As a Tarleton Sophomore, I have gotten the opportunity to experience some of the fun activities that are beyond the gates of Tarleton! I just recently visited Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, and I am here to tell you a little bit about it.
What is Fossil Rim?
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a non-profit conservation center for endangered species. Their mission is to care for and protect species in peril, conduct scientific research, train professionals, and responsibly manage natural resources and public education. Over 1,100 species, including over 50 kinds of both native and non-native animals, can be found peacefully residing in Fossil Rim’s 1,800-acre park. Fossil Rim offers various hands-on learning opportunities to its visitors, such as guided tours, specialty tours, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and much more! Find out what Fossil Rim has in store for you!
Fossil Rim has a multitude of fun interactive activities for you and all of your friends to participate in! To name a few:
Self-Guided Tour: Bring your loved ones on a self-guided tour of Fossil Rim’s Gosdin Scenic Drive, which spans 7.2 miles. Along the way, you can observe endangered species and even feed giraffes from the comfort of your car. This exciting experience typically takes at least 1.5 hours.I have participated in this tour twice now and I can confidently say that there is nothing like it! Unique looking animals of all kinds approached my vehicle and ate straight from the palm of my hand!
Public or Private Guided Tour: Experience a guided tour at Fossil Rim’s park in an open-air safari vehicle, accompanied by an Environmental Engagement expert. Learn about the animals and their conservation efforts while enjoying either a public or private trip with friends. The tour lasts two hours.
Behind-The-Scenes Guided Tour: Witness the protection of endangered animals up close at Fossil Rim’s Intensive Management Area. Take a guided tour of the facility where you can observe and gain knowledge about animals such as wolves and black rhinos that are not visible during the drive-through experience.
Photo Workshop: Fossil Rim offers a unique opportunity to practice nature photography with the help of professional photographer, Rod Gardner. The workshop begins with an educational session where you will learn the basics of using your camera for wildlife photography. Following that, you will join Rod on a tour vehicle in the park to practice your newly acquired skills.
Twilight Tour: This guided tour allows you to visit Fossil Rim at night and explore the scenic hill country of Texas. You can take part in an animal-knowledge test with your group and the park staff, and then go for a walk through the forest to enjoy the starlit surroundings.
Children’s Animal Center: The Children’s Animal Center is located at the Overlook, which is halfway through your drive. You can observe and compare the behavior of native and exotic animals, like black-footed cats and tortoises, with domestic animals like sheep and goats. You can also interact with some of the species that Fossil Rim is working to conserve and breed.
Hiking Trails: Visitors can take short hikes in the scenic Texan surroundings near the animal enclosures. The Texas Trail, which goes around the American Red Wolf enclosure, offers a chance to easily observe these animals if you remain quiet. Continuing a bit further, there is another serene trail called Mark’s Nature Trail, which is a short path with a reading nook in the center.
Nature Store: During your trip, make a brief stop at Fossil Rim’s Nature Store to take a break and buy various gifts and souvenirs suitable for people of all ages. The money you spend at the store, along with your entrance fee, will contribute to the continuous care and feeding of the animals at Fossil Rim.
Overlook Café: If you are feeling hungry after the first half of your exciting journey, then you can take a quick stop at Fossil Rim’s Overlook Café and grab a tasty bite while looking over the beautiful Texas terrain.
What animals will I see?
You can see over 1,100 species that are both native and non-native to the area. A few notable animals that you can look forward to seeing along your journey are giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, rhinos, ostriches, and several species of antelope and deer. The adorable giraffes I saw on my route were my personal favorite animal to see—and, to be honest, so was most everyone else’s!
Some Recommendations and Tips to Ensure You Have a Memorable Trip:
While there is no guarantee that you will be able to see every species on your checklist, there are some tips and tricks we can offer you that may help with that and more!
It is recommended to plan your trip during the morning hours for the best opportunity to view the animals.
To increase your chances of seeing certain species, it is advised to schedule your trips whenever the weather is nice out. You may be less likely to see the animals if the weather is predicted to be extremely cold or hot.
You cannot purchase additional feed for your trip, so you need to plan ahead. If you book a self-guided drive, you will get one free cone of feed for every five people once you check in. If you take a guided tour, each guest will receive a free cup of feed from the Environmental Engagement Guide.
It is strongly advised to buy your tickets on the Fossil Rim website before your planned visit to ensure that you can participate in the specific tour you want.
If you have any questions about the animals or the facility at Fossil Rim, you can use the Fossil Rim App to get information. The app can give you an estimate of the animal species you are looking at and provide interesting facts about them.
What is the affordability of Fossil Rim?
The cost of a self-guided tour for yourself and your friends will be $29.95 per person for individuals aged 12 or older. For public tours, individuals aged 3 and older will be charged a fee of $39.95 per person. The Children’s Animal Center, hiking trails, the Nature Store, and the Overlook Café are all available to the public without any cost, except for any purchases made there. The prices for other tours and activities may differ. You can learn more by going to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center website to purchase your tickets or learn more about the facility and its amenities.
How far away is Fossil Rim located?
Fossil Rim, which is situated in Glen Rose, Texas, is roughly a thirty to forty-minute drive from Tarleton. The drive to Fossil Rim is also an enjoyable trip, as you will be traveling through Texas’ gorgeous hill country and beautiful country land.
If you are a wildlife major at Tarleton then you have the chance to become an intern with Fossil Rim! Tarleton has a partnership with Fossil Rim that includes increasing opportunities for students to participate in internships, conducting research together, curating community education activities, providing professional development for staff, and more. A faculty member from Tarleton’s Department of Wildlife and Natural Resources will be located at a facility in Glen Rose, where they will provide classes and programs on caring for and managing zoo animals.
“Working at Fossil Rim has taught me the importance of animal conservation along with how that can not exist without our human education”
– Hayden Evans, a Fossil Rim employee and a Tarleton Wildlife, Sustainability, and Ecosystem Sciences major
