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Sharkarosa Zoo is self-guided with informational signs and staff to help you along the way. There are also educational presentations every 20 minutes throughout the day in various locations. While you are here please be sure to enjoy our petting zoo and covered picnic areas.
HOURS: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9 A.M – 4 P.M
Our mission is to provide the North Texas community with the opportunity to experience rare, endangered and exotic wildlife in a unique and personal setting. What better way to learn about conservation than by seeing it up close and hands on?
Our facility sits on a beautiful 126 acre ranch and offers field trips, private tours, a walk-thru petting zoo, an outdoor dining areas and snack bar to help make Sharkarosa Zoo your next wild adventure!
Our facility is always growing! On a typical day Sharkarosa is home to 180+ animals. We are not by definition a “rescue” organization. However, we do assist with exotic animal rescues by lending experience, needed supplies or housing. Please see the Donations page to find out how you can help us with these ongoing projects.
Open to the Public Days are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday as long as the weather permits. All other events require an advanced reservation. Please browse our Visitor’s Guide for information on how to book a private tour, field trip or party.
Want to have a birthday party at Sharkarosa Zoo? We can make that happen. Contact us for information.
Please be sure to always check our Facebook page for information regarding the weather and its impact on the ranch.
All of our updates regarding special hours and early closures will be listed there.
We do not always have someone available to answer the telephone so our updates will be regularly posted on Facebook.
While you are there, please be sure to like us!
Sharkarosa Zoo is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ranch licensed and regulated by the USDA.
Sharkarosa Zoo is self-guided with informational signs and staff to help you along the way. There are also educational presentations every 30 minutes throughout the day in various locations. While you are here please be sure to enjoy our petting zoo and covered picnic areas.
The Bear’s Den Snack Bar and Gift Shop is open from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
(We accept CASH, VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER)
Private Tours, Animal Encounters, Field Trips, A Petting Zoo, Food, An Amazing Gift Shop And More
Dear Guests…
The Sharkarosa Zoo was built to raise funds for the preservation of exotic wildlife and to work closely with charitable and educational groups.
The Zoo was also created to say Thank You to all the people throughout the years who believed in me and made this dream possible.
Especially, my family & those special friends whose loyalty and devotion helped me make it through the hard times.
No matter who you are, it’s the people who believe in you that make the difference.
So, my thank you to those special people is the Sharkarosa Zoo. I hope you enjoy it and what it stands for.
Thank you for your faith,
Scott Edwards
Owner, Sharkarosa Ranch
Private Tours, Animal Encounters, Field Trips, A Petting Zoo, Food, An Amazing Gift Shop And More
Check out our outdoor dining areas and snack bar.
Get a chance to pet and feed some of your favorite animals.
*Season passes are good for 1 year from date of purchase
(2 adults, 2 children) *Each additional family member added $35.00
Schedule a private tour with us and take your family on an adventure that includes the animals of Madagascar, Africa, Asia, North and South America, China, and Australia to name a few!
$300 for 1-15 people • $10 per person over that.
*This includes anyone age 3 and older.
$100 deposit due at time of booking
We provide field trips for organized groups such as private and public schools, day cares, pre-schools, church groups and senior groups. We are unique in that our facility is closed to the public, Monday through Thursday each week, which enables us to give your group a more personalized experience. Additionally, we are a secure facility that only admits the students, teachers and pre-approved chaperones the day of your field trip. Our field trips allow you and your group to enjoy the park for a two hour window.
All field trips have a $300/25 person (students and teachers) minimum. All reservations are made on a first-come/first-serve basis and no reservation is confirmed without receipt of the $300 non-refundable deposit. We do require that bookings be made 30-45 days in advance. Bookings made forty-five (45) days or less from the date of the field trip require payment of the deposit at time of booking. All other booking deposits will be invoiced via email and are due upon receipt. Groups that book multiple days require a deposit for each day booked. PLEASE NOTE - YOUR FIELD TRIP IS NOT RESERVED UNTIL YOUR DEPOSIT HAS BEEN PAID AND IS SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION IF NOT PAID IN A TIMELY MANNER. Purchase Orders are not accepted as a form of payment.
A sixty minute walk-thru tour of our facilities with one of our expert staff members. Free time given to enjoy your picnic lunch in our front courtyard, a limited time visit in our petting zoo where the kids have an opportunity to brush some of our residents, visit the playground, or, should you choose to, visit the gift shop for that souvenir for the day! As of January 1, 2022 we no longer offer tram rides.
Please take a moment to read the following:
Absolutely NO throwing or kicking rocks.
Children under the age of 13 must be with an adult at all times.
No smoking or vaping on ranch property.
Feeding animals is to be done in designated areas and the animals may only be fed animal feed provided by Sharkarosa.
Shirt and Shoes required at all times.
No pets allowed. Service dogs, as defined by the ADA, are permissible.
Service Animal Defined by Title II and Title III of the ADAA service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Absolutely NO climbing fencing, exhibits or equipment.
No littering, please use trash cans provided.
We ask that all guests to our park be respectful of the animals. Please do not chase, pick up, poke, yell at or in any way taunt any of our animals.
PROHIBITED ITEMS:
Bubble gum, balloons, firearms, weapons of any kind, glass containers, alcoholic beverages.
Failure to follow any of the above rules WILL result in immediate removal from Sharkarosa.
**Prices subject to change without notice.
We make every effort to stay open despite the weather. Light rain will not affect our being open. Cancellations are made only when it becomes unsafe for guests to park in or move about Sharkarosa Zoo.
We are Open to the Public Friday, Saturday and Sunday year-round, weather permitting. Open to the public days require no reservation. The entrance gates open at 9:00 a.m. and close at 4:00 p.m. Upon your arrival, you will be shown the schedule of presentations and notified which events or activities are about to start. Stay until you've seen everything you wanted to see or stop to have a picnic lunch in our front courtyard. If you're coming at the end of the day, we suggest arriving no later than 2 pm to ensure you get at least a taste of everything.
We always recommend bringing: sunscreen, bug spray, and comfortable shoes. Open toed shoes are not recommended. On Open to the Public Days and Field Trips, our gift shop will be open with items to purchase. If it looks like rain, please bring the appropriate attire (rain coats, rubber boots & umbrellas)
Unfortunately, no. Our field trips and private tours are held during the week and must be booked in advance with the office.
Yes! Children ages 2 and under are free admission. However, please be mindful that are still included in your headcounts when making arrangements with us.
Unfortunately, no. Guests arriving late forfeit any portion of the tour they might have missed.
The use of dining areas is restricted to field trips, events and Open to the Public Days. If you would like to book an event in which you can bring a lunch, please browse through the rest of the Visitor Section. No exceptions will be made.
No. For the safety of our animals, all feed is provided by the ranch and their diet is strictly regulated by our veterinarian.
Yes, we do provide very full service bathroom, porta potties, a full hand-washing station and water fountain. The bears den has a diaper changing station and there is another restroom next to the playground.
We want your time with us to be an incredible adventure! Guests that are unable to cooperate with the guidelines set forth by the Sharkarosa staff will be asked to leave and, if necessary, will be escorted from the premises.
