Frank Buck Zoo facts for kids
Frank Buck Zoo logo
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Zoo entrance (photo July 2010)
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| Date opened | Opened in 1930 at Fair Park, Gainesville and relocated to present site in 1962 |
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| Location | Gainesville, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates | 33°37′18″N 97°09′15″W / 33.621678°N 97.154203°W |
| No. of animals | 130+ |
| Annual visitors | 65,000 (2009) |
| Memberships | ZAA |
The Frank Buck Zoo is a fun and educational place to visit in Gainesville, Texas, United States. It first opened in 1930 and is located inside the 30-acre Leonard Park. This zoo is home to over 130 different animals from all around the world. It's a great spot to learn about wildlife and see amazing creatures up close!
Contents
History of Frank Buck Zoo
The Frank Buck Zoo has a long and interesting history. It started out very differently from how it is today.
How the Zoo Began
The zoo was founded in 1930 by a person named A. Morton Smith. Back then, it was called the Gainesville Community Circus. It opened at the Cooke County Fair in Fair Park, Gainesville. Imagine a zoo that was also a circus!
Changes and a New Name
In 1954, there was a fire at the zoo. This fire destroyed some of the circus equipment. After this, the animals were kept in their enclosures all the time. In the same year, the zoo got a new name: the Frank Buck Zoo. It was named after Frank Buck, who was a famous film actor and director. He was also from Gainesville and collected wild animals from all over the world. He even worked as a ringmaster at the zoo for a while!
Moving to a New Home
The zoo moved to its current location in Leonard Park in 1962. This new spot gave the animals more space and allowed the zoo to grow.
Honoring Frank Buck's Legacy
In March 2008, a special exhibit opened at the zoo. It's called the Frank Buck Exhibit. This exhibit shows items that once belonged to Frank Buck himself. His daughter, Barbara Buck, donated these items. You can see things like his camp tools and items from his movies.
Award-Winning Habitats
The Frank Buck Zoo is always working to make its animal homes better. In 2020, the zoo won an award from the ZAA. They received this award for their newly improved prairie dog enclosure. This shows their dedication to animal care.
What Animals Can You See at Frank Buck Zoo?
The Frank Buck Zoo has many different animals for you to discover. You can walk around the zoo on a path that is about a mile long. This path is easy to use for everyone, including those with strollers or wheelchairs.
African Savanna Experience
One of the cool parts of the zoo is an elevated walkway. This walkway goes over the areas where you can see Bennet's wallabies and swamp wallabies. It also goes over the African savanna exhibit. Here, you can see amazing animals like giraffes, common ostriches, helmeted guinea fowl, and Nubian ibex.
Feeding the Giraffes
A very special experience at the zoo is feeding the giraffes! From the elevated walkway, you can see the giraffes right at eye level. The zoo offers public feeding times every day, so you can get up close and give them a snack.
Animals from Around the World
Besides the savanna animals, the Frank Buck Zoo is home to many other species. You can find Asian small-clawed otters playing in their habitat. There are also beautiful Chilean flamingos with their bright pink feathers. Don't forget to look for the American black bears and many other fascinating creatures from different parts of the world!
