Your guide to Fossil Rim
Admission:
Our weekend adventure kicked off on a Saturday morning, driving an hour and a half from North Dallas to Fossil Rim in Glen Rose, Texas. The drive was long, but being deep in Texas Hill Country was worth it! Many of my Texan friends have asked me if I’d ever visited the wildlife center and encouraged me to do so. For some reason, I had never made it a priority. This was until my friend Xiran, who had just returned to Dallas from her internship and family visit in China, said that she wanted to celebrate her birthday by visiting the park (as well as Dinosaur Valley State Park, highly recommend). Thrilled to have more time with my hardworking (and very busy) friend, I cleared my calendar for the weekend.
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm (rain or shine)
Last vehicle must be out by 6:30pm
Tickets: Must be purchased in advance
Included: Free feed for the animals as we were entering the park (extra feed cannot be purchased)
Tour Options:
- Self-Guided Drive
- Public Guided Tour
- Private Guided Tour
- Behind-The-Scenes Guided Tour
- T.W.A.N.G. Photo Workshop
Stay:
The Lodge at Fossil Rim, built in the early 1980s, is tucked away within the wildlife center. For an amazing view and close-up encounters with endangered exotic animals and local wildlife alike, spend your weekend at the Lodge. If you’re looking for a well-balanced mix between outdoor adventure and indoor comfort and relaxation, this stay is ideal.
Look out for Endangered and Extinct-in-the-Wild Species
We scanned our tickets, distributed the animal feed, and buckled in for the next hour. I took up the job of naming the animal species we would see on the drive. The booklet we received gave background information on all animals in the park. I was slightly disappointed to discover that some areas in the park are reserved for private tours. However, it does make sense to separate predators from prey (for example). It was amazing to be face-to-face with animals that originated across the world, including the following favorites:
Addax – Love the long, corkscrew horns and dramatic fur patterns. With less than 100 of these antelope in the wild, the few that remain are located in Niger, Chad, and Mauritania.
Emu – Puffball on two sticks. Super fuzzy, pretty cute. Emus are not endangered, but I appreciate being able to see these amazing birds up close.
Aoudad – The only wild sheep found in Africa, they are also found in a few U.S. states. However, the specific subspecies supported at Fossil Rim (Kordofan) are endangered – which is why they are protected here. I love the horizontally elongated pupils and bright yellow irises, as well as (of course) those sheep horns and their fluffy beards.
Zebra – How can I not? One out of two zebra species protected at Fossil Rim (I honestly can’t tell which ones I saw up close), these dazzling mammals were unfazed by the cars and enjoyed the generous amounts of feed being thrown from the car windows.
Wild Turkey – At first sight of the wild turkeys in the park, my first thought was “y’all aren’t even supposed to be here!” And I was right. These goofy aves are free to go or stay, but I like their presence in the park.
Halfway Through the Drive
Two miles into the drive (which will take longer than you think, I promise) you’ll be able to stretch your legs at the Environmental Learning Complex. You’ll find:
- The Children’s Animal Center, perfect for groups with kids
- Hiking trails that encircle the American Red Wolf enclosure (keep quiet and say hi!)
- The Overlook Cafe – open 9:30am – 5:30pm
- The Nature Store. Man, do I love giant stuffed animals. This store had the most amazing selection and it’s hard to make a choice! After contemplating which animal I wanted to add to my plushie zoo at home, I decided wait until I was sure. However, if you’re not on a tight budget like I am, I highly encourage purchasing products on site; Fossil Rim depends on visitors, members, and donors to support their conservation projects and save the threatened and endangered wildlife species that you enjoy in the center.
Tips to Make the Most of your Visit:
Below are a few handy hints to know when to visit, how long you’ll need for the experience and a few insider tips we picked up along the way.
Make sure to plan at least a few weeks ahead of time to purchase your tickets. Fossil Rim is very popular, especially for weekend trips, so you should commit early to get your ideal entrance time. The center is open all days except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It will take you approximately two hours to drive through the park, and you cannot exit the vehicle until you get to either the Environmental Learning Complex or the park exit. The paved route has spaces to pull over whenever you want to watch certain animals and let others pass. Being able to feed the giraffes is possibly the most exiting bonus I can think of, but make sure to take note of the animals that you cannot feed.
If you’re interested in other adventures within a few hours of Dallas, check out my review of Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – just 3.5 hours from the city in Southwest Oklahoma.
