Ice Cream Parlor at Fort Worth Zoo

This year’s experience at Safari Splash was very disappointing. On Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the slide area, the staff (two men and one woman) were not attentive to their job. Children were climbing and sliding dangerously without control, while the employees were eating, on their phones, and chatting with each other. In previous years, we always had great experiences, but this year was terrible. 👎

I am appalled by the way an employee at this zoo treated my autistic child. This is supposed to be an educational environment, yet the lack of awareness and empathy we experienced shows a glaring failure in staff training and basic human understanding. My son, who is on the autism spectrum, was simply observing the Interactive petting exhibit in MOLA which this is something very normal for a child with sensory differences. Instead of using any kind of compassionate or appropriate approach, the staff member stood there staring him down, clearly expecting him to “get” social cues that he neurologically isn’t wired to pick up on. This wasn’t just awkward it was completely inappropriate and unkind. When I clearly explained that my son is autistic and doesn’t always respond like a neurotypical child, this woman shrugged it off like it wasn’t a big deal. No apology, no acknowledgement—just complete dismissal, as if she had handled the situation correctly. She didn’t. And it matters. If you work with the public especially in an environment where you engage with children you have a responsibility to understand autism. Period. It is unacceptable for any staff member to be so uninformed and unprepared to interact respectfully with neurodivergent individuals. This was not just a bad experience it was harmful, and completely avoidable with the right training. This place must implement mandatory autism and neurodiversity training for all employees immediately. The public includes autistic children. We exist. And our children deserve to be treated with dignity, understanding, and respect. Until that happens, I cannot recommend this zoo to any family, especially those with children who learn or experience the world differently. Do better.

Closed everything at zoo appears to closed. No hours posted on the door. Been here since the zoo open till almost 12. Still closed along with many other places.

Has always been the best since I was a kid who visited the zoo lots of times over the years.

I need for the zoo to know that so many families walked up to the ice cream parlor on Mother’s Day - just to be disappointed because for whatever reason they were closed. Nothing like Mother’s Day having to consul children who were promised ice cream.

Allowing 85 schools to do a field trip here in one day is insane, not to mentionedtion a safety hazard. Definitely care more about the money than the experience of their guests. Shame on them.

Children with disabilities deserve the same opportunities afforded to those without disabilities.

Why, Forth Worth Zoo, are you violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by not allowing special needs children to your zoo camp with their aids? Do better and follow the law.

Excelente lugar limpio y organizado

It was amazing it was my first time being there and I throughly enjoyed myself! I would recommend anyone who hasn’t gone take a visit there or if you’re passing through in the area check it out! 10/10 experience.

This dude was rude and does not like his job I should have done a video of him wiping tables he did one a a chair and then was on his phone