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Dallas Zoo
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
16 reviews for Dallas Zoo
Is this the best zoo in the Metroplex? Probably not. But I can saw with authority that it's definitely at least in the top two zoos to be found in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. And that's got to be worth something, right?
Personally, I've found that zoos are great date places. You get to walk around and actually talk, unlike at a movie, and you can see if the person you're with is a natural conversationalist without the help of booze. (Or, if they're an alcoholic if they start searching for beer.)
Even a crappy zoo will have some basics, like cute animals and a place to walk around. And if the conversation is going well then the cute afternoon zoo date will turn into dinner and drinks and the next thing you know you're buying him or her breakfast.
Sure, there are parts of the Dallas Zoo that are run down. And it's in a sketchy neighborhood. And it is kind of small. But it's not a dump or anything. It's not like it is in Fair Park.
If you've been to the San Diego Zoo, don't bother going here. You'll be utterly disappointed. This zoo is great if you are 1) in a some sort of a time crunch or 2) want to stay in Dallas and not travel to the Fort Worth Zoo.
I went here in the morning for a mini gig and was able to walk around for free afterward. It's a nice simple zoo with everything you would expect from a zoo. There were flamingos by the restaurant which was nice to observe while munching. They also had tapirs which i was super excited about. They're like uglier boars that kinda look adorable once you squint your eyes.
I don't think I'll be back because the Fort Worth Zoo is much closer to me but I wouldn't mind returning if work brings me here again. :D
The Ft. Worth Zoo makes the Dallas Zoo seem 2nd rate, hence the 2 of 5 star review.
This zoo has everything you'd expect to see at a zoo but it is smaller than its counterpart in Ft Worth. The Dallas Zoo also, at times, seems a little run down.
Interesting tidbit, the giraffe statue out front is/was one of the tallest. The little metal extension on the tongue is there to add height as it wasn't/isn't the tallest without it.
Apparently the zoo is a lot better when youre 8. ):
I was so disenchanted by the zoo yesterday on our visit.
I know it was partly because it was sweltering hot and most of the pets were asleep but it just felt so small and boring compared to the San Diego zoo.
Aside from that, I will list the pros and cons:
Pros:
-No one was there so we got to mosey around freely
-The sweet gorilla kept hanging out against the glass we were on the other side of so we got to chat with her and take lots of pics
-The giraffes are really pretty
-There are cool metal animals all over the place
-Lots of places to stop and take a rest
Cons:
-There are way too many birds
-A lot of it is uphill which is bad for fat people like your author
-Its kind of small but it seems there are some new Africa exhibits opening next spring
-Overall con, I just didnt love it!
Holey Moley the Dallas Zoo has changed a ton since my last visit ages ago! When I was a wee little lad I remember coming to the zoo with my dad and even being 12 years old I was disappointed. I had my group of crazy kiddos this weekend at my apartment and thought they could release some of their energy elsewhere (my neighbors downstairs must hate me) and saw a special going on at the Dallas Zoo. Why not?! Admission was half off and if you ride the dart on top of that you get an additional dollar off! This is sponsored by Target and is going on until August 8th I believe.
Being a lazy Sunday afternoon the place was packed! I had to park in the "overflow" parking lot which was much further but it was doable. Some of the changes I saw and appreciated were there were more mist fans, shady areas, indoor areas such as the new food court and the new additions to the children's area. There's an area for them to play in some water, do some climbing, look at fossils, do puzzles, painting activities or relax and get snacks in the shaded food court. We did all the above and some. There was a 4-D showing going on which was pretty neat ($4 per person for a 20 minute film) and jump houses in the shape of you guessed it animals!
I only wish there were more sea animals like at the Fort Worth Zoo or more realistic scenery. It's kind of sad to see alligators swimming in the backdrop of what looks like something you would see at Razoos. Also, the food and drinks here are WAY overpriced. I spent $8.75 on three water bottles and another $25 at the food court for a little basket of nachos, an overcooked turkey leg, a itty bitty personal pizza and souvenir cup. Hey if I'm going to pay and arm and a leg for a snack how about we try and make it taste decent? Looking beyond those factors the kids had a blast, I got my work out running after them and no one passed out from heat exhaustion in the 98 degree Texas weather.
I went during the Science day at a zoo for teachers. It was a beautiful day and the grounds were very clean. However, I was quite disappointed at the lack of variety of animals. There were no bears, moose, lions, hippos, buffalo, zebras, etc. These are animals that when you go to the zoo, you hope to get a glimpse of. The tiger that they had there was so hidden you could barely see him. The albino crocs were pretty cool though. All in all, it was a nice outing however I will be trying the Fort Worth Zoo next time.
If you live in Dallas and have young children, there's one simple question you need to ask yourself: Why aren't I a member of the Dallas Zoo?
If you are a member, go more often. And take a friend with young kiddos.
Joining was one of the first things we did when arriving in Dallas, and it has been a delight on every visit. And since we visit a couple of times a month, the membership has been a tremendous value (it even covers the $5 per day parking fee). I daresay it has paid for itself many times.
The kiddos love all the open space for running. They can see the abundant variety of animals easily and clearly. And the Lacerte Family children's area is a lot of fun - especially when the weather is warm and the kiddos can splash around in the stream. (Yes, the water is clean and chlorinated for the germaphobes among you.)
Sure, there are things I wish the Zoo offered (which is all that prevents me from giving it five stars). A lion to replace the newly deceased. Some seals or sea lions. A hippo. But in the grand scheme of things these are minor. And if your kiddo is like mine, s/he won't miss what isn't there and will simply enjoy all the stuff that is.
Just be sure to ride the carousel. Warning: If you decide to sit in the nest, you can make it spin at a dizzying, nauseating speed with very little effort. Of course, if we're there, it may be occupied long before you have a chance to try it.
I grew up about three minutes away from here.
That being said I think they should clean up the area around the zoo. My god you can buy drugs across the street. And this is actually a Dallas attraction for out of towners. What kind of reasoning do they have behind leaving all those shacks and motels up?
That is really my only complaint. I have been going to this zoo since I was three. I only hope they can get a lot more business I feel like it has died down a lot. Everyone please go if they shut it down we will have to drive all the way to Fort Worth.
P.S. FW Zoo is pretty awesome too.
I had a Zoo Day with several of my friends and we all enjoyed it! There was lots to see in the short amount of time that we had, but in the end we ended up taking lots of neat-o pics!
The food court, Prime Meridian, was pretty nice and clean. We didn't eat there, but we did get to savor the goodness of Cherry Icee!
Before we left the zoo, we rode the monorail right before closing so it was nice to actually sit down on a ride for a good while before we had to do more walking. The monorail, I believe costs $2.50/person. The guide on the monorail was kind of monotone and boring, so me and my friends were making our own narrations of the trip of the "Wilds of Africa" in our best Steve Irwin voice.
Oh, if you ride the Dart Rail on Mondays and Tuesdays, show your ticket and your entrance fee is only $5!
I went very recently and it seemed cleaned up and maybe they had got new glass windows for some of the exhibits? It was actually very nice, I was sort of surprised. I like this zoo, yeah it's not as good as the Fort Worth Zoo but it's still worth going! If you have young children they have a great play area and learning center for them. Also if you have AAA you can get a sweet discount.
I went to the zoo today. It was probably the first time I'd been to the zoo since 1985. I used to love to come here when my family lived in Duncanville. I loved it as a child, but in hindsight it was incredibly depressing - bored and sad animals in tiny cages with children yelling at them to get angry enough to growl, roar or scream. Today's Dallas Zoo still has problems, but the improvements that have been made in the last 20 years give me a lot of hope for this institution.
In 1985, you entered through jail-bar turnstyles. I love those things. Now there's a grand entranceway which is a lot more accommodating to larger crowds. The first thing you saw after walking into the zoo in 1985 was a large flamingo moat and behind that were the big cats, all in small cages. Up the path from that was the reptile house and aviary, which is about the only place in the new Dallas Zoo that I recognized. That hasn't changed a bit. The elephant and giraffe areas looked the same, and those animals do seem like they need a larger enclosure and more company. The elephant looked really sad, but that may just be how elephants look. In 1985 the primates were housed, I think, in an area where an education center or snack bar is housed now, around where the children's zoo is. The primates were behind glass walls and they had pretty sterile environments from what I remember. Just a large room with a glass front for the gorillas, much less interesting than their current leafy habitat. They also had a little train that would cart you around the north zoo, but that has been replaced with a monorail on the other side that carts you around the Wilds of Africa exhibit.
Really, the entire zoo has improved a great deal since the 80s and I have confidence that the Dallas Zoo will only improve with time, especially with civic support. It seemed like there were a lot of people working there today, and everyone I talked to with the zoo was really nice. Of course, there were a lot of families out and about and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. Other than better habitats for the elephant and giraffe, I wish they had signs closer to the observation points in the gorilla and large cats exhibits that reminded people to keep their voices down. Maybe a big sign that says, "PLEASE DON'T SCREAM AT ME". I saw keeping your voice down mentioned on information signs but you actually have to read those to see the request.
UPDATE: I just read the Texas Monthly article on Jenny the Elephant and I really wish more people would put time, money, and energy into supporting their city zoo rather than lambasting them for their past neglect of Jenny. And what about the giraffe in the next habitat? Why aren't citizens concerned about her?
In spite of what you might have heard the Dallas Zoo is great and well worth a visit. They have a new Tiger exhibit and completely redone monkey exhibit. No where outside is going to pleasant in a Texas Summer recommend Spring, Winter or fall.
Totally new Children's Zoo area -- one of the best in the south or so i hear... i don't have kids.
Nice new restaurant
The monorail is also cool.... They have lots of research projects going on and community activities/classes check the website for a schedule
Membership is a good deal gets you in other Zoos across the country
Make the trip to the Zoo part of the adventure --- DART Light rail trains let you off right at the entrance to the Zoo.
Medium-sized zoo, very clean and a pretty nice variety of animals. You got your standard fare: Lions, Tigers, Elephants, Giraffes, Gorillas, etc. plus a small bug house, an aviary, and a childrens' zoo. The Monorail is nice. It costs a couple dollars, and is about 25 minutes, and takes you through several different habitats. Make sure to head to the monorail early, as the line can get long.
The gorilla viewing lounge is very nice, a relaxing place to rest, with comfy sofas and chairs. The food is ok at the park. Avoid the corn dogs, though. They are more like salt-sticks. It's probably best to pack a lunch and bring into the park. I think you could see most of the zoo in about four hours, or longer if you want to take it easy and relax. I'd recommend arriving early as the parking lots ($5) are not that large.
Im dropping this raiting to a three for a simple reason: Recently there has been a rash of animal deaths at the zoo, mostly due to age, not to mention the recent issues with jenny the elephant. But, it has me question the viability of a zoo who is still ran by a city who can barely afford it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/11/2008
Not the best zoo in the area (See: Fort Worth Zoo), as it has two things going against it:
A) Ran by… Read more »
"Hey look dad, that bird has one wing shorter than the other...wait... they all have one wi--MY WORD can't you clip their wings without CUTTING ONE OFF?" That was my last time to the zoo. The time before had depressed me (the only zoos I'd been to before were San Diego and Fort Worth) but for whatever reason I decided to go again. It has a feeling of being somewhat deserted (but thats maybe because I've only gone in the summertime, not smart of me), and there's really not enough to see to justify coming from farther than 20 minutes away. I do like the Zoo themed McDonald's next door though, and I saw Erika Bahdu (have no idea on the spelling) on that same deformed bird trip.
Don't take your kids here unless you secretly hate them. This place is a death trap. This is where the infamous gorilla attack happened. Not because the gorilla broke through any barriers, but because it was only contained by a relatively low wall that it could easily jump over. It went on a rampage, picking up kids and shaking them violently. The Fort Worth Zoo is much better and cleaner, and they have a great, safe monkey exhibit.
