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A Greater One-Horned Rhino soaks in the pool at the Fort Worth Zoo to cool off in June 2023. (Photo courtesy | Fort Worth Zoo)
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Don’t let the Fort Worth heat keep you from spending time outside, but be cautious. 

To ensure animals and plants at the Fort Worth Zoo and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden aren’t overly bothered by the heat, staff at both venues make modifications in the summer, including increasing time in shaded enclosures, cool pools and ice pops for the critters and planting heat-resistant flora. 

As precautionary measures for humans, both institutions are adopting earlier closing times while the heat ramps up in Cowtown. The temperature first reached triple digits this summer on June 23, according to Steve Sano, a meteorologist at National Weather Service Fort Worth.

“The hottest time of the day during this time of the year is 4-6 p.m.,” Sano said. “The ground has had time to heat up from the long exposure to the sun.”

A couple walks to the wooden bridge that overlooks the Japanese Garden on April 13, 2022. (Keren I. Carrión | KERA News)

The zoo and garden have taken into account the heat, adjusted their hours and included amenities to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for visitors this summer.

Admission and Ticket Details

Information from the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and Fort Worth Zoo websites list updated summer hours and ticketing information.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden summer hours and information:

8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Returns to regular hours Sept. 30

Last ticket sold at 2 p.m. 

Members get early admission at 7 a.m. 

Fort Worth Zoo summer hours and information:

9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends

Summer hours run from July 8 to Aug. 30 

Wednesday admission is half-price

Garden visitors can hydrate at water stations scattered throughout the grounds, said Dena Lewis, the public relations manager at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. 

Another amenity available to garden visitors is the Beauty Bus, the garden’s free air-conditioned shuttle service. The bus runs every half hour from 11 a.m. until closing time and stops at the Garden Center, the Japanese Garden and the Shelter House.

The zoo has water features, spray grounds and water misters, said Avery Elander, the director of marketing and public relations at Fort Worth Zoo. Mister fans are placed along the main paths at the zoo and in front of the animal habitats, she said. 

Safari Splash, the zoo’s splash pad, is open to visitors who have a valid zoo admission ticket for an additional price. The splash pad costs $6 for adults and children ages 3-12, $5 for members and no extra cost for toddlers ages 2 and younger.

Two lions lick an ice pop to cool down at the Fort Worth Zoo in April 2024. (Photo courtesy | Fort Worth Zoo)

Both the zoo and botanic garden allow visitors to bring in their own food and drinks. 

However, garden visitors can only picnic at North Vista, South Vista, East Vista, The Grove and under the oaks at the BRIT Geology Wall. 

As for the animals at the zoo, they have their own berry and meat ice pops to snack on, Elander said.

Visitors can take a break from the sunshine in various shaded areas throughout the garden and zoo. 

“You can find lots of shade in the garden even when it’s warm outside,” Lewis said. “The Japanese Garden is a really nice place to be when the temperature is high in the summer.”

Since the zoo is in a natural park area, there is plentiful shade and ample seating along the paths, Elander said.

Although the heat isn’t going anywhere this summer, you can still go to the Fort Worth Zoo and Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Just wear a hat and stay hydrated when you do.

Georgie London is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at georgie.london@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.