Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville
Categories
Location on the map
Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas, US
Accessibility
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
Phone: +1 956-546-7187
Site: http://gpz.org/
Site: http://gpz.org/
Opening hours
- Monday:9AM–5PM
- Tuesday:9AM–5PM
- Wednesday:9AM–5PM
- Thursday:9AM–5PM
- Friday:9AM–5PM
- Saturday:9AM–5:30PM
- Sunday:9AM–5:30PM
Comments (199)
Did not see alot of animals. Idk if its because of remodeling going on or if the animals are gone. Or maybe it was too hot for them to come out. We were there 2 hours and the best thing my son said was feeding the giraffe. I remember back in the 80s and 90s, we always saw animals everywhere you looked. Where are the elephants? Please make a larger area for lions. It is way too small.
They have a wide variety of animals. The exhibits are large, clean and have natural looking settings. It is a good sized zoo, but not too big for children to walk it with their families.
We were surprised how close you can get to the animals. The park is well kept up the bathrooms were clean. The staff was very helpful and friendly.The primates seem to have a good amount of babies. It was neat seeing them getting carried around.All of my posted photos were done without zoom.
This place is rich and fantastic...Its a must if youre in the area... love it.Note: Like most zoos, it should look for ways to increase the area it allows it its largest roamers.
Nice zoo, very clean. Lots of animals to see. Not a bit crowded. Staff friendly and helpful
I loved the zoo. The animals are well fed and happy. Clean restrooms and environment. It was beautiful.
We have season passes so we can go whenever we want, the zoo is always clean staff is always nice..
Very impressive for a smaller zoo. Really enjoyed our visit. Hippocampus,rhinoceros, minkeys, lemurs, lions, tigers, and more.
They have a very large variety of animals. It is well spaced out and was very fun. We saw them feed a snake. It was an excellent experience for a family. The animals are lively and healthy. I would visit early.
This is the only Zoo Ive ever gone to in my entire life, and I will never get tired of it. Theres so much to do and see. I 100% recommend this Zoo.
Beautiful experience, have plenty of animals, the zoo looks small from the outside but its really big in the inside, we loved it! They need to get the bear a partner though 😪 he/she was really lonely
A surprisingly pleasant experience a a clean well operated zoo! One of the best Ive been in.
Gladys Porter Zoo is in Brownsville, Texas...it is considered one of the largest and best Zoos in America...If you need assistance in walking there are golf carts to rent...It is a long way to walk but wonderful to see all the animals, birds, reptiles, etc! Plenty of Restrooms, benches, and food stops along the way .
Need more animals due to habitat updates and cleaning. Heat made alot of outdoor exhibit animals hide and or not be present. Alot of variety and indoor exhibits are fun. Need more under the shade tables since it is a lot of walking. Had a great experience over all.
Overall great experience. Some of the animals were not in there exhibit. They do have a pregnant monkey,pretty cool. Lots of different types of monkeys. Parking is $5
Great experience. Not many people, not too hot and got to see majority of the animals out.
Very different from San Antonio zoo, this place is a lot more intimate. The cage free designs and landscaping make this a lot of fun.
An amazing place with amazing staff. I’ve been going there since I was a child. Many improvements to come. It’s a must see!
I loved my visit! Thank you very much for a positive experience! I thank the staff for being helpful! Excellent zoo!
So much fun! We just went and we loved it. There is also a tiny waterpark which makes things better especially in the hot weather! Totally enjoyed today.
Very beautiful place we had a wonderful time. All the animals were out and active and the place was very clean.
Awsome place love tontske my kids to have a walk, need a lot of remodeling but is still cool
We had an absolute fantastic time at the zoo. The weather started of a bit crummy but quickly became enjoyable. The various exhibits are nicely done and we all enjoyed seeing and observing the animals present. Having the gorillas right there at the front was an amazing way of kicking off the tour. We would love to come back when more exhibits are open.
What a beautiful Sunday it turned out to be... It was nice cool and cloudy.. The zoo was awesome and clean and it was packed of people and certain parts of the zoo are closed. That didnt matter much.The zoo is very special place. It feels good that they still take care of zoo.. If you can always make a donation of any size to help the animals. Happy Health to all...
Its a great place to go with your kids. Everything was pretty clean and people werent crowded so we were actually able to walk around without a mask. There is also a great water park about halfway through where kids can go and cool down. I do wish they had more food places open but it was still a great visit.
The place is really amazing, the zoo is clean and there is a variety of animals to see, and there are animals you can touch and see up close like the giraffe or stingray.I highly recommend you to come to this Zoo, you will not be disappointed.
Excellent experience at GPZ! Lots of well thought out exhibits and clean grounds. Will be back soon!
Fun times,my wife thinks its better then the zoo we usually got to
I will never stop enjoying Gladys Porter Zoo, been coming here since I was lil and now bring my kids every time there’s a chance and they really enjoy this!!!
The week was cold but the day we went to the zoo it was warm and we seen sunshine but it was still to chilly for some animals. Many signs said too cd fir animals to come out. The big animals were out and the monkeys were swinging. Very nice layout of Zoo. Worth going to and seeing all animals. They love to see human species of all kinds.
We’ve been here many, many times , but being here today I saw there was a lot of opportunity for growth and improvements . First the members only office was closed at 9am , so no way to renew my membership as I got there, We walked around to the main entrance to see huge lines with regular zoo patrons and school children all lined up one behind the other, waiting to get in ( social distancing anyone?) as I waited 30-40 minutes to get in there was no route to follow to accommodate social distancing, so we tried our best to do so, Also noticed hand washing stations were gone , which is sad because, we all know those are needed pandemic or not most of the employees working the grounds with no “vaccinated pin” were not wearing masks or social distancing , which in their website they claim to do. As far as the animals , they were tending to several of the animal enclosures so silver back gorillas weren’t available I presume till they were done and the Orangutans were also missing in action . The zoo food places were fully stocked and tended with friendly employees and the zoo gifts store was very clean , full stocked employees were wearing masks and masks are required when inside the shop . Some might ask why is masking still important? It means the difference between life or death for some of us that are immunocompromised , and we gotta get out and live life too you know? Gladys porter zoo is an important part of the community and a place where a lot of people gather, hope they can improve on some very basic rules to keep EVERYONE safe.
Indoor exhibits are marked off with orange tape to keep distance from Glass and people, hand sanitizer are available by the doors before enteringexhibits. Visiting during a weekend early morning helps beat the crowd. Giraffe feeding opens at 10/10:30am, the playground by the butterfly exhibit is now open for kids and the petting zoo is now open. A handful of photo op statues and scenery. As a local, If you plan on visiting more than 2x with fam, your better off pirchasing the family year round passes.
Definitely can spend 3 hours here theres so much to see and lots of food and bathrooms around
My family and I loved it! We went on a Wednesday around 1pm, it was perfect because it was not too busy. Its a beautiful zoo. My 4yr old loved the park and the giraffe feeding.
Beautiful small zoo. Nice and shady with all the apes and monkeys your heart could want. Lovely meandering pathways with animals on beautiful islands setup for their needs. Bring cash to park!
Most negative reviews of this zoo are several years old and this zoo has greatly improved. They have expanded several exhibits that used to be crowded and have one of the best Herpetariums I have seen. I saw 2 issues while there (coins in water areas and sad looking goats). When I brought this to managements attention they seemed responsive which is great. The park itself was clean and easy to navigate.
Such a wonderful place to visit.A must for anyone visiting deep south Tx.Well kept and happy animals, even the ones that dont live at the zoo.Whole family ages 45 to 10 loved it.
Very beautiful i had a blast with my family were 8 in total i wanted to see a tiger up close really had alot of fun and very good lemonade! NICE WORK you guys did with this place!
I was very impressed at the amount and variety of animals at this small zoo. It was also very clean and lots of restrooms and snack options. I wasn’t thrilled about the mask mandate since we were outside but it is what it is. The kids enjoyed themselves and that’s what it’s all about!
Had a great time with family! Beautiful zoo!
Beautiful bird selection. Open spaces and great Mantainance.
Good time with our friends, would certainly suggest going (Winter Texans) when school is in season . . .
I visited this zoo back in 1976 on a trip from Canada - escaping our winter!! I was blown away with the cage free set up and water everywhere! A bird got picked up by a gust of wind and became a lite lunch for the lion! Quite a disruption in the lay back feeling of this zoo! Handled well by the staff - didnt expect that! Love love this unique zoo - well planned - and definitely never getting this in Canada - way too bad! Always telling people to go here if they are in Texas which Canadians seem to love!! Wishing to return one day!! Just great experience🥰
Nice trip we only paid $4 for all 4 of us due to they had a special going on a nice way to spend some time with the kids. Its like $5 to feed the giraffe or $3 I cant recall.
Great visit with family. You almost need all day, so much to see!
Excellent place and my grand children has a blasted watching the monkeys.
VERY great place to go with people of any age!! Great for teaching children about animals, and their different habitats, the food they eat, etc. And for the zoo, I was wondering, do you guys give the turtles water? It was a hot day when I went there and I had looked around the turtles area and didnt see any water. Do you guys have a schedule-like thing to give them water? Because I feel like on hot days, you should give them atleast more water than regular. Thats all for my review, if you havent been and have any questions, please ask me!!! Ill be happy to answer them ( I have the membership and I totally recommend buying it for the summer!!)
What an amazing place! We were delighted at the array of animals we encountered here, many of them up close! Even though it was a little cold, the animals were very active and were ready for pictures. This is a great place for people of all ages...ENJOY! 💯
All good!, great family time!, this April 2022 We could see the butterflies and the aviary zone open. Also has a playground area with one water shooter for the kids to be refresh in the summer!!!...Animals looks in good conditions. Wild ducks and manybother birds land there for water and food.
It was great. Anyone visiting the area should visit
Covid has definitely made this place a bit harder to go and enjoy, some people just dont get the social distancing minimums. We continued to have this couple with their out of control kids bumping into us enough that I almost blew a fuse. We stood aside and let them rush away and the experience was not tarnished. We purchased yearly pass and this place is huge and the price of admission is nothing compared to what you get in return. We loved it and we will go again and again. I hadnt been there in over 20+ years!! Jesus Im getting old hahaha 😅
This is a beautiful place to visit. It never gets old. Lots of fun for the entire family.
May not be the grandest but memories are made regardless. Plenty to enjoy with the family!
Today we had a chance to see all the animals being fed
Cool medium sized zoo that serves the Rio Grande Valley. Gladys porter zoo has endured a lot even trough the Corona virus epidemic and I am so proud of them. There was a few closures with a couple areas but thats understandable. We had fun with this last visit. Only two food areas were open but they still served the full list. We will definitely return for the new Otter area scheduled to open April of 2021.
Awesome!! Sooo many animals! Kids had a blast!
Went for the 1st time in 2 years. The concessions and giftshop stayed open late this particular day (Friday). People working there werent to friendly though. They shouldnt stay open if employees are gonna have a rude attitude.
Going to the zoo is always exciting for all ages. This zoo has done a great job with all the inhabitants but i do miss not seeing some and the petting area. Hoping ut comes back. Thanks for keeping the snack areas open until almost closing time . I usually get really thirsty to the end. I love the store it has alot more items and it has expanded. Great job Brownsville zoo and all its employees. Then after go enjoy the kids museum across the street and park. Also thx for not raising your parking prices. It is pricey to go in but for the nice family time its worth it.
Love the zoo and how close you can get to the animals. They have splash areas for kids and just anyone looking to cool off. They have good food and drinks reasonably priced.
It was a nice time.. not to crowded. Would definitely recommend it for a family day or a day to enjoy nature.
Fun, nice zoo. Animals were active despite the weather. Covid restrictions closed some interesting parts of the zoo. However I wish they had more authority over people following covid restrictions. Saw way too many people without masks.
I attended the Ocelot festival and was extremely pleased with the turnout, the active participation, the speakers, and the zoos new ampitheatre!! I enjoyed my time walking and appreciative of the beauty of the wildlife and habitats and even managed to drink a couple of cold beers over in the Pizza place in the Tropical America area of the zoo. Grab a membership!
One star is still too much. Wish I could give 0! My sister and I come to the zoo 4 times a month and are members and always give donations in the entrance, at the concession and the gift shop but our membership had expired so we went to the front of the gates where you pay for your tickets. I honestly felt like I was at the airport. They asked if we had food or beverages. We said no. We only had water and some candy where we had just come from the mall and they were like can we see. We had to open our purses and show proof of what our purses contained. Wow! I was made to go all the way back to my car and leave the candy in the car . I felt like a convict having my purse checked and I felt like we were the only ones because in the zoo I saw people eating candy chips and stripes sodas that they dont sell at the zoo. So why did I have to walk allllll the way back to my car leave my CANDY and others had the priveladge to drink and eat theirs. I Dont know if these are new guidelines but if they are I think its time my sister and I spend our day off doing something else . I had already paid for our tickets and donation but if I hadnt I would of just left the zoo. Our trip to the zoo was made miserable by the two girls at the front booth just for a small box of candy that I forgot I even had from our visit at the mall. Dont think we will be going back where we have been members for 5 years. ☹️
This was an amazing experience.My family and I visited for the first time and were so impressed.There are so many friendly animals to see, unlike other zoos that Ive gone too the animals were most interactive here .It was truly a fun experience.
All exhibits were open finally got to see giraffes 🦒
Zoo was fun but unfortunately a lot of stuff was shut down due to covid. My son was really looking forward to the petting zoo. I never saw anywhere that it was closed. Also wish the animal feedings were on the weekdays.
We visited from out of town. Cute zoo overall. Many of the animals werent out unfortunalty and none of the experiences were active. The only food that seemed available right at lunch time was Dippin dots where a very rude staff member seemed annoyed and too busy playing with his pocket knife to care much about helping us.
We had an enjoyable visit, all wearing masks (shame we still had to wear them outside but those were the rules at the time). Some of the animals seemed extremely cramped, like the kangaroos, who were packed into a tiny area with barely any room to jump. Some exhibits were empty (no cassowary birds which Id been hoping to see). The elephant in the room is that there isnt an elephant but I knew that upfront.That being said, it was fun to feed the giraffes (still permitted) but not currently allowed to feed the stingrays. The flamingos were a surprising favorite of ours.
This place needs serious updating to accommodate the large crowds. Snack bars had an hour wait. This was the case pre-pandemic as well. Lots of exhibits without animals. It was clean throughout. Restrooms were also clean. The hands on exhibits have no animals.
Perfect place to take children for a beautiful and educational walk. A nice way to help their love for animals and nature grow.
I had a wonderful time. It had been a while since I came to the zoo, but it was like going back to my childhood. Seeing all of the amazing animals and loving Gods creations. Great experience for the whole family. Please consider donating to the zoo so that they may continue care for the beautful animals.*updated pictures*
Pretty good zoo, just no concession stands were open and quite a few animals were missing from their habitat. I recommend to bring drinks ahead of time, and some snacks. :)
We were visiting for the weekend and it was awesome. Super Hot but the Zoo was a great distraction for my Son. Zookeeper were awesome when interacting with the animals.
I remember going to the zoo 30 years ago. Some things are exactly the same, but there are some excellent updates. I had a great time with my kids and their school class.
Brew at the Zoo was awesome. I would highly highly recommend it...the overall zoo is very good and having been to dozens of other zoos in other states I feel lucky to have this zoo in my backyard.
Big zoo ai never been a big fan of zoo because of animals being cage up but with that said all the animals look healthy and well feed the zoo was bigger than I expected lots of different animals fish and diversity it was very clean and well maintained definitively a place to visit while in Brownsville
Awesome experience at this zoo. Plenty of animals and learming experiences. Staff kept the park open later for guests who arrived close to closing. Thank you!
I just wish the animals would interact more they kinda looked bored
Great zooThis is the best place to bring friends, families, siblings, your boyfriend and girlfriend. Its a small zoo but its still pretty good but I still dont understand why guests keep disobeying rules everywhere I go such as the reptile house, australian building, etc every time I see anyone doing those things I always correct them and say please dont tap glass, or harass, the animals!!, Im not trying to cut zoo guests off Im being kind and respectful in order to get these people to stop. Its very annoying dont do that!!! It makes me upset, if these visitors are gonna continue disobeying the rules, Im going to report and get them banned to not see the animals anymore if they keep causing animal abuse throughtout the zoo. Mistreating endangered animals at the gladys porter zoo is not allowed!!! Dont tap glass, do not tease, or harass exotic wildlife, its simple to do!!!
My favorite place. Try going different times on different days, we have different experiences as we found the animals are either more active, playful and relaxed. Ive only heard the Lion roar once and it shook me.. Ill never forget it. Get your lunch there.. The concessions have so many items I still havent tried them all. Best cheese burgers in town for sure...sorry Whataburger youre second place.
This is a wonderful small zoo that has everything you could want. The orangutans are fun and the young ones seemed to enjoy interacting with people. We saw rhinos wrestling for a mud hole. The last time at the zoo we saw a baby giraffe born. They dont allow food in but the do sell decent food inside the zoo. You can get pretty close to most of the exhibits and see the animals great. The parking lot is small but i have never had a problem finding a spot. The have a wonderful playground in the back of the park the water effects in the summer.
Loved it! So many animals to see. Love the variety of birds. Totally worth the trip.
My Son just turned 2 and he loved the zoo. The weather was very nice in the morning, all the animals were all out and he loved feeding the giraffes.
We are members of the Gladys Porter Zoo. We love the fact we get free parking and being able to go through the side entrance.The love how easy it is to go visit for the day with the kids. Zoo employees are always so kind and helpful.
My first time here and what a fantastic day. The weather was perfect, the animals were active, the facility was clean, and the staff was incredibly kind and professional. I have visited zoos in 8 States. And this was the best single day at the zoo Ive ever had.
Awesome place to visit. Lots to see, very clean,hospitable. Great for the entire family. I would highly recommend this zoo to gardens and family.
We went to Gladys Porter Zoo beautiful place to spend with your family love it thank you for your support in all my pictures in maps good morning God bless you today and always take care beautiful lovely people👍🌞🌿🍀🌹🦋🌹🌷🍷🌷🌹🦋🌹☘🌿🌞👍
It was a nice small zoo with reasonable entry fees. all staff members we interacted with were friendly and knowledgeable and excited to share info with you. there were quite a few empty exhibits with no reasoning behind it. some were under construction but most were not. there were a few animals clearly mislabeled in the nursery section. petting zoo was fun. all animals that we did see seemed healthy and happy and we were very happy to spend a few hours here. we will definitely return here for a visit the next time we are in town.
I’m a veteran and on the page where it said that it’s 3$ for each person in that your with . I strongly recommend that they make a clear statement about the actual discounts. I’m highly disappointed in this zoo would not recommend. And would request a refund for false advertisement
Always a good place for a quick getaway from everyday reality. Always friendly staff and service. Plenty of shaded areas and it was clean throughout the whole zoo.
Good place for the fam. Entrance not to bad i price. But they should be cleaning the park more. Lots of weeds on grounds. To many cages looked broken or outdated. To many cages empty. Some of the animals just looked out of place not natural. Small took less then 2 hrs to walk.
Visiting our local zoo is always a pleasure! It is well taken care of and the animals make the show. Prices are reasonable for a fun time. Great for everyone!
For out of town folk this is a good place to take your family for a fun time. It has an assortment of animals and a souvenir shop. For locals our zoo is the same, it does have Otters now and it will soon have African Dogs, but still a fun place to distract the mind from the same routine.
Great zoo! Was expecting it to be so-so, but it was alot bigger than youd expect. Great variety of animals and they even have an aquatic area and a reptile house. Definitely worth the yearly membership if you have a family, it will pay for itself after a few visits.
Been coming here since I was a child. I love zoos period but this is the prettiest most well kept zoo that Ive been too. Animals are all super happy and healthy. Its so very clean. Its well worth the trip each and everytime.
Best zoo ever. Been coming here since I was little. I was so happy to share it with my grandchildren for the first time this year.
We love this zoo. The bathrooms are super clean. The staff is friendly. Concessions are easy to find and lots of food choices. It was kinda cool today so not all the animals came out to play . But that’s ok we have a yearly pass.
Awesome zoo. Lots to see. They need more parking
My family enjoyed the zoo. It was a great day, not too hot nor cold. Food was reasonably priced. Overall our trip to the zoo was great! The dinosaur exhibit was an awesome tour and a good introduction to other types of animals.
My wife and I had a great time, we went early on a weekday so we had the whole place to ourselves. Most, if not all of the food vendors were closed so I cant speak to any of that.We really enjoyed seeing the variety of animals, especially being able to pet the manta rays. They were so friendly, they instantly swam up to you once they saw your hand near the water.Overall we had a great experience.
I go there about twice a year and it seems every time I go over place looks a little bit more dilapidated than the previous but the place does run mostly on charitable contributions and well, that really is our fault isnt it. That aside, it really should be appreciated for being one of the best places to take your kids or, just yourself for a leisurely stroll. The animals always look well kept, well fed, and to a certain point - happy.
Great zoo! Its big so theres lots to see. Although we didnt see any butterflies in the butterfly exhibit, but thats okay.
Much larger than expected. Lots of animals from all over the world. Went on a Wednesday and none of the food stands were open. Lots of golf cart traffic from workers and even a truck on the main walkways which was annoying. Run down in some areas. Kids had fun.
This is an amazing zoo. A wide range of animals from all over the world. When I took my family there all the animals were very active. It helps that we got there when the zoo opened for the day so it wasnt too hot. That is probably the best time to go. South Texas is really hot during the day during the summer. I highly recommend going to this zoo. We love it there.
Very nice and well designed. There were many exotic animals. Best to visit during cooler temperatures.
I really enjoyed the time here. The animals look healthy and well taken care of.Theres a huge variety. From snakes, to bats, giraffes, lions and acuatic animals too.I like the fact that you can interact with some animals. They have a place where you can let goats and a bull. You can feed giraffes and also you can let rays!!!The gift shop is overpriced, as if it was sea world or something! That wasnt good.Also something negative, some spaces are not very handicapped friendly.
I visited when they had a South valley special so I got in for 3 dollars! Im not sure what the normal price is but it was very fun, the animals where awake and playing, they where selling pop cycles and that helped keep us cool from the sun, they are a little expensive however, it was like 3 dollars each, they also had ice cream and snack places. The gift shop doesnt have a lot of cool things and they are kind of expensive too, but over all it was pretty fun.
Always have a fantastic time here at the zoo. There is a WIDE variety of animals, reptiles, and fish to see. We especially like the aquarium experience and the sting ray touching tank. The kids go crazy for that, especially feeding them, the Giraffes, and the fish. Make a fun day for your kids and take them to Gladys Porter Zoo. You will be glad you did. Enjoy!!!
They provided the venue for a girl Scout Event. It was beautiful
Such a fun time with great animals to see! One trip wont cover it all, we will desinatly come back for repeat visit
Im pretty biased about this place. I grew up with it. Were talking about early 1980s. It was only a matter of time before I brought my baby girl here. She loved it, too, by the way. The weather was favorable and it was a school day so there were very few people. If you are from out of town you have to make time for it.
I love visiting the Brownsville Gladys Porter Zoo! All animals look in well conditions and the zoo staff are very friendly! Make sure to leave a donation for these beautiful animals so we can continue the enjoyment of visiting our local zoo & learning about all the different species.🌿
The zoo was lots of fun but some of the exhibits were closed. Overall though it was a fun family trip.
Love this zoo. The animals are not caged they are in great shape, available to see, and plentiful. Been twice now, both times have been wonderful.
Love coming here with my friends. The adults can enjoy this place as much as the kids with plenty of exciting activities and special exhibits. Food and drinks are fairly priced. And they typical have deals if you check before going! We always love going to their aquatic exhibit ❤️
Nice small zoo. Good time. Wish we would have gotten the name of the man (zoo worker) who came by and started talking to the gorilla. He clearly really cared for the animals and knew them by name, was proud of them and was willing to share their stories with anyone who would listen. I do wish some of the animals had more room like the tiny pony in the petting area and some others. But again, it was a smaller zoo and Im sure it is a funding issue. As for a patron it is an enjoyable time. I didnt find the prices too outrageous. The gift shop and food and drink stand people were pleasant as well. There is a small aquarium area where you can pet stingrays with a washing station.
This zoo is an absolute blast! There is a lot of animals. Ranging from Southeast Asian, Australian, African, North and South American.The staff is friendly.There are a lot of refreshment areas to cool off during the days of summer.Also there is a gift shop with a lot of cool little things to bring home.Lastly, there are playgrounds and activities for all ages such as touching Rays, feeding giraffes, and a aquarium with a bug center!
I was a little disappointed with the upkeep of the zoo. Not worth all the money spent tbh..But it was ok for a little getaway...plan other things to do because its a short tour. Employees were rude..not friendly. Except for the young lady whom works with the large tortoise exhibit...she was very friendly and knowledgeable. I thank you for your time and help.
One of the best zoos I have ever been to! Everything is really well taken care of and nearly all of the animals were able to be seen! So many different species to be seen of the same animal and many different animal feedings are offered. The zoo looks small from the outside, but be prepared to spend an entire day, if not more, there!
We had a blast at the zoo.
Had a great time reliving the experience of going and now with my grandson, he loved seeing the animals and hope we get to go back once all the exhibits are open again. Pandemic is really hurting all places, even the zoo..
Very nice zoo! The Gorillas were amazing to see! The best part was the hands on feeding the giraffe! The giraffe came close and the kids were able to pet! The 17 foot crocodile was another really neat one to see in real life! Great place for making family memories! Food was also good and reasonable prices! We will be going back in tbe near future!
The experience, as always, has been fun and engaging! We all (children and adults alike) learn so much with every visit, and this time of year (October) has nice temperatures!
Hand sanitizer in each exhibit also there is a limit how many ppl can enter them. No playground or other stuff opened. Still fun for the kiddos.
Very nice experience and my daughter loved it for her birthday! Zoo is kept nice and clean and the animals are kept comfortably with sufficient space.
Quite a lot of varieties of animals, and very unique arrangement of animal exhibits compared to other zoos I have visited. Lots of the exhibits were set up as islands surrounded by moats, which brought in other wildlife like ducks, turtles, fish as nice backdrops for main attractions.
What a beautiful zoo!! Such an amazing array of animals, hugs, snakes, and Marine life. My entire family thoroughly enjoyed this zoo and will be back next time we are in Texas!!Do yourself a favor if you go to Brownsville or surrounding areas (SPI, Port Isabel, etc), take the trip to this zoo!! You wont be disappointed!
Great place the animals look healthy and well taken care of and eat and clean. I was like to see lots to do and the foliage was beautiful butterflies everywhere
Very fun and amazing place. It helped me be less afraid of bats and had a wide variety of splendid, amazing animals.
I love going here with my little kids. There is a small water park to cool off in. I only wish there were more seats to rest during the trek around the zoo. Food and drinks are obviously overpriced.
Its not the largest zoo, but there are plenty of animals and creatures to see!As of writing, there is construction going on for for exhibits and expansion of some areas, so some portions of the zoo have tubes and fences put up.Sadly, I didnt notice any shows or feeding times, the zookeepers mostly went about their day. I do recommend trying to go during the off hours and on a cool day. Youll have the park to yourself and the animals will be much more active!
Ive always loved gng to Zoo since inwas a kid.. now i buy yealry pass and take my kids, so they may enjoy it as Much as I do
It was great and beautiful. My mother who is 90 years old enjoyed it so much, it was the first time she had gone. My little nephew enjoyed it also, especially the robotic dinosaurs. Lots of shade and the misters keep you cool its near the palapa and its so cool there. The exhibits with air condition are great. The lion was my favorite.
IT WAS PACKED BUT EVERYONE WAS WEARING THERE MASKS N HAND SANITIZER EVERYWHERE N PPL WERE COUNTED TO GO IN EXHIBIT OVERALL MY GRANDKIDS HAD A BLAST FIRST TIME AT ZOO
Adding my 5 star review. What a fabulous zoo. YOU CAN FEED GIRAFEES HERE!!! The monkeys were all very active, the staff were all very engaging with my curious kids. We also loved the splash pad and the playground. Its very smartly placed halfway through the zoo. A very enjoyable day.
We love going to see the animals at the zoo my kidos enjoy seen the monkeys n. All the animals they love the xmas lights at the zoo was really nice n pretty really recommend to enjoy time with the fam n have a nice family day
Good Points:Affordable entry, Loads of animals, shady spaces, several restrooms and perfect for families.Bad Points: All snack/food stations not operational, the snack food is poor quality and overpriced. The enclosed exhibits like the herpetarium really needs some kind of sound dampening because many small kids yelling gets amplified to the point of nearly unbearable.Honestly it is still a great place, and Id go back. Expect throngs of people if you go on a holiday.Never underestimate the power of standing inches or feet away from a tiger or tarantula.
I love this zoo. It’s a gem and I take my girls often! We enjoy all the animal exhibits and how close you can observe the animals. It’s a real treat! We also enjoy feeding the giraffes and visiting the children play area.
It was such a fun day! We spent 4hrs at the zoo, they have places to eat, get snacks, two gift shops! We got the family pass and it was $95 for the year (3 adults, 5kids) which was great because I think its $15/adult and $12/kid daily.
Im so glad I grew up in a town with a zoo like this. Ive been going here for 30 years and it continues to improve. A must see in Brownsville.
My son loved it! He loved the splash zone and all the animals they have! Great family spot
The zoo had plenty of animals and the seemed well taken care of. Ive been to much worse zoos and was presently surprised by this one in a small town.
Beautiful facility. The main areas are well shaded when youre walking around and viewing different animal enclosures. Good variety of exhibits, plenty of eateries and even a really cool playground area for the littles with fun water features, climbable stuff and several slides. We went on a Monday morning so a lot of the amenities (like the eateries) were closed, and it was REALLY hot out. Id recommend going later or earlier in the year, but even still my three year old LOVED it. Well definitely be back.
Love this place! Great for evening visits with our 1 year old. We like to go late as they allow you to stay in past closing time until about dusk time. There is way less people around and it was much cooler during the summer hours. Although you wont be able to enjoy many of the exhibits or concessions during this time as they will already be closed. Food here is not great, take your own or snacks and build an appetite for when you leave. Definitely recommend the membership for an entire year as you reap the benefits of special events and honestly worth it even if you 3-5 times a year! Place is always clean, exhibits seem taken care of. If you go during the summer youll feel for the animals because its HOT and no one is happy even the humans!
Even though it rained that day. My family and I loved it...we pretty much had the zoo to ourselves because everyone went to the beach that day. It was amazing and didnt have to worry about catching covid from anybody because of rudeness or not respecting space
A lot of people especially especially teenagers see the zoo as a pretty disturbing experience, but speaking as a teen I can confidently say its a lot better than what everyone thinks. About a year ago I went to the zoo for my birthday and even though a lot of my friends did not want to participate, they still did, and enjoyed all of the time there. Just today I went out on my first date to the zoo, and even though a lot of people advise me not to go to the zoo it was 1000 times better than I expected. If you want to have fun for a few hours I highly suggest going to the zoo. It is a lot of fun.
The lines were long but it is Spring Break. Alot of the dens were empty but what animals were there were so awesome. You can feed the giraffes (for a fee). The concession stands were crazy. One window open. Come on guys you know its spring break. Step it up. Couldnt even get a drink. Disappointed with that.
Excellent zoo with dozens of exotic animals. Its a fun packed time. Dont miss it if you live in the area or are visiting Brownsville TX.
Its a nice little zoo the giraffes are interesting to watch and seem happy.Like most zoos I feel bad for any of the big cats. Their inclosures are small and they dont seem happy.Over all we had a nice day here
I got to say im partially biased because i grew up here but the gladys porter zoo is a perfect spot for a weekend with the family. They offer cheap prices on admission and food. A very diverse amount of animals. many opportunities to get up close with the animals including giraffe feedings, stingray feedings, and even mermaids
What a great quality zoo. so many naturalistic caging and displays.very quiet and peaceful out there watching the animals.plus a lot of water features for those hot days
Good time for adults and children. Look for the indoor buildings at times to cool off the kids. Free parking accross the street from the Zoo if you choose or $5 on their lot. There is a discount for Brownsville residents or $14 for adults.
Nice day to walk around and enjoy the animals not all exhibits were open due to covid.
A lot of improvements were done. I wanted to see gorillas that day but they were not around. Sting rays were not around . Lion was not around.
What a pleasant day and a wnderful surprise of a zoo. I truly enjoyed how many interesting and unique animals and birds there were.If you are in Brownsville, dont miss this zoo.
Brought me back into time! The last time I was here I was nine years old and then I got to bring my son at the age of 10 and now Im 45 wow how time does fly!
A valuable asset to our city, The Gladys Porter Zoo is rated one of the top 10 zoos in the country. . It is compact, but has an incredible variety birds, reptiles fish, from all over the world. The membership is A bargain; We bought a family membership for the grandchildren. Note: Zoos need our help because of the current situation and any donations will help keep this vital attraction going.
Was blown away by how awesome this zoo is. There are so many animals in a variety of enclosures. I loved the reptile house and seeing the larger mammals (rhinos, giraffes, monkeys). Had an awesome time, cant wait to go back!
Enjoyed visiting this zoo. I thought was very clean. Enjoyed seeing the beautiful plant, the aquarium was very nice. I enjoyed everything about it. I would advise anyone in the area to visit it.
This is a wonderful zoo with something for all ages. Animals are in what looks like natural surroundings that are appealing to both onlookers and animals themselves. Highly rated zoo and well with the visit.
A real learning experience, and the animals were fantastic...
I enjoyed visiting this zoo. The animal enclosures were well designed and quite clean. There was a good variety of plants and animals here. We stayed late to enjoy the Christmas lights and music. Very nice.
A very nice zoo, in a small space. They have a great variety of animals and very good educational displays. Lots of refreshment stands.
One of our most favorite places to keep coming back to. We get the annual membership and my kids love coming to visit. We always see something amazing and weve coming for years
I guess it depends what time of the day one goes to visit, for doing our visit then almost for more laid back taking a nap and not fully active as I would have liked for them to be. Overall it was a good experience gave me some time out from the everyday life.
It states no outside drinks! But we saw several customers with coolers not fair! For 4 adults and 2 kids was close to$ 70 for the entrance! Not worth it. Most exhibits are empty nothing to see!
My grandkids and daughter and a couple other friends came to visit. We had a great time!
Disappointed that there isnt first aid available across the property available in case of emergencies we had to run across the property to the front office for first aid and my toddlers knee was bleeding profusely I was franticly finding help with no avail! It was a very stressful event for us. First aid needs to be available at several locations with the property so large and the cance of bacteria on the ground is extremely high !
Came down from California to visit my parents, Gladys Porter Zoo. It’s been 15 years since I’ve been to the zoo. Many updates, new animals exhibits. Prices have gone up, but must support our local zoo.
My kids loved the zoo! The have added new things like the giraffe feedings and revamped the Eagle Canyon area into a Mayan/Aztec theme. We love the events they hist like the Ridley Rush and the Ocelot 5k.
Nice little get away from being stick in the house since the pandemic kinda pricey but I had a good time
Impressed with this zoo. Ive seen animals I didnt know about and very clean facility. Worth the pay. My son and mother in law enjoyed viewing the animals.
Had a great time with family,only dowside almost everything inside was closed and it had too many renovations going on at park,might just close for renovations and then reopen to public that way we can experience a full tour of everything there is to offer...
My kids love it here! We are a family of 6 and its easy to get distracted and have fun here specially when they have events during the holidays
I love the zoo! The new exhibits were awesome! I do wish they could have elephants since it is my spouse and I favorite animal. Also not being there for about 13 years made a huge difference! Thanks to anyone who donated to the charaties our local zoo is what puts us on the map!!!
Very clean, lots of animals and hands on stations. Indoor exhibits along the way provide a nice break from the heat. Some of the food stations werent available which was a letdown. The waterscape playground was a big hit with our group(age range 2 - 8). Would definitely recommend!
My daughter loves it here, we go every time we visit Grammy. Loved feed the giraffe, but was sad she couldnt touch the sting rays.
It is fun but they should clean the animal exhibit more by cutting grass ,adding more plants,etc....Ive been to San Antonio zoo and the have fish food vending machines which will help produce more fish and will help with feeding all the fish.😊
The time it took to wait in line and order something from one of the food stands mustve been atleast 45 minutes or more, not worth the nachos. The half of the crocodiles wasnt allowed to be seen due to nesting. Theres still coins in the reptile area with the crocodiles, someone should clean that place up. Finally, the dinosaur bit was cool and was only for 3 dollars.
I really enjoyed the zoo, the facilities were clean and everybody was so friendly and it was just a fun time Family friends your children and they will love it its a come to.
I love the Zoo. The all the animals were very active, loved seeing the Lion nd Tigers. Looking fwd to the new exhibits to open
Much nicer than expected. The animals seemed to be very healthy. There is a wide variety of animals. Visible signs of fencing is kept to a minimum.
I went to take my son and its not all like what i renember they didnt have open to feed the birds and the gift shop is to expensive but the animals are good and thought its really hot they have a lot of spots to rest.The stingray is my favorite part that you get to touch them would go again.
My family went me for spring break we really enjoyed the zoo everything was reasonable prices we will be back to visit
We have an AZA membership, but due to covid hardship they could not honor at the time. We were happy to pay or donate as its such a great zoo. There were so many new babies, fee the giraffe, talked to the birds, got nachos/popcorn at the snack bar. Be prepared to walk, so much to see! Layout is nice too with some paths, walkway, bridge.
Great place to kill time. Friendly staff and awesome sights to behold. The food and drinks are a real treat and its a nice way to support the wildlife.
Awesome experience for the price. There was some new areas added that caught my eye and I enjoyed feeding the giraffes and petting stingrays. Some new exhibits are being advertised as coming soon so I cant wait for that. 🦁🦒 Definitely will come back.
A great zoo! A number of endangered species they are helping to protect. Seems like it gets a little better each year.
Worse zoo in USA. Stingrays got killed because of horrible management. There’s hardly any animals. Rhinos’ ribs are shown they don’t eat much. Every animal isn’t well taken care of and need better management
Total reviews rating 4.6
199 Reviews for Gladys Porter Zoo 2023:
Review №1
2021-12-30This place has plenty of animals and a few more new additions coming soon!, the petting zoo wasnt open, but Im sure by the beginning of next year it will be up and running again. This place also has a childrens playground, available for kids 4 years and older. You can expect to spend at least 3 hours here, including time for the concessions, and a quick 5-10 minute sit down. Its a very decent sized zoo, my son and wife loved it.
Review №2
2022-01-17I usually have mixed feeling about zoos. In this case, I was surprisingly impressed with almost every individual environment. Very clean with several waterfalls, and sensory items.Other than the black bear. That little guy needs more.So great job zoo! 👏
Review №3
2022-03-31Such a cute zoo. Wish more of the concession stands were open in the zoo, but I know with covid there are staffing shortages. The zoo is well maintained and the staff were all friendly. Especially the young man running the petting zoo today.
Review №4
2022-02-03The best small zoo we have ever been to. You are real close to the animals and the grounds are well maintained. There are many animals we just dont get to see in Ohio. Its inexpensive and worth much more ththey charge.
Review №5
2022-02-12Looks small on the outside and parking is $5 but for less than $20/ person the entrance fee is well worth it and will easily fill half a day of fun for you and whoever you bring along for the journey.
Review №6
2021-12-17I was shocked how big this place was for a relatively small city like Brownsville. They have a variety of different animals from all corners of the world. Some you can encounter up close. Very nicely laid out and most animals were present and active. Gorilla enclosure is a must, just be careful, as you might get a surprise, wont tell what it is, it has to be experienced in person.
Review №7
2022-05-22Brew at the zoo was a great experience. Good variety of food and beer tasting. Hot and humid, but there was an air conditioned area to cool off. Not all the animals were out, but some to enjoy and walk around the zoo. And of course my favorite, flamingos.
Review №8
2022-03-22Took My Family Down To Brownsville For Spring Break. We Decided To Spend One Day At Gladys Zoo. Overall It Was A Great Experience. They Have Animal Interactions, Plenty Of Food Concession, Lots Of Animals.
Review №9
2022-06-25Great for family and kids. Thr Australian outback exhibit was horrible though the smell. It should have been at an open space not an indoor exhibit. Butterfly garden has no butterflies
Review №10
2022-01-15This smaller zoo is in Brownsville Texas. There are so many different animals to see. Don’t miss your chance to feed the giraffes $. You can touch the rays in the aquarium. Birds are in abundance here and there are so very exotic colors.The normal water, food, beer, gift shop, etc.. Maybe a little pricey but we’ll worth it. They offer discounts.Parking closer to the entrance $ but across the street is free.