HISTORY OF THE TEXAS ZOO
The Texas Zoo, also known as the South Texas Zoological Society, had it’s beginnings in 1957 when James L. Yates, who ran a packing plant near Foster Field donated an African lioness to Mayor W. R. McCright. The Mayor decided that Victoria should have a zoo and approached the Lions Club, who provided a cage. Fire Marshal L. B. Richardson was assigned responsibility, and the Victoria City Zoo was born. Sid Drew was hired to operate the zoo.
In 1962, B. E. Leissner, a local pharmacist, and Lester A. Meis, a local pest control operator who were active members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and had supported zoo development from the beginning, proposed creation of a Zoo Commission to oversee operations and planning. The City Council agreed and appointed City Manager John Lee and former Mayor W. R. McCright to the commission along with Leissner and Meis.
The commission immediately renamed the zoo the Victoria Children’s Zoo and initiated a fund raising drive for expansion. The expansion plans called for a monkey island, snake house, large bird area, and cages for large animals. Visitors from 107 cities, 19 states, and Germany signed a guest register in the first nine days of the Children’s Zoo, demonstrating the value of the Zoo as a tourist attraction.
The Zoo grew to include many species that were housed in barred or wired cages and pens. Bears, Barbados sheep, camels, Russian boars, and Anaconda, monkeys, parrots, parakeets, penguins, and peacocks were gradually added. Many were donated, including the pair of bears donated in 1959 by Tom O’Connor and Victoria Bank and Trust. Over the years the O’Conner brothers, Dennis and Tom, were consistent strong supporters of the Zoo.
The Animal Kingdom building was opened to the public on May 31, 1968. Mehrtens noted that the building was home to some 200 animals of 85 different species including Moustache tamarins, Bahama land crabs, Fennec fox, Discus fish, and an African chameleon.
The Texas Zoo opened in June 1976 in Riverside Park with natural habitat style animal exhibits surrounding the Animal Kingdom building. Approximately $750,000 had been raised to construct the new zoo, almost all through donations and grants. Robert Thomas, John Killough, Bob Woodman, Kathleen Grimes, Paco Buhler, and David Smith led this successful fundraising campaign.
While funds raised met the original goal, rapid cost escalation during this time period resulted in insufficient funds to accomplish the original scope of the project. The decision was made to complete the project at a later date. That second phase of construction was never completed.
In June 1984, the Texas Zoo was designated the National Zoo of Texas by the 68th Texas Legislature. Legislation was sponsored by the Rep. Ken Armbrister and signed by Governor Mark White.
In 2022, the Zoo received financial support from the City of Victoria with $500,000 in ARPA funds to improve the exhibits and facilities. In 2023 the Zoo engaged the services of Stacey Ludlum of Felis Consulting to develop a comprehensive master plan with input from Executive Director Bill Baker and the South Texas Zoological Society Board of Directors. Recent improvements include the renovation of the Education Station, as well as the Ocelot, Jaguar and Bear exhibits. The Zoo is managed by a team of talented professionals that have dedicated themselves to the welfare of the animals and the future of the Texas Zoo.