Dallas Zoological Society

The Dallas Zoological Society is the nonprofit organization that operates the Dallas Zoo and manages its membership program. For families, understanding this distinction matters: when you become a 'Dallas Zoo member,' you're joining through the Zoological Society, which means your dollars directly fund animal care and wildlife conservation in addition to giving you unlimited access to the zoo.

Membership benefits are substantial for families who plan to visit the zoo more than once a year. A family membership covers two adults and all children in the household, provides free general admission on every visit, and includes discounts on special programming, zoo camps, and annual events like ZooNorth (the Halloween experience) and the holiday lights display.

The Society also runs conservation and education programs for kids that go beyond the typical zoo visit — keeper talks, behind-the-scenes tours, and wildlife education series that can turn a casual zoo family into genuine animal advocates. For kids who show a deep interest in animals, these programs are worth exploring.

If you live in the DFW area and have kids between 2 and 13, a Dallas Zoological Society membership is genuinely one of the best family entertainment investments you can make. The cost covers itself in about two visits for a family of four, and the unlimited access means you can do short 90-minute visits on weekday afternoons without feeling like you need to 'get your money's worth' from a single long day.

The Society also offers reciprocal benefits with other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across the country — useful if you travel and want zoo access in other cities.