Best Zoos in Dallas

Now known as the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation, Dallas Ecological Foundation was established in 1981. It aims to educate the youth, primarily school children, about the importance of wildlife conservation and outdoor education. It organises programs like Outdoor Adventures and the curriculum includes outdoor cooking, camping, challenge courses, archery and other outdoor activities. 

Address: 5301 Alpha Road #80 Dallas, TX, US
Founded: 1981
Programs: Outdoor Adventure Cup- Fort Worth, Rendezvous of the Guardians, NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY, Join OTF at the Beretta Gallery etc.

Spread out over an area of 106 acres, the Dallas Zoo is an excellent choice for a day out for both children and adults. A visit here includes learning about various animals from zoologists, getting to see a large number of bird species including macaws, being able to get close to reptiles, porcupines, cheetahs, giraffes and sitting in an amphitheatre to watch precocious penguins, birds of prey and more. 

Address: 650 S R L Thornton Fwy, Dallas, TX 75203, USA
Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Dining Options: Prime Meridian Cafe, Serengeti Grill, Bantu Barbeque, Cop on the Fly food truck
Programs: Animal Adventures Outreach, Wild Adventures Camp, Backstage Safari, Wild Earth Preschool

Fort Worth Zoo is home to a large number of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Visitors can see the Andean condor, Brown pelican, Damselfish, Convict Tang, Malayan tiger, Lesser kudu amongst others, and can grab a bite to eat. They can participate in programs like Animal Outreach, camps, field trips, after-school art classes, Parents Night Out, and more. 

Opened: 1909
Address: 1989 Colonial Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76110, United States
Timings: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Area: 64 acres
Admission Fee: USD 16 (ages 13 and above), USD 12 (ages 3 to 12, seniors), Free (ages 2 and under)
Attractions: Wild Encounters, Outdoor Learning Theater, Wild West Shooting Gallery, Texas Nature Traders, Tasmanian Tower, Drive-Thru Boo at the Zoo

Opened in 2018, the Simmons Hippo Outpost is a 2.1-acre immersive African waterhole habitat, a project undertaken by the Dallas Zoo to raise awareness about the conservation of hippos. The exhibit, which consists of a 24-by-8-foot viewing window, houses Nile hippos and lets people come as close as is possible to the third-largest mammals on the planet.

Area: 2.1 acres
Initiative By: The Dallas Zoo
Animals Found: Nile hippos, okapi

Located in downtown Dallas' West End Historic District, the Dallas World Aquarium is a zoo and an aquarium that is known to be home to a number of animal, bird and fish species, many of which are endangered, such as the Ocelot, American flamingo, Colt coral, Shoebill stork and many others.

Timings: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Address: 1801 N Griffin St., Dallas, TX 75202, USA
Admission Fee: USD 26.95 (adults), USD 18.95 (ages 3-12), USD 22.95 (ages 65 and above, military), Free (ages 2 and below)
Exhibits: Mundo Maya, Orinoco, South Africa, Borneo, Aquarium
Conservation Program: Venezuela, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico

The perfect option for when looking for a petting zoo for various events, one can hire Oba Farms Mobile Petting Zoo services whether it’s a birthday, wedding, theme party, church event, fundraising event or any other. Though located in Greenville, Texas, the Zoo can always travel to another location for an event, and it will bring with its animals and birds like turkey, ducks, goat, sheep or rabbits.

Timings: Open 24 hours
Animals and Birds: Ducks, turkey, rabbits, goat, sheep
Petting and Feeding: Allowed
Taking Photos: Allowed
Packages: USD 479 (Residential event), USD 705 (Commercial event), USD 199 (Photoshoots)

Monkey See Monkey Do Exotic Petting Zoo started out as a USDA-licensed rehab and rescue operation but today, it runs petting zoo services featuring exotic animals, ones not found commonly. One can have kinkajous, lemurs, spider monkeys, tortoises, otters and other animals be brought for various events or educational purposes.
Timings: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Animals: Woodchunks, otters, kangaroos, mink, porcupines, bearcats, baby crocodiles etc.
Packages and Events: Beer Burro, Nativity Scenes, Reindeer, School/ Library programs, commercial photoshoots

The Gentle Zoo in Forney is the ideal place to spend some family time; it has a petting zoo, a playground, an area for picnics, train rides, a party room, a massive jumping pillow and much more. People would be able to admire llamas, Umbrella Cockatoos, peacocks, emus, kangaroos and others.

Address: 12600 FM2932, Forney, TX 75126, USA
Admission Fee: USD 7 (general admission), Free (12 months and under)
Timings: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (Monday- Friday), 9:30 am to 5:00 pm (Saturday), 11:00 am to 5:00 pm (Sunday)
Animals: Sulcata tortoises, goats, Coatimundi, Capybara, pigs, tegu, Bearded dragon
Party Package Highlights: Reserved Play Area, Jumping Pillow, Giant Maze, Train Ride, Petting Zoo, Paper Goods etc.

Spanning over 4 acres, Nana’s Pacas is an alpaca ranch with over 20 alpacas, Huacaya as well as Suri. Visitors can book a one-hour long tour of the ranch for $3 and can interact with baby, female as well as male alpacas; can feed them, learn about their history and watch products being made from their fibre. It is advisable to not bring dogs as they startle the alpacas.

Timings: 9:00 am to 4:45 pm (Monday- Thursday), 9:00 am to 7:30 pm (Friday- Saturday), Sunday closed
Address: 6504 Orchard Dr, Flower Mound, TX 75022, United States
Events: National Alpaca Farm Days, Shearing Day, Small Business Saturday etc.

Unlike other zoos or animal exhibits, Wildlife on the Move isn't a place but a team of experts; a team of people who have wide knowledge about animals, particularly critters. They go from one place to the other presenting a variety of animals educating the audience on the same. These animals, like snakes, lizards, spiders, tortoises etc., belong to different parts of the world. 

Presenters: K.C Rudy, Eric Brittingham
Programs: the Unhuggables, Cold, Cold-blooded Critters, Amazing Adaptations, Boas vs Pythons

Ewe Pet Mobile Petting Zoo & Pony Ride Parties is the way to go when looking for a petting zoo for just about any event since it provides animals like Zebu cow, sheep, Sulcata tortoise, Silkie chickens, Top Hat ducks and many others. Available to anyone in the Dallas and Fort Worth area, the petting zoo also offers pony (and even unicorn) rides and carousals.

Animals: Alpacas, ponies, geese, llamas, Mini Rex rabbits, sheep, chicken etc.
Events: Birthday parties, Christmas plays, Nativity Scenes, fundraisers, carnivals and fairs

Green Meadows Petting Farm- DFW in Dallas offers visitors a chance to interact with different farm animals and birds like chickens, goats, bunnies, cows, lambs etc. and is also known to host groups for birthday parties, weddings, field trips, family functions and other events. The farm is popular for activities like pig racing, cow milking, animal feeding, pumpkin patches, hayrides and also for events such as Sunflower Field, Easter Egg Hunts, Scout Day at the Farm, Barnyard Bash and many more.

Address: 6400 W. Red Bird Lane Dallas, TX, US
Admission Fee: USD 14/14.50 (cash/credit)- ages 2 and above
Timings: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (Thursday- Saturday), Monday- Wednesday closed
Suitable For: Birthday parties, field trips, Daycare centres and preschools, family events, Scouts, Home schools, weddings

God’s Little Critters Pony Parties and Petting Zoo offers its services to people who are looking for farm animals for events like birthdays, fairs or carnivals. Animals such as donkeys, ponies, horses, sheep and rabbits are available. People can choose from a variety of themes such as the Fourth of July, Halloween, Unicorn, Princess, Western etc. 

Timings: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
Themes Available: Unicorn, Princess, Western, Pink Cowgirl, Easter/ Spring, 4th of July, Halloween/ Fall, Christmas
Charges: USD 325, 1/2 themed ponies (2 hours), USD 1,400 (4 pony carousel, 2 hours), USD 1,600 (5 pony carousel, 2 hours)

Backyard Wildlife Resource Center has been known for its efforts in educating people about various animals via live classes, events and presentations. For those who wish to learn about exotic animals such as snakes, spiders, lizards, frogs, eagles etc., it is possible to simply book a session with the Resource Center. People can hold and feed the animals, can visit the Center for field trips and can even have it bring over animals for private events such as birthday parties.

Status: Permanently closed
Location: Cedar Hill, Texas, USA
Animals: Bobcat, pythons, tarantulas, toads, lizards etc.
Events and Services: Birthdays, field trips, school presentations, live educational classes and programs

Wild Things Zoofari was founded in the year 2010 and is an organisation that goes to various schools and libraries in Texas performing shows meant to educate people about the various species and about their conservation. Animal and Reptile shows are aimed at providing the audience with hands-on experience on their behaviour, habitats, reproduction and conservation.

Timings: 8:00 am to 11:00 pm
Animals: Ring-Tailed Lemur, Red Kangaroo Joey, Wallaby, Genet, Chinchilla, Fennec Fox etc.
Petting Zoos: Exotic Animals Petting Zoo, Farm Animals Petting Zoo, Little Explorers Petting Zoo, Gentle Giants Petting Zoo, Petting Zoos for birthdays, rodeo, festivals and fairs