Know Before You Go:

Location: 1989 Colonial Parkway Ft. Worth, TX

Hours: Hours vary depending on season, typically it is 10 am -5 pm daily (check here to be sure!)

Admission: Adults $12.00 Children (3-12) $9.00 Toddlers (2 & under) Free ** Wednesdays are half-priced!

Parking: $5.00 per vehicle

Recommended Time: 4-6 hours

Good to know: Weekends tend to be busier; many educational programs with school children are in the weekday mornings, so afternoons tend to be quieter; strollers are fine (available to rent); ice chests are discouraged, but we brought in our own lunch

Website:http://www.fortworthzoo.org