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Fragrant and serene, Fort Worth's Botanical Gardens offer more than 2,100 acres of trails and garden exhibits in one of the oldest and largest natural settings in North Texas. An extensive greenhouse area, housed in the garden's conservatory, showcases tropical plants and exotic birds in colorful settings. The Japanese Gardens, a popular attraction among visitors, is tranquil and perfect for relaxation or contemplation. Special events abound throughout the year, such as the annual spring butterflies in the garden, with more than 6,000 butterflies adding color to the already magnificent setting.

Off the shores of White Rock Lake lies the garden of a lifetime. The 66 acres of lush, perfectly manicured landscapes hold a treasure trove of trees, bushes and flowers are sure to make anyone green with envy. Quaint and quiet walkways meander throughout the grounds with countless coves. The DeGolyer House, a 1940s-style Spanish mansion, is also located on the grounds. Tours of the house and its sculpture garden are offered. The Johnson Color Gardens, the Woman's Garden, and the Lay Ornamental Garden with water walls are exquisite features of the picturesque grounds.

Joe Pool Lake is the end result of more than 25 years of planning and over a decade of construction. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Trinity River Authority, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Joe Pool Lake Planning Council all collaborated to plan and construct the Reservoir. Once the lake opened in 1989, Joe Pool quickly become a favorite destination for residents of the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex. Today the lake and the amenities found along its shores allow visitors to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor recreational pursuits. Whether you prefer to go bird watching or fishing, jet skiing or barbecuing, or like to spend time in your boat or your camper you can find everything you need to have a great time at Joe Pool Lake.

Lake Ray Hubbard, formerly Forney Lake, is a reservoir located in Dallas, Kaufman, Collin, and Rockwall County^[1], Texas, just north of Forney, Kaufman County, Texas, built on the East Fork Trinity River (Texas) and impounded by the Rockwall-Forney Dam.

It measures 22,745 acres (92 km²) in size with a storage capacity of 490,000 acre-feet (604,000,000 m³) and a maximum depth of 40 feet (12 m). The dam is currently owned by the City of Dallas. Interstate 30 bisects the lake. The lake was originally named Forney Lake for the nearby town of Forney, Texas. After the City of Dallas incorporated the lake, it was renamed after a living person, Ray Hubbard, who presided over the Dallas Parks and Recreation System board from 1943 to 1972. However, the company that administrates the distribution of its waters is still known as Forney Lake Water Supply Corp.

Originally designed to provide water to the North Texas region, the project was started in 1964 and managed by the S. and A. Construction Company and the Markham, Brown and M. C. Winter Construction Company. The lake was impounded in 1968, and a 2-mile earthfill dam was completed in 1969. By 1970 the lake reached its maximum design extent.

Due to the territorial expansion and exercise of the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Dallas, the lake and the Interstate 30 bridge are now within the jurisdiction of the City of Dallas, rather than the cities surrounding it. There is a mutual aid agreement in place between Dallas and the other cities, but ultimate responsibility lies with Dallas.

The lake contains a large population of hybrid striped bass, white bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, and white crappie. Several areas of the lake have been infested with hydrilla.

With 95 acres to explore, thousands of animals to visit, and a huge variety of family activities, the Dallas Zoo is enormously entertaining! Our goal is to make your visit an exciting adventure with opportunities to learn about interesting wildlife, engage in interactive fun, and support worldwide conservation and research to protect and preserve endangered species.

Zoo Facts:

The Dallas Zoo was founded in 1888, making it the first zoological park in the Southwest.

Our park covers 95 developed acres! In terms of landmass, it’s the largest zoological park in Texas.

The giant giraffe sculpture marking the Zoo’s entrance is 67½ feet tall!

We provide care for a wide variety of animals and are involved in conservation and breeding programs for numerous endangered species.

The Dallas Zoo is widely recognized for our outstanding Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo, Wilds of Africa exhibit, and award-winning Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center!

The oldest zoo in Texas, the Fort Worth Zoo was founded in 1909 with one lion, two bear cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock and a few rabbits. From these humble beginnings, the Zoo has grown into a nationally ranked facility, housing more than 5,000 native and exotic animals.

From 1909 to October 1991, the Fort Worth Zoo was owned as well as operated by the City of Fort Worth. During the city's tenure, a long-standing tradition began of collecting money from the community to purchase animals for the Zoo. In 1939, the Zoological Society (now the Fort Worth Zoological Association) formed as a non-profit organization to help raise additional funds to purchase even more animals.

In October 1991— with the Zoo facing decreasing city support, demands to replace outdated animal housing and declines in attendance— the Association assumed management of the Zoo's day-to-day operations under a contract with the City of Fort Worth. Since 1991, the Association has raised more than $108 million from private entities, foundations and corporations for Zoo improvements and new exhibits. In 1992, the Zoo hosted a grand reopening, unveiling two new exhibits— World of Primates and Asian Falls— and numerous improvements throughout the Zoo. Within the first year, Zoo attendance soared to approximately one million visitors in a fiscal year— almost double the previous year— and has maintained ever since.