America's 50 Must See Zoos

[aardvark250]

Texas - Moody Gardens

Founded: 1983
Size: 16 Acres (6.4 Hectares)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): 661
Mammals 20
Birds 68
Reptiles & Amphibians 94
Fish 395
Invertebrates 84

Founded by the wealthy Moody family on the Gulf of Mexico, today Moody Gardens is unrecognizable from its roots as an equestrian riding school and is now a full on hotel and theme park. That may initially turn off some zoo enthusiasts, but if you were to only visit the zoological elements on the grounds you would never be able to tell you're at a luxury resort. Three gigantic glass pyramids were opened in the 90s, with one centered around scientific displays and the other two dedicated to rainforest and aquatic environments. Despite essentially being attractions in a theme park, the pyramid exhibits are incredibly professional and avoid any sort of commercialism. The aquarium contains 1.5 million gallons of water, making it larger than many standalone facilities across the United States. There are the obligatory aquarium staples like an underwater tunnel and darkened jellyfish hall, and some more distinct highlights like a half-dozen penguin species on display in multi-leveled exhibits. The rainforest pyramid also has a lot to offer. The beautiful giant otter exhibit is a clear highlight being the only outdoor habitat on the grounds. An upper level of the building is a lush walkthrough rainforest with birds, fruit bats, and free-ranging white-faced sakis. Komodo dragon, ocelot and rarities like Malagasy giant jumping rat and blue duiker can also be found on the lower levels, as well as a nocturnal hall. An all indoor seal and sea lion enclosure is perhaps the only blemish on what’s otherwise a stellar series of displays across the pyramids, but with plenty of surrounding space there is potential to rectify this with outdoor habitats in the future.

Giant Otter Exhibit, @snowleopard

Caribbean Tank Tunnel, @geomorph

South Pacific Tank, @geomorph

Rainforest Aviary, @geomorph

Antarctic Penguin Exhibit, @geomorph

Zoochat Gallery:
Moody Gardens - ZooChat

Zoo Website:
Moody Gardens Galveston Texas | Hotel & Amusement Theme Parks | Houston Attractions | Family & Group Vacation Ideas TX

Zoo Map:
https://www.moodygardens.com/i/downloads/Property_Map.pdf

Now this is an interesting inclusion. Looks very nice both from inside and outside, although i hope im not the only one thinking of memphis bass pro shop pyramid.

 

[Coelacanth18]

Looks very nice both from inside and outside, although i hope im not the only one thinking of memphis bass pro shop pyramid.

Americans do like a good glass pyramid

I didn't realize Moody Gardens had that many penguin species and Malagasy giant rats! Maybe I'll find a way to get conveniently lost in the direction of the Gulf next time I'm in Texas...

 

[TinoPup]

Americans do like a good glass pyramid

I didn't realize Moody Gardens had that many penguin species and Malagasy giant rats! Maybe I'll find a way to get conveniently lost in the direction of the Gulf next time I'm in Texas...

It's a little hard to *accidentally* end up there, given it's another 50 miles past Houston, out on an island

That bass pro shop, though!

 

[Coelacanth18]

It's a little hard to *accidentally* end up there, given it's another 50 miles past Houston, out on an island

Don't overestimate me it's as easy as driving straight east and turning off Google Maps. I've driven the exact opposite direction I was supposed to before and didn't notice for a period of time nobody on here needs to specifically know... but long enough to be notable.

That bass pro shop, though!

I've thought multiple times about pulling off the freeway in Memphis to visit that Bass Pro shop, but given how people drive on that stretch I'm always too afraid that exiting the freeway there will also entail exiting life.

 

[CGSwans]

The great Atlantic cultural divide in a nutshell. Europeans see a big glass pyramid and think of the Louvre. Americans see it and think of a fishing shop.

 

[pachyderm pro]

The great Atlantic cultural divide in a nutshell. Europeans see a big glass pyramid and think of the Louvre. Americans see it and think of a fishing shop.

Louvre: no live animals

Bass Pro Shop Pyramid: has live animals

Bass Pro Shop > Louvre

I rest my case.

 

[TinoPup]

Don't overestimate me it's as easy as driving straight east and turning off Google Maps. I've driven the exact opposite direction I was supposed to before and didn't notice for a period of time nobody on here needs to specifically know... but long enough to be notable.

I've thought multiple times about pulling off the freeway in Memphis to visit that Bass Pro shop, but given how people drive on that stretch I'm always too afraid that exiting the freeway there will also entail exiting life.

I guess I'm navigating our late summer trip, then

I'm really curious about the live waterfowl collection the pyramid has, I can't find any info on it other than it exists.

 

[TinoPup]

The great Atlantic cultural divide in a nutshell. Europeans see a big glass pyramid and think of the Louvre. Americans see it and think of a fishing shop.

Can you go fishing in the Louvre? It also has a fancy hotel, spa, waterfowl museum, alligators, multiple restaurants... it's the 7th tallest pyramid in the world if you combine ancient and modern ones

 

[CGSwans]

Hey, I don’t have a dog in this fight. I’m Australian. We would probably want to split the difference by filling the Louvre with water, releasing Bass Pro’s alligators into it and using the Mona Lisa as a a wakeboard to dodge around them just for fun.

 

[Aardwolf]

I recently read a book in which the author described traveling the world. The two most underwhelming sites he saw in his travels were a) the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and b) the duck-billed platypus at Taronga Zoo. Both, he claimed, were much smaller and less impressive than he'd been led to believe.

 

[TinoPup]

I recently read a book in which the author described traveling the world. The two most underwhelming sites he saw in his travels were a) the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and b) the duck-billed platypus at Taronga Zoo. Both, he claimed, were much smaller and less impressive than he'd been led to believe.

They're both smaller than you'd think, but IMO that doesn't mean they're less impressive.

Personally, I'd skip the mona lisa, but that's because of my problems with crowds.

 

[CGSwans]

The Mona Lisa is nothing special. The crowd of people jostling to be able to see the Mona Lisa for a couple of seconds in between elbows to the face, however, is a sight to behold.

 

[twilighter]

I recently read a book in which the author described traveling the world. The two most underwhelming sites he saw in his travels were a) the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and b) the duck-billed platypus at Taronga Zoo. Both, he claimed, were much smaller and less impressive than he'd been led to believe.

Intresting What's the name of the book? I saw them both in a single year and in a way, both been amoung the top reasons for my travels. Needless to say, which one was more impressive I love the Louver, but if one looking for paintings in Paris, Musee d'Orsay is the place.

 

[pachyderm pro]

Washington - Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Founded: 1975
Size: 723 Acres (293 Hectares)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): 34
Mammals 21
Birds 8
Reptiles & Amphibians 4
Fish 0
Invertebrates 1

When designing zoo exhibits, sometimes less is more, and nowhere is that philosophy better proven true than this facility dedicated entirely to North American wildlife. Depending on the angle many of the enclosures don’t look like enclosures at all, rather slices of actual wild landscape. The most notable part of the park is the vast 435 acre drive-through portion with large herds of moose, elk, rocky mountain goat, bison, caribou, and several other North American hoofstock. It used to be an almost hour-long tram tour, but now you can use your own vehicle to navigate the area. The enclosures viewed on foot are just as remarkable. No need for expensive rockwork or thematic recreations, as simply fencing off a forested area is both cost effective and stunning. Habitats for bears, wolves and smaller cats are all among the best of their kind anywhere in the world with dense foliage and tall trees. There are also viewing areas at multiple different vantage points to make it easier to actually find the animals among the landscape. A hugely impressive bald eagle aviary was recently added and has a tunnel walkway through the middle of the exhibit. There are various small mammals as well including wolverine, American badger and fisher which are all uncommon in zoos worldwide. Among all of the large forest habitats, don’t miss out on a modest discovery center that has some unique herps and invertebrates, banana slugs being the most significant thing to note. Big or small, Northwest Trek is consistently brilliant in all aspects.

Drive-through Enclosure, @snowleopard

American Black Bear Exhibit, @Pleistohorse

Canadian Lynx Exhibit, @Ituri

Bald Eagle Aviary, tinybeans.com

American Bison in Drive-through Enclosure, @Pleistohorse

Zoochat Gallery:
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park - ZooChat

Zoo Website:
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park - native Northwest animals in Eatonville, WA

Zoo Map:
https://www.nwtrek.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NWTmap_2020_web.jpg

 

[aardvark250]

The great Atlantic cultural divide in a nutshell. Europeans see a big glass pyramid and think of the Louvre. Americans see it and think of a fishing shop.

I'm neither European or American. Yet I saw a big glass pyramid I think of Memphis bass pro pyramid. Interpret that however you want.

 

[aardvark250]

Washington - Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Founded: 1975
Size: 723 Acres (293 Hectares)
Species & Subspecies (On and Off Exhibit): 34
Mammals 21
Birds 8
Reptiles & Amphibians 4
Fish 0
Invertebrates 1

When designing zoo exhibits, sometimes less is more, and nowhere is that philosophy better proven true than this facility dedicated entirely to North American wildlife. Depending on the angle many of the enclosures don’t look like enclosures at all, rather slices of actual wild landscape. The most notable part of the park is the vast 435 acre drive-through portion with large herds of moose, elk, rocky mountain goat, bison, caribou, and several other North American hoofstock. It used to be an almost hour-long tram tour, but now you can use your own vehicle to navigate the area. The enclosures viewed on foot are just as remarkable. No need for expensive rockwork or thematic recreations, as simply fencing off a forested area is both cost effective and stunning. Habitats for bears, wolves and smaller cats are all among the best of their kind anywhere in the world with dense foliage and tall trees. There are also viewing areas at multiple different vantage points to make it easier to actually find the animals among the landscape. A hugely impressive bald eagle aviary was recently added and has a tunnel walkway through the middle of the exhibit. There are various small mammals as well including wolverine, American badger and fisher which are all uncommon in zoos worldwide. Among all of the large forest habitats, don’t miss out on a modest discovery center that has some unique herps and invertebrates, banana slugs being the most significant thing to note. Big or small, Northwest Trek is consistently brilliant in all aspects.

Drive-through Enclosure, @snowleopard

American Black Bear Exhibit, @Pleistohorse

Canadian Lynx Exhibit, @Ituri

Bald Eagle Aviary, tinybeans.com

American Bison in Drive-through Enclosure, @Pleistohorse

Zoochat Gallery:
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park - ZooChat

Zoo Website:
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park - native Northwest animals in Eatonville, WA

Zoo Map:
https://www.nwtrek.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NWTmap_2020_web.jpg

Wow two zoos i basically have no knowledge in a row. That place looks huge! Reminds me of some european wildpark (especially the 2 forest photos)

 

[birdsandbats]

I'd never even heard of the Memphis Bass Pro Pyramid before now, and I'm an American.

 

[MGolka]

The Memphis Bass Pro Pyramid used to be a basketball arena where the Memphis University basketball team played, as well as the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies until the FedEx Forum was built. After those teams relocated to the new building, that's when Bass Pro moved in to repurpose the arena.

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Am I unique in considering a specific trip one day to see Banana Slug?

 

[CMP]

I guess I'm navigating our late summer trip, then

I'm really curious about the live waterfowl collection the pyramid has, I can't find any info on it other than it exists.

I visited the Pyramid this past December, and all I saw were two pairs of ruddy ducks. The fish collection is fantastic, with many massive and impressive catfish, gars, and sturgeons, but there is essentially zero signage for identification.