Ellen Trout Zoo, Lufkin, Texas

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I went South of Nacogdoches about twenty miles on US Hwy 59, (soon the be the stupid US Interstate Hwy 69) to Lufkin. On the North side of Lufkin I drove West Loop a few miles to the clearly marked exit for the Ellen Trout Zoo.

Address: 402 Zoo Circle, Lufkin, Texas 75904

Phone: [phone]

Entry Fees: $7 USD adults, $3.50 USD children 4-11 years, under 4 years free

Open: year round, 09:00-16:30 (sometimes 17:00)

According to Wikipedia, the Ellen Trout Zoo was founded in 1964 by Walter Trout. His mother's name was Ellen. The zoo received a hippopotamus, and the hippo pen was opened in the summer of 1967.

I remember long ago the zoo would sell you a large cabbage for $0.25 USD to feed the hippo. One quick "hippo chomp" and the cabbage was gone!

The zoo entry fees are well worth it. This is the best zoo for East Texas in the smaller towns. The animals here are "up close" and easy to see. The peacocks were everywhere walking free; but they avoided the "big cat" pens.

They have about 700 animals, and an annual attendance of 150,000. The Ellen Trout Zoo has educational programs for children.

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Photos

medium train
by entry

big turtle
maybe Galapogos Tortoise