8220 Esters Blvd
Irving, TX 75063
Irving, TX 75063
(972) 929-4600
Every visitor wants to see a city through a local's eyes, but if you're in an unfamiliar place, it's always easier said than done. We're here to help make your visit a memorable one and indicative of the local Fort Worth culture, so we've compiled lists of things to do, places to eat and play, so you can experience the City of Cowboys and Culture like a true Fort Worthian!
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, TX 76110
Phone: 817-759-7555
Fax: 817-759-7501
The oldest zoo in Texas, the Fort Worth Zoo was founded in 1909 with one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits. From these humble beginnings, the Zoo has grown into a nationally ranked facility, housing nearly 7,000 native and exotic animals.
From 1909 to October 1991, the Fort Worth Zoo was owned as well as operated by the City of Fort Worth. During the city's tenure, a long-standing tradition began of collecting money from the community to purchase animals for the Zoo. In 1939, the Zoological Society (now the Fort Worth Zoological Association) formed as a non-profit organization to help raise additional funds to purchase even more animals.
| March 23 – September 22, 2013 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday – Sunday |
| September 23 – October 27, 2013 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily |
| October 28, 2013 – February 14, 2014 | 10 a.m to 4 p.m. daily |
Dates, hours and prices are subject to change. Please call 817-759-7555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 817-759-7555 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting for the most
recent information.
* Special Note : We want your visit to the Fort Worth Zoo to be enjoyable! Please note that during the school year, many children take part in our Education programs. Most schools visit in the morning, so the Zoo tends to be less crowded in the afternoon.
| Adults (13+) | $12 |
| Children (3-12) | $9 |
| Toddlers (2 & under) | Free |
| Seniors (65+) | $9 |
| Parking (per vehicle) | $5 |
Wednesdays are half-price admission days!
To reach the Fort Worth Zoo from Interstate 30, exit University Drive. Go south on University for approximately one mile to Colonial Parkway and turn left. Once you are on Colonial Parkway, follow the signs to the Zoo.
For updated traffic information, please visit the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) website .
Rental Items*
| Single Stroller | $7 + tax per day |
| Double Stroller | $9 + tax per per day |
| Motorized scooters | $25 for three hours, $10 an hour for each additional hour. A valid ID is required for rental. Limited number available. Children are not permitted to ride ECV's with parents. |
All rental items are located just inside the Zoo's front gate. Credit cards are accepted with a matching photo ID.
Wheelchairs
A limited number of complimentary wheelchairs are available. To use these items, you must present a valid drivers license.
| Thanksgiving Day * | Noon to 4 p.m. |
| Christmas Day * | Noon to 4 p.m. |
| New Year's Day | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| * Dining, retail and attraction locations are closed. | |
Pet Policy
For the health and safety of our animals and yours, the Fort Worth Zoo does not allow pets on the grounds; however, certified service animals are permitted.
Please do not leave your pet(s) in your car during your visit to the Zoo. If we find an animal has been locked in a car, Fort Worth Zoo Security will notify proper authorities.
Firearms
NO FIREARMS: Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by holder of a license
to carry a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (concealed handgun law), may not enter this property with a
concealed handgun.
Coolers/Ice Chests
For the safety of park guests, the Zoo discourages coolers and ice chests.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited at the Fort Worth Zoo.
Photography & Videography
Visitor agrees not to commercially use any photography or reproduction in any form taken during any visits to the Fort Worth Zoo, and visitor grants permission to the Fort Worth Zoo and its agent to utilize Visitor's image, likeness and/or sound recordings for the purpose whatsoever in perpetuity.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is nestled within the Fort Worth Cultural District and houses a variety of traveling and permanent exhibitions. Permanent exhibits include DinoLabs and DinoDig, Energy Blast, Fort Worth Children's Museum, and the Cattle Raisers Museum, a “museum within a museum.” Children under the age of 12 can also experience Innovation Studios – a five glass-walled studio that houses “Inventor,” “Doodler,” “Designer,” “Imaginer,” and “Explorer.” This hands-on area is where imagination, curiosity and creativity are encouraged and nurtured.
The Museum is also home to the Omni IMAX Theater and the Noble Planetarium.
The Omni Theater was the first IMAX Dome in the Southwest, with an eight-story dome and a 120-foot screen—this theater places the audience in the center of the action, producing a sensation much closer to real-life than a conventional movie theater.
The Noble Planetarium is an immersive all-dome video combined with a fiber-optic dual-hemisphere star projector that projects more than 7,000 stars. In the planetarium's exhibit area, large screens shows up-to-the-minute views of the Sun. On Friday and Saturday nights experience the sights and sounds of a rockin' Laser Light show with brilliant lasers, images of the universe, and digital animation all set to timeless music favorites.
Shop Too!, the Museum's store, continues the educational experience and is an extension of the Museum itself. The 3,000-square-foot store features science kits, telescopes, educational toys, DVDs, dinosaur models, fossils, robotic and technology products and hand-made jewelry, as well as an extensive book department. There is something for everyone and at every price point, plus many one-of-a-kind articles.
Friday and Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. the Stockyards Championship Rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum in the Stockyards National Historic District, features bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping and more, starting at 8:00 p.m.. Pawnee Bill's Wild West show, a reenactment of the original Wild West show, provides a look at Western history, including trick shooting, roping, riding and cowboy songs.
Located in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards, Stockyards Station exemplifies Texas by providing an exciting blend of old and new with Historic Walking Tours that visit the Texas Trail of Fame, The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and more, over 25 unique shops including an art gallery, sports store and great restaurants that offer anything from ribs to enchiladas.
Stockyards Station is the location for many special events; check our event calendar to see what's going on when you are here! Our four event facilities provide spaces appropriate for the perfect Fort Worth wedding, corporate event, or any kind of party!
Shopping, dining and big fun - Texas Style!
Just 35 minutes from Fort Worth, Beaumont Ranch is an 800-acre working cattle ranch with a herd of Texas longhorns, horses, cowboys, two 20,000-square-feet event barns, and bed and breakfast accommodations. The ranch specializes in corporate and private-event entertainment with plenty of “cowboy life” activities like shooting and riding lessons.
Designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art houses a permanent collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century painting, sculpture, and works on paper, and is one of the nation's major repositories of American photography. It is also home to nearly 400 works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, the two greatest artists of the American West.
Visitors can enjoy free family-friendly programming throughout the year such as Family Fundays, Storytime, Family Fun Week, and more. For adults, lectures, workshops, and films are also free and provide a wonderful way to connect with American art. Check their website for a schedule of events. Beyond the art and architecture, guests can shop and snack at the Museum Store + Café, which offers art-inspired products along with coffee, tea, bottled beverages, and locally baked goods.
Billy Bob's Texas is simply larger than life. The club has almost three acres under one roof, has been voted country music's club of the year a whopping 11 times, hosts the biggest names in the business every weekend, and has live bull-riding shows on Friday and Saturday night. Merle Haggard set a world record here when he bought the entire club a round of drinks. Life as a country-music fan is not complete unless you've visited the "World's Largest Honky-Tonk," where legends are made.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring trailblazing women of the American West. Its multimedia exhibits and historic photographs, papers, clothing, spurs and saddles tell the inspiring stories of remarkable women pioneers, ranchers, performers and rodeo stars. At the Cowgirl Shop, find books, apparel, gifts, jewelry and souvenirs.
Named for the late oil mogul Sid Richardson, once known as the "bachelor billionaire," this free museum showcases his collection of the art of the American West, with a focus on the works of premier Western artists Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. Prints and bronze reproductions are available in the museum store, as is a wide selection of books and gifts. The museum is housed in a restored 19th-century building in historic Sundance Square.
The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame pays tribute to the cowboys and cowgirls who have excelled in the sports of rodeo, cutting and ranching, and those individuals who have dedicated their lives to promoting and preserving Texas Western heritage. The Sterquell Wagon collection features more than 60 Old West wagons, carts and sleighs. At the Exploratorium, children can learn to pack for a trail drive and dig for treasures in the sawdust, among other hands-on experiences. Western-themed apparel, jewelry and souvenirs are available in the gift shop.
The Kimbell's permanent collection contains holdings ranging from the third millennium B.C. to the mid-20th century, and includes major works by Fra Angelico, Velazquez, Bernini, Rembrandt, Goya, Monet, Cezanne, Picasso, Mondrian and Matisse. It is also home to Michelangelo's first known painting. The collection comprises Asian and non-Western as well as European art. The museum features special and traveling exhibits on display throughout the year. The gift shop has exhibition merchandise, art prints and posters, books, gifts, and children's book and games. Designed by world-renowned architect Louis Kahn, the museum is often referred to as one of the most significant works of architecture of the 20th century.
Both locals and visitors are attracted to the bright lights of downtown Fort Worth - now recognized as one of the cleanest, safest and most walkable urban areas in the nation. This is the very heart of Fort Worth, where millions of people come to dine, shop and be entertained, mixed with the thousands of people who work and live downtown. Day and night, downtown Fort Worth is bustling with excitement and activity. It's a place where historic buildings co-exist with towering modern skyscrapers - home to some of America's leading businesses.
This entertainment and shopping district has won numerous national awards for its successful revitalization. Today, it offers 35 blocks of sheer pleasure - with great restaurants , nightlife spots, shops , art galleries and performing arts venues - all in a beautifully restored, historic atmosphere.
At the other end of downtown, the Omni Fort Worth Hotel rises into the sky above the Fort Worth Convention Center and Fort Worth Water Gardens .
Take a stroll along the red-brick streets or climb aboard Molly the Trolley , a free service that circulates between downtown hotels and hot spots.
Satisfy your need for speed at Texas Motor Speedway. With a crowd capacity in excess of 190,000, the Speedway is one of the largest sports stadiums in America and features an array of amenities that make it one of the premier venues in the world of sports. Known as "The Great American Speedway," the 1.5-mile super-speedway plays host to three major series a year showcasing one of the most popular sports in the nation.
With a wide range of thrilling driving experiences to various facilities such as the Speedway Club and Speedway Tours, there's something for everyone at Texas Motor Speedway that brings out the racer in all of us.
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