The Dallas Zoo is about to get a whole lot splashier. Construction has officially begun on African Shorelines, the first phase of the Zoo’s most ambitious expansion ever. Set to open in 2028, the $26 million project will transform roughly 10 acres into a waterfront wonderland for two of the Zoo’s most beloved birds.
The star of the show: a brand-new walk-through habitat for critically endangered African penguins, home to one of the largest flocks in the nation. Rocky shores, sandy beaches, and expansive underwater viewing windows will put visitors eye-to-eye with the penguins as they dive and play. Nearby, lesser flamingos will soar overhead in their own fully netted, free-flight estuary habitat.
Families will also enjoy a new full-service café with sweeping views of both habitats, a brand-new event space, and a reimagined Wilds of Africa Plaza with more room for animal encounters and educational chats with keepers.
African Shorelines kicks off the Zoo’s Wild Horizons capital campaign, a $120 million effort that will later add Wild Grasslands — new homes for rhinos and cheetahs — and Okapi Forest by 2030. The 106-acre Dallas Zoo, founded in 1888, is the oldest and largest zoo in Texas. Guests should note that parts of the Wilds of Africa plaza, including Safari Marketplace, are closing in phases during construction.
Photo: Dallas Zoo
