The Caldwell Zoo is the only AZA credited zoo in this area of East Texas and is worth a visit.
Unfortunately at the time we visited, some of the zoo was closed for construction of the new Amazon River's Edge area (see the southern area of the map). Also the food vendors were closed. So perpare for that by having a picnic outside. Only bottled water is allowed inside the gate. Also, this zoo closes earlier than other zoos so be sure to check out the operating hours below.
One of the first things you'll notice as you pull into the parking lot (parking is free) is the breadth of natural plants and African-style themed decor. The thatched umbrellas along the stairs are nice. There are a ton of stairs down to the entrance but there is a wheelchair/stroller friendly path just to the right that winds through more plants. The ticket windows on the outside are closed so just walk straight to the gate inside where you can purchase your tickets under the cover. There are some nice rocking chairs if going down the stairs wears you out (or you can take a break on the way out). The gift shop and exit are directly across the ticket windows on the left side of the building.
What really impressed me where the directional signs. They depict the animals visually so young kids can follow them.
The penguin exhibit is excellent - the penguins swim right up against the glass for great photo-ops. The fish tank is also fun. The tanks do smell fishy.
Even though the zoo feels small, they feature all the major animals - lions, giraffes, elephants, and rhinos. Their exhibits are well-sized and offer nice viewing windows.
I really like the covered viewing areas like this one beside the Black and White Colobus monkeys and the Bongos. Keep in mind that summers are super-hot in Texas and even though the temperature was high 80's it felt hot. Bring plenty of water bottles.
We lucked out during our visit and got to witness the feeding of the Alligators and the SoftShelled Turtles.
The savannah area is located right next to the main restaurant/food court (which was closed at the time of my visit). They had a nice patio with chairs. Normally the giraffe feeding is open during the day except the lunch hours ($5 per feed) but it was also closed on our visit.
The Herpetarium is located right across from the Bison, Deer and Longhorns. Warning for those with kiddos that are afraid of the dark or snakes, you may want to skip the herpetarium. Inside you will find lizards, frogs, snakes and fish. The air conditioning is nice too!
The zoo is divided into two loops, so depending on which way you go in the middle, you may have to circle back to visit the other side which is what we ended up doing especially since South America was closed off. Since it was late in the afternoon and pretty hot, many of the animals were sleeping, relaxing or hiding in trees for shade. Best time to go would be earlier in the day when it's not quite hot and sunny.
These cute goats were relaxing near the closed-off entrance to South America. The petting zoo and playground are closed as part of the construction mentioned above, but it's fun to watch the little goats in their climbing equipment.
And, lastly, the beautifully formed exit doors. I wish there had been a photo prop at the entrance/exit like many zoos now have for posting to social media.
The zoo has a lot of extra activities (such as giraffe feeding, penguin encounters, black bear encounters, but availability may be limited. If you're interested in one of these, call ahead to verify they are running.
Details:
Address: 2203 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tyler, TX 75702
Hours: 9am-3:30pm Daily
Admission: Adults (12-54) $16.50, Children (3-12) $12.50, Under 2 free, Over 55 only $14.50; Reciprocal AZA Members get 50% discount.
Get more information from the official website,
https://caldwellzoo.org/
Overall Family Review:
- 17 year old - Liked the rocking chairs at the entrance pavilion
- 12 year old - Liked the alligator feedings
- 8 year old - Liked the penguins
- 2 year old - Liked the penguins and walking along the trails
