Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Glen Rose, Texas
If your explorer wants their own wild animal adventure, spend the day at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center with free-roaming animal tours and cabins sleeping near the wild animals. Fossil Rim is located in Glen Rose at the edge of the Texas Hill Country with breath-taking panoramic views on 1,800 acres. This wildlife refuge has over 1,100 animals, including more than 50 species of native and non-native animals, and focuses on conservation and education.
Fossil Rim has different options for viewing animals, including driving your own vehicle or taking a tour through the wildlife refuge. Discounts include weekday and senior citizen pricing discounts, and children 2 and under are free. If you want to feed the animals from your car, you can purchase a bag of animal feed for $7 (limit one per vehicle). No reservations are needed to drive through Fossil Rim in your own car, however guided tours and lodging will need advance reservations.
Tours
For a kid-friendly guided tour at Fossil Rim, jump in a safari truck to discover animals roaming wild in a natural habitat. Choose between the Safari Tour, the Crack O Dawn Tour (same as the Safari Tour just earlier and 25% cheaper), or the Behind the Scenes Tour. Kids 2 and under are free, and ADA-accessible vehicles are available by calling in advance. All ages are welcome on the Safari Tour and Crack O Dawn Tour, however the Behind The Scenes Tours are restricted to ages 7 and older and closed-toed shoes are required. The Behind the Scenes Tour views animals not visible to most visitors on the paved roads such as wolves and black rhinos.
Located halfway through the Gosdin Scenic Drive, you will find a scenic Overlook, Children’s Animal Center, Overlook Café, Nature Store and restrooms. The Overlook Cafe serves up yummy food and drinks, including fresh salads, burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken strips, corn dog nuggets and more. Gluten free and vegetarian options available. The Nature Store is large with many kid-friendly items.
The Children’s Animal Center allows visitors a hands-on experience to pet and brush the goats, listen to the cockatoos talk, view tortoises, pot-bellied pigs, red wolves, black-footed cats, and Attwater’s prairie chickens.
Spend the night at the Lodge at Fossil Rim or the Foothills Safari Cabins. Enjoy a bunkhouse breakfast while watching the addax, sable antelope, gemsbok, waterbuck, and deer graze.
Know Before You Go
No pets allowed on Fossil Rim property.
Check website in case of closure due to inclement weather.
Summer, weekends and school breaks will have longer lines.
Arrive early to avoid lines and view the animals before mid-day naps.
Special needs:
ADA-accessible vehicles available for guided tours, call in advance to reserve.
Discounts:
Weekday rates and more discounts listed here.
How to get there:
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
2299 County Road 2008
Glen Rose, TX 76043
(254)897-2960
www.fossilrim.org
First photo by Lezley Norris, photos 2-6 by DJ Zappia, and all others Texas Kids Adventures.
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