ProRodeo Sports News - Nov.20, 2020

FORT WORTH ZOO While in historic Fort Worth, be sure to check out the 64-acre Fort Worth Zoo that is home to 7,000 native and exotic animals. Named the No. 1 zoo in North America this year by USA Today , the popular attraction houses more than 540 species including 72 species of mammals, 148 species of birds and 172 species of ectotherms. “Noteworthy animals found at the Fort Worth Zoo that are not in many other collections around the country include bonobos, Storm’s storks, harpy eagles, African crowned eagles, Jamaican iguanas, gharials and Komodo dragons,” said Avery Elander, assistant director of public relations at the Fort Worth Zoo. At the Toyota Children’s Ranch and Petting Corral guests can share space with animals found on ranchland and in the state of Texas. At Stingray Cove, visitors can touch and feed stingrays (and other small shark species), and at the African Savanna exhibit guests can meet and hand-feed giraffes. Elander said the zoo is undergoing a $100 million building project called “AWilder Vision” that will allow guests to observe and interact with animals like never before. “It will bring reimagined and renovated habitats to the zoo once complete,” she said. “Through the zoo’s education and conservation efforts, we are able to establish a bond between man and animal, and hopefully inspire guests to connect and protect our wild things and wild places.” All exhibits, merchandise and dining areas are open at the zoo, but it is operating at a reduced capacity. Visitors must purchase tickets online before arrival and masks are required for those 10 years and older at the zoo’s entry. For more information, visit www.fortworthzoo.org. RIVER LEGACY LIVING SCIENCE CENTER & PARK For those wanting to connect with nature while in Arlington, along the Trinity River lies a 1,031-acre forest park that includes more than 10 miles of biking and hiking trails, 28 kinds of trees and 400 species of animals. The lush area offers a large playground for kids and features a 12,000-square-foot nature center with aquariums, terrariums, interactive exhibits and a gift shop. “We have plenty of native animals and plants you can look at and learn about, and staff who love talking to the public and teaching about the animals,” said Christine Bartkowski, marketing coordinator at the River Legacy Living Science Center. “We have snapping turtles and fish that rotate in the aquariums, allowing you to see how different ecosystems work in Texas. A great segue is to take all of the information you’ve learned inside our nature center and then head into the park and see what you can find.” The River Legacy Science Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., reservations aren’t required. Admission is free, but there is a $3-5 fee to visit the center’s Discovery Room that includes a 30-foot interactive screen that enables guests to virtually visit woodland habitats and play games. In December, the room will offer a traveling exhibit called “The Art and Science of Arachnids.” “We’re going to have 100 live arachnids, including spiders and scorpions, that I promise will be enclosed,” Bartkowski said. “You will learn about arachnids’ place in society, why we should care about them and how they impact us.” The nature center includes unique displays such as a replica of the Devil’s Cigar, an extremely rare mushroom that can only be found in certain areas of Texas and Japan. “I think it’s incredible to find those hidden gems that you can learn about and then head into the park and experience them and see for yourself,” Bartkowski said. For more information, visit www.riverlegacy.org. SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS For thrill-seekers craving adrenaline-filled roller coasters or easy-going rides with the family, be sure to visit the original Six Flags in Arlington that opened in 1961. The 212-acre theme park has more than 40 rides, live entertainment shows and a variety of dining options. You can check out the world’s tallest swing ride, the Texas Sky Screamer, that will have you soaring at 35 mph, 400 feet above ground. Or get on the Titan roller coaster that stands 255 feet tall and reaches a speed of 85 mph with a 120-foot drop into an underground tunnel. Visitors can also enjoy classic, historic rides like the first-ever log flume (ride), the El Aserradero debuted in 1963, the Silver Star Carousel (1963) and the Runaway Mine Train (1966). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas.

Photo courtesy Fort Worth Zoo

Photo courtesy River Legacy Living Science Center

Photo courtesy Six Flags Over Texas

DEC. 3-12, 2020

ProRodeo Sports News 11/20/2020

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