Looking for a quick summer getaway? Go on a photo safari from the air-conditioning of your car just 75 miles from Dallas.
Most of the 1,100 animals at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose roam freely across 1,800 acres of hills and pastures. Cheetahs are caged and the herd of eight rhinos are fenced, but others walk freely up to cars looking for handouts. I met a particularly itchy aoudad who was particularly happy to get scratched where his horns didn’t reach.
Fossil Rim is dedicated to saving endangered species. Among its most successful programs is with the Grevy’s Zebra, the largest and most endangered of the three zebra species. The park’s successful breeding program has produced one of the largest herds of this animal in the world.
While two momma zebras came right up to my car, their babies were playing right next to them. Another very pregnant one stuck her nose into my car.
The 9½-mile drive through Fossil Rim takes several hours. Halfway through, stop at the visitor center perched on the highest point in the preserve overlooking the area.
Because visitors can purchase feed at the entrance, addax and oryx, antelope and bontebok are looking for handouts. While many will eat out of your hand, most don’t really want more contact than that, although that itchy aoudad was happy to have his snout scratched.
Getting there: From Dallas, take US Hwy 67 through Glen Rose. Make a left at CR 2008. Fossil Rim is 1.3 miles down the road on the right. Fossil Rim is about 75 miles southwest of Dallas and about 55 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
DEETS: 2299 CR 2008, Glen Rose. Open daily 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. $17.95 Tues.–Thurs. $20.95 Mon. and Fri., $23.95 Sat.–Sun. through October. Off-season prices lower. Guided tours and overnight adventures available.
More photos below.
