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Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation center near Glen Rose, Texas. They specialize in the breeding of endangered species, public education, scientific research and natural land management. The facility has over 1,000 animals from 50 species. Guests have access to guided and self-guided tours across the center's 1800 acres of Texas Hill Country, as well as lodging, dining and educational facilities.
The center was first an exotic herding ranch acquired by a Texan businessman from the oil industry named Tom Mantzel. He bought the ranch in 1973 and renamed it Fossil Rim Wildlife Ranch. The project was at first a weekend retreat for Mantzel, but it soon became a full-time occupation. Concerned by the extinction of species, Mantzel started experimenting with breeding endangered species in 1982 with Grévy's zebras. Fossil Rim was the first ranch to participate in the Species Survival Plan, an initiative partnered with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and their success with zebras prompted the association to continue its work with Fossil Rim.
Mantzel decided to open the zoo to the public in 1984; with the oil crash, he was in dire need of funding to continue his breeding program. With a small team, he built a road along the 1,400 acres of land and opened a snack bar and a souvenir shop. He also brought a few more animals to bring in the public, Grant’s zebras, ostriches, and reticulated giraffes.
A volunteer program was developed to help with the visits, and the park started his education mission. In 1985, more endangered species were brought to the ranch, African scimitar-horned oryx. At that time the park got permission from the U.S. government to import cheetah for a breeding program, one of the most successful projects of the center. But even with the success, the maintenance costs were still too high, and in 1987 Mantzel start looking for partners.
Jim Jackson and Krystyna Jurzykowski were looking for a venture to engage themselves in conservation, planning to open a marine park in Martinique. Learning that they were seeking information from the Fossil Rim Ranch, Mantzel approached the couple to ask them if they would be interested in partnering with him to save the park, giving operational funds for the park. But seeing foreclosure as imminent, they decided to buy the ranch, which became the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center on May 7, 1987.
Fossil Rim's property covers 1800 acres of hill country topography including rolling hills, limestone deposits, and wooded and open land. In addition to providing habitat for the facility's animals, this land is also used for hay production and the protection of native Texas flora and fauna. The property is divided into several pastures, some of which guests have the opportunity to travel through on tours. The areas include:
Front Pasture
The first pasture guests enter during a tour. Houses various hoof stock such as the blackbuck and wildebeest.
Buffer Pasture
This area acts not only as pasture for crepuscular species like the bongo and the greater kudu, but as hay producing land.
Main Pasture
So called for its status as the largest pasture guests can travel through on tour, the main pasture houses many of Fossil Rim's species.
Preserve Pasture
This pasture is home to some of the most recognizable animals on Fossil Rim property including giraffes.
The Jim Jackson Intensive Management Area
This area, also known as the IMA, is off-limits to guests unless on a guided tour. This area houses species that are typically vulnerable and endangered, and have historically had better conservation breeding success with less human interaction. For this reason, these species are kept out of the public eye more than other animals on property, so that staff can better assess their needs. This area is well known for containing one of two cheetah facilities on site. The other location, known as Cheetah Hill, is open to guests on a standard drive-though tour.
The Overlook
One of two locations on property where guests can exit their cars, the Overlook is home to the Overlook Café, restrooms, the conservation-focused Nature Store, and the Children's Animal Center (CAC).
Other land owned by Fossil Rim is used for hay production, educational facilities, conservation and administrative buildings.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center houses over 1000 animals in 50 species, of which 22 are vulnerable or endangered,