Widely recognized as one of the best zoos in the U.S.
ONLY full-day, naturebased preschool in North Texas; operating all day / 5 days a week
Committed to affordability and dedicated to creating
• In 2024, 45% of our guests attended for $10 or less while 13% attended for free
Wild Horizons Capital Campaign represents the largest and most ambitious set of projects in the Zoo’s long history
The Safari Trail project is set to open new areas every 12-18 months over the next five years.
Actively leveraging the City’s support to spur funding from the private sector.
As of July 2025, we have raised almost $45 million against the $30 million from City bond funds.
A phased opening approach will increase attendance in a sustainable way.
Groundbreaking Ceremony April 9, 2024
Opening Spring 2026
A new parking garage to support growth and enhance guest experience.
• Adds 580 spaces
• Serves Dallas Zoo, Halperin Park, and surrounding development
• Enhanced connections and pathways from Zoo, to DART, along Ewing, and to Halperin Park
Opening Late 2026
Reimaging former animal habitats to create immersive, interactive play and climbing area for young guests.
• Using existing kopje rock structures in habitats to form enclosed nature play areas
• Features climbing structures, rope courses, auditory instruments, and tunnels and slides
• Interpretive opportunities to learn how to mimic animal behaviors
African Shorelines serves as the entry point to the Safari Trails project and creates a new amenity hub and gathering point on the Wilds of Africa side of the Zoo.
• Complete revamp and expansion of penguin habitat
• New plaza space with interactive animal space
• Brand new two-story café and event building
• New lesser flamingo habitat with indoor viewing from the café
The Wild Grasslands expansion builds on the Dallas Zoo’s stellar reputation in successfully creating and managing unique mixed-species habitats.
• Introduces the only joint cheetah-rhino habitat in the U.S.
• Creates one of the largest mixed-species aviaries
Featuring yet another mixed-species space in a lush forest space, demonstration area, and overhead chutes to create unique habitat movements.
• A mix of the elusive okapi with several primate species moving about between habitats
• Dedicated education space for a dynamic learning environment
Dedicated places for learning and growing to help foster the next generation – space for learners AND space for our elephants!
• New education center with classrooms, a multi-use auditorium, flex space, and outdoor learning areas
• Indoor, climate-controlled space to allow our multi-generational elephant herd more room to escape the summer heat or winter weather