The Ellen Trout Zoo and Park – Lufkin, Texas
A Family-Friendly Activity Where Learning is Fun
Oct 30, 2009
Have you ever tried to find a family activity for your children who range in age from preschool to teenage? What interests preschool children, doesn’t always appeal to middle-graders or teenagers. A trip to the zoo can be one of those activities that children of various ages can enjoy. In Lufkin, Texas, the Ellen Trout Zoo and Park is one of those places that can fit the bill to provide something for everyone. Lufkin is located in southeast Texas 100 miles northeast of Houston, Texas. Admission tickets are reasonably priced at $5 for adults, $2.50 for children 4-11, and children under 4 are free. The zoo is located at 402 Zoo Circle.
Preschool Children and Middle Grade Children
One of the first attractions encountered after entering the park is the Z&OO Railroad. The train consists of an engine and three apple-red canopy-topped cars, which can seat a total of 40 children and adults. For $1, anyone aged four through adult can take a ten-minute train ride around the zoo and park grounds. Children under three ride free.
Middle grade aged children can usually recognize flamingoes who occupy a tropical setting of palm trees and a small rock-lined pool. Children squeal with delight when they recognize a Toco Toucan perched high on a limb inside a wire cage. He looks like the famous Toucan Sam in the cereal commercials. Children are amazed when they encounter peacocks strutting around the zoo grounds showing off their shimmering colors of gold, green, and yellow plumes.
Preteens and Teenagers
The Reptile House is of particular interest to pre-teens. The small building houses reptiles, birds, and small mammals. Two Komodo Dragons are housed in a glass enclosure. The sign above them said they were named Rajah and Jahat, which mean “King” and “Evil,” respectively. According to zoo personnel, Rajah and Jahat were captive hatched in 1998 at the Miami Metro Zoo, and DNA tests revealed both were males.
The snake house is a dimly lit room with a semi-circle of glass cages along the walls that houses different species of reptiles. The glass enclosures contain Reticulated Pythons, Southern Copperheads, Western Diamondback Rattlers, and a Boa Constrictor.
Teenagers seem to gather around enclosures that house Siberian Tiger, White Rhinos, and Maasii Giraffes. Signs posted around the enclosures inform visitors of the history or facts about the animals, such as the sign posted outside the White Rhinos enclosure stating they are on the endangered species list due to the black market trade for their horns, which are used in Chinese medicine and Yemen dagger handles.
Park benches are scattered throughout the zoo for those parents who get tired, and tables and chairs provide a quiet spot for lunch. The Ellen Trout Zoo and Park is a family friendly environment that provides entertainment no matter what age group. If you cannot visit Lufkin for a trip to Ellen Trout Zoo, check your local area for the nearest zoo for a tour.
The Ellen Trout Zoo and Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. This includes holidays and weekends.
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