Caldwell Zoo in Tyler Texas

The Caldwell Zoo in Tyler

Tyler has a wide range of attractions to visit year-round for residents and tourists traveling to Tyler, including a regionally recognized zoo.

Caldwell Zoo History

Caldwell Zoo began in 1938 as a backyard menagerie of squirrels and parrots for schoolchildren built by David King Caldwell of Tyler.

Those simple beginnings have evolved into an 85-acre regionallly-recognized zoo containing more than 2,000 animals representing 250 species from East Africa, North America, and South America.

Caldwell Zoo Today

The zoo includes a children's petting pen, two aquariums, picnic areas, a café that overlooks an African savanna and gift shops with original African items. The zoo also has seasonal presentations including a bird show, alligator feedings, giraffe feedings, and elephant demonstrations.

Caldwell Zoo is open daily Mondays through Sundays, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

And the zoo continues to grow and evolve! It has been announced that the zoo's South American Region will undergo a complete transformation, including the addition of more animals. Construction is scheduled to start in early 2022, with plans to open the updated region in the spring of 2023.

Entrance area to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas

Caldwell Zoo Accreditation and Breeding Projects

As a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the Caldwell Zoo is an accredited institution, and participates in many breeding projects. Animals born at the zoo include giraffes, flamingoes, black rhinoceros, giant anteaters, and many others.

Caldwell Zoo Habitats and Exhibits

Waterfall at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler

Habitats and exhibits include:

African Savanna - three-acre African savanna featuring zebra, giraffe, kudu, warthog, ostrich, elephants, cheetah, and lions
North America
South America
African Aquarium
North American Herpetarium
Wild Bird Walkabout

Near the entrance to the zoo is a petting area with several very friendly goats that love children! Provided by the zoo are grooming brushes that kids can use to get up close to the animals.

Educational Opportunities at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler

The Caldwell Zoo provides many educational opportunities designed to enrich school curricula. Zoo summer camps are fun filled age-appropriate educational events. Activities at summer camp include animal information, time on zoo grounds, art activities, stories, games, songs and close encounters with touchable animals.

Caldwell Zoo also offers an excellent program for homeschoolers, including life science classes specifically designed for homeschool students. Classes include age-appropriate animal information, activities/experiments, games, crafts and time on zoo grounds. All Homeschool Happenings classes meet in the African Huts (across from the rhino house).

Visiting the Caldwell Zoo?

Find the best deal, compare prices, make reservations
and read what other travelers have to say about hotels in Tyler

Special Programs at the Caldwell Zoo

The Caldwell Zoo offers a variety of special programs through the year such as Endangered Species Day, Elephant Appreciation Day, Boo at the Zoo, Don't Step on a Bee Day, and many others. Contact the zoo for details and dates.

Location of the Caldwell Zoo

The zoo is located at 2203 Martin Luther King Boulevard (across from the U.S. Post Office), and can be reached at phone 903.593.0121. Free parking is provided for zoo visitors.

Map to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler

For More Information About the Caldwell Zoo

For hours of operation, ticket information, reservations, memberships and other details, we highly recommend you visit the official website of the Caldwell Zoo.