Boo at the Zoo ran Oct. 23, 24 and 25, 2026, at the Fort Worth Zoo. The gates opened at 10 a.m. and closed at 5 p.m. each day. The treat stations held that window.
Admission came with a ticket or a membership. The Zoo priced adults 13 and older at $22, children 3 to 12 at $18, seniors 65 and older at $18, and children 2 and younger at no charge. Parking cost $5 a vehicle. Members parked free with a valid member ID.
One ticket bought one visit
Tickets went on sale Sept. 23, 2026. Each ticket covered one visit within 30 days of purchase. A household that wanted two Zoo days bought two tickets a person. A household that wanted one Zoo day picked the date and kept the ticket for a return trip.
The cost after the gate
Every admission ticket and every membership carried six treat coupons at no extra cost. One coupon returned four pieces of pre-mixed candy. Extra coupons cost $5 for six. The Zoo sold them at the entrance, the Lion Cart, Safari Traders, the Penguin Cart and the General Store in Texas Wild.
Two rides carried a separate fee. The Bone Rattler Express charged $5 one way, or $4 for members. The Kooky Carousel charged $5 a ride, or $4 for members.
The Plan a Visit page carried a notice on ticket sales. It read: “We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our online ticket purchasing system. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Zoo at this time.” The same page listed 817-759-7555 for current information.
The clock to build a day around
Four acts played a published loop. Dr. Suds Bubble Lab played 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. at The Reserve. The Guy in the Yellow Suit played 11:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. at the Outdoor Learning Theater. The Bewitched Barnyard played noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the same theater. Renfield the Bat played 11:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. at The Reserve. The Pumpkin Patch and the strolling characters held the full window.
Two rules shaped the day. Guests 13 and older kept faces visible, with no full-face masks and no heavy makeup. The event ran rain or shine. The Zoo cancelled only for a severe weather threat such as lightning, hail or flooding.
Where the rooms sat, measured by road
Hotels split into two clusters, measured by road distance from the Zoo gate at 1989 Colonial Parkway.
The close cluster ran 1.08 to 2.84 miles. Hyatt Place Fort Worth/TCU sits at 3029 Sandage Ave (1.08 miles). Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth University Drive sits at 3150 Riverfront Drive (1.43). Fairfield Inn & Suites Fort Worth University Drive sits at 1505 South University Drive (1.65). SpringHill Suites Fort Worth University sits at 3250 Lovell Avenue (2.11). Home2 Suites by Hilton Fort Worth Cultural District sits at 1145 University Drive (2.84).
The Stockyards cluster ran 5.97 to 6.36 miles. SpringHill Suites Fort Worth Historic Stockyards sits at 2315 North Main Street (5.97). Stockyards Hotel sits at 109 East Exchange Avenue (6.13). Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth Historic Stockyards sits at 2537 North Main Street (6.27). Hotel Drover sits at 200 Mule Alley (6.32). Hyatt Place Ft. Worth Historic Stockyards sits at 132 East Exchange Avenue (6.36).
The arrival route
The Zoo sits off Interstate 30 at the University Drive exit, south to Colonial Parkway. Fort Worth police directed traffic into the Zoo's lots on event days. The Zoo asked drivers to allow extra time for parking. The Zoo pointed riders to ridetrinitymetro.org.
Asking for the rate
Group rates start at 10 rooms a night. Some properties discount from 5 rooms, by season and availability. One request reaches 50-plus hotels. Hotels answer in 24 to 72 hours. The group pays the property directly, and the rate carries no markup.
Texas levies a 6 percent state hotel occupancy tax on the room cost. Cities, counties and special purpose districts add a local hotel tax on top. Ask the property for the tax-inclusive nightly total, then set that figure against the parking and ticket costs above.
The booking that fitted the weekend
Two nights, Friday Oct. 23 to Sunday Oct. 25, held two Zoo days and a full Saturday. One night covered a single Zoo day, and the 30-day ticket window carried the return visit.