About Austin Zoo
A quaint, non-profit rescue zoo with an old Austin vibe, offering families a natural, shaded environment to see rescued animals up close and enjoy a toddler-friendly train ride.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with toddlers seeking a manageable, quick zoo experienceVisitors who want to support animal rescue and conservation causesParents looking for a shaded, natural outdoor activityToddlers (perfect size for a 2-hour visit, enjoy the train ride and stroller-friendly pace)Young children (will love feeding the farm animals)
Why families love it
- Up-close views of rescued animals, including lions
- Feeding farm animals donated by 4H and FFA members
- A fun, small train ride perfect for toddlers
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Shaded seating areas and a natural, open-space feel
- Animal feeding area
Insider tips
- Avoid visiting on rainy days as the train ride closes and animals stay tucked away
- Rent an on-site stroller to help navigate the rough walking paths
- Plan for a relatively short visit of about 2 hours to see everything
- Expect some empty enclosures since it is a rescue sanctuary rather than a traditional zoo
Good to know before you go
- Rainy days
- Visitors with mobility issues or physical impairments due to the rough terrain
- Rough, difficult-to-walk paths that are challenging for strollers and those with physical impairments
- Several empty or closed exhibits due to vacancy or avian flu precautions
- Some exhibits are difficult to see into
- Value
- Worth the visit for a 2-hour afternoon trip that supports a great rescue cause, though some visitors may find the empty exhibits disappointing.
- Food
- Feed is available to purchase for feeding the farm animals
- Accessibility
- Stroller rentals are available on-site
- Safety
- Precautionary exhibit closures to protect birds from avian flu
What parents say
"My husband and I had the best time today! It was a rainy day, so some of the animals were tucked away, & although the train ride was out of commission for the same reason we still had a great time. We will definitely be back on a sunny day!"
a month ago
"This is a rescue zoo in what is still (for the moment) an isolated area on the outskirts of Austin. It is quite small in size and scale but have a friendly staff. Several of the exhibits were closed due to vacancy (it is a rescue zoo) but also out of an abundance of caution for avian flu which, while completely prudent, was a bit disappointing. There is a small train to ride that can be fun. My daughter enjoyed feeding the farm animals (they had been donated by 4H and FFA members who didn’t wish their animals to be slaughtered)"
3 months ago
"Quaint zoo with friendly staff and easy to see animals. Small but worth a visit. We spent 2 hours here with a toddler and felt like we saw everything. The train ride is a fun toddler activity. Stroller rental is available."
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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