Do you know a zoo that has cute prairie dogs, a scary clouded leopard and a tall giraffe?
If you ask me what was one cute animal that i liked in 2020 .. that will be from frank buck zoo black tailed prairie dog ☺️.
Did you ever went to full of tree filled with 130 animals in texas. Yes, Just in Gainesville, Texas this wonderful zoo is located.
History
Frank Buck Zoo founded in 1930 which holds 30 acres with in depth story.
In 1930 , gainesville community circus at cooke county fair park.
A fire destroyed the circus in 1954 and the animals became a static zoo exhibit at Fair Park ,then the zoo moved to current location, it is called Gainesville Zoo.
Renamed the zoo, in honor of Frank Buck , American film actor and director who collected wild animals from exotic parts of the world and he is native to Gainesville.
Small Perfect Zoo for Toddler
Perfect zoo for toddler kids and mommies who don’t want to walk for whole day like in most big zoo.
The Entrance more welcoming with different animal faces together giraffe, parrot and bear face architure design.
This Gainesville zoo is about a mile long to walk in circular way, it will take 1 to 1 1/2 hour or maximum of 2 hour to watch all the animals.
Location:
1000 W.California St., Gainesville,Texas 76240.
Last Ticket Sold at 3:30 PM
For Children (1 – 12 yrs ) – $5.50
Adults (13 plus) -$7.50
They have Facility for handicap and stroller around the zoo .
Checkout the website for zoo hours , for winter and summer there will be change in timing.
Mask are required to get ticket during COVID
Things to Consider
They have Petting Zoo ,Take quarters to feed the goat ,
Pets are not allowed inside the zoo,
No outside food are allowed inside the zoo, no shop inbetween the walking trail , take your water bottle and some energy snacks.
No restrooms while walking inside the zoo, the only restroom at the gift shop.
Picnic at Leonard Park
This zoo located near to Leonard park which is another perfect place for kids to play and families to picnic, you can’t take food or do picnic inside the zoo.
So this Leonard park is big enough with lots of picnic table and two covered pavilions with kids activities.
You can make picnic in the Leonard park and then visit zoo .
Why it is Beautiful Zoo?
The zoo take good care of health and environment of the animals.
You can see bunch of tall bamboo trees to make pleasant walk with family and very tall tree means very tall then usual trees in texas.
They have upper raised boardwalk to view animals and i loved the design of the giraffe hut and the sit out place, perfect for family and kids to chit chat walk!!
Can you see the detailed colorful traditional art work on each pillar !!
Checkout Quick places to visit near Dallas by UNIJOU
Just like most zoo you’re greeted by flamingos and whistling ducks & you will also see a one way sign since this zoo is a big circle!
Once you enter the zoo, you will see this perfectly colored flamingo whether standing on one leg or busy eating there food.
Do you Know !! You can feed Flamingo,
Yes, at frank buck zoo you can feed flamingo. You have to get VIP flamingo experience ticket $15/person.
Everyday start at 10.15 a.m and you have to schedule or checkout at gift shop by 10.am.
If you want to participate, you have to arrive by 10 a.m and this tickets are only for kids age 6 & up and limited to 5 persons maximum.
Well the Frank Buck Zoo is the zoo you’re looking for !!! Even though it may be smaller than other zoos but this one is different.
Animals at the entrance
- Alpaca
- Flamingos
- Lesser Rhea
- llama
- Whistling Ducks
- Ring Tailed Coati
llama and Alpaca
Then after seeing these animals you will enter the Savannah Outlook where you will see these animals:
- Ostrich
- Nubian Ibex
- Reticulated Giraffe
- Helmeted Guinea Fowl
- Grant’s Zebra
- Leopard Tortoise
- Arabian camel
- Spotted Donkey
Kids enjoyed every animal exhibit, if you come as group or individual family , sure you will not be get bored or tired like in big zoo.
This Giraffe place well maintained with raised wooden boardwalk, it not look like we are in texas perfect mountain zoo atmosphere !!
Checkout Video of Frank Buck Zoo
This place is perfect escape for nature walk while engaging kids by watching animals.
Giraffe looked very healthy and the space are more neat and clean .
In this boardwalk you can see all the animals at little closer.
Then after you see the animals at the you will take a small walk toward the african exhibit.
The animals you will see are:
- Burmese Python
- Geoffroy’s Cat
- Reeves Muntjac
- Red kangaroos
- Patagonian Cavy
- Capybara
- Miniature Horse
- Bennett’s Wallaby
After seeing these animals you will see some monkeys and lemurs.
- Red Ruffed lemur
- Ring Tailed Lemur
- Spider Monkeys
Black Tailed Prairie Dog ,
This little guy was so curious to show his exercise in that little wheel, he not tired, just look at everyone and go inside the circle and make fast walk for a minute then get down and look at visitor faces and then again start walk.
So much of love and intelligence this small animal have, so much grateful to watch the walking show by this black tailed prairie dog.What the prairie dog did ,
When you visit the zoo let us know in the comment, what the prairie dog did !!
We got memorable time with prairie dog !!
PETTING ZOO
Another main attraction for parents with toddler kids and for kids with group of friends.
Explore petting zoo around Dallas at Unijou – Cathy’s Critters, Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch
Spacious, clean petting zoo .
Yes, the petting zoo they have small hole, where kids can pet the animals by their hands and animals also interact with kids.
All you need to bring quarters to get food from the nearby feeder to feed goat .
- Pygmy Goats
- Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig
- Domesticated Rabbit
After seeing all of these animals you will go to the other half of the circle on the other half you will see these animals:
After Visiting Petting Zoo, all this exhibit went very fast with lot more animals.
- African Spurred tortoise
- Clouded Leopard
- American Alligator
- Asian Small Clawed Otter
- Black Bear
- Black Tailed Prairie Dog
- Black Vulture
- Blue Crowned Conure
- Cheetah
- Coyote
- Great Horned Owl
- Military Macaw
- Red Fox
- Yellow Naped Amazon
This Vulture looks little scary and they are in two separate cage .
For me , this owl looks very stylish with powerful eyes.
This Black bear is the last exhibit at Frank buck zoo, kids and adults are at same level of excitement even at the end of the zoo.
Black bear looks very healthy and played in their big space,
Visiting Frank buck zoo from dallas at 30 to 1 hour drive will definitely worth the visit.
The best zoo good prize at dallas, even the gift shop have unique items , kids and parents can enjoy .
Unijou will come up with more and more kids and family friendly places to visit in texas and around USA .
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