Exploring the Ruins: The Old Zoo NatureTrail
Hidden in the small town of Cisco, Texas, about 90 miles west of Fort Worth and just 10 miles west of Eastland, lies a fascinating piece of Texas history that few outsiders know about. The Old Zoo Nature Trails offer visitors a chance to explore the ruins of what was once a thriving 1920s attraction during the oil boom. This is a perfect day trip for Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park guests. Our recommendation, explore the trail, then head into Cisco and enjoy a cold beer at Red Gap Brewing.
The Zoo's Beginnings
This 100-year-old abandoned zoo features old ruins and cages, and is also home to “The World’s Largest Concrete Swimming Pool” that you can still see today.
During the oil boom of 1923, Cisco officials decided to create a zoo at the foot of the newly built Williamson Dam. Someone donated a deer, another contributed a bear, and eventually an assortment of animals moved into damp quarters next to the 96-foot edifice that forms Lake Cisco.
The zoo quickly faced problems. Apparently, no one thought much about how captive animals might fare in the enclosures at the foot of the buttress-style dam. It didn’t take long to figure out they didn’t like it, and within a year the menagerie was moved to a nearby bluff.
A Mysteious Decline
The zoo’s history took a dark turn when a deer that was donated to the zoo later died and the zoo’s bear was poisoned but the crime was never solved. These incidents, combined with other challenges, led to the zoo’s closure. By the early 1930s, it had been abandoned, with nature slowly reclaiming the structures.
More Than Just Animals
What made the Cisco Zoo special was that it wasn’t just about viewing animals. Although the Cisco Zoo wasn’t particularly large – it only had a handful of animals – vacationers still flocked to it in droves, because it doubled as a cottage campground with a resort-style pool.
Perhaps the most impressive feature was the largest concrete swimming pool in the world! The pool managed to stay open until the 70s. Some sources suggest it remained operational into the early 1980s, long after the zoo closed.
Revival as Nature Trails
For decades, the zoo sat neglected until spring 2021, when a nonprofit organization known as Students, Athletics, Families, and Education – or SAFE, for short – took on the arduous task of turning the overgrown property into a hiking area. Their efforts transformed the abandoned site into what is now known as the Old Zoo Nature Trails.
Visiting Today
Today, the Old Zoo Nature Trails offer a unique hiking experience. The trail is less than a mile long, making it accessible for hikers of all skill levels. Along the path, visitors can see the remnants of zoo enclosures, cottages, and the massive concrete pool. Another great way to keep the adventure going is to find the 10 animal medallions hidden along the trails.
The trails are located near Lake Cisco, about four miles north of town. The best time to visit is during fall when the Texas heat has subsided and the abandoned structures create a perfectly eerie atmosphere.
As you walk these trails, you’re not just taking a hike – you’re stepping through a slice of Texas history, exploring the ambitious dreams of a small town during the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties.
