Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in central Texas opens expansion

Seven new animal species and  a growing giraffe population call the new, 50-acre preserve home.

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch’s 100-year legacy in land heritage continues with the opening of Tower Creek, the Ranch’s largest expansion to its 400-acre preserve in 15 years.

Tower Creek, the newest expansion at the Wildlife Ranch, opened this spring.

“It’s been a labor of love,” says Tiffany Soechting, Natural Bridge WildlifeRanch marketing director and animal specialist. “Since 2010, we have carefully planned—repurposing untouched Texas Hill Country ranch land that has been in our family for over 150 years. It was our duty and honor to protect it, to provide more space for visitors to learn about the wild and endangered animals that share our earth.”

 The 50-acre expansion traverses Cibolo Creek and is home to seven animal species new to the ranch, including Impala, Zebu, Grant’s Gazelles, Sable Antelope, as well as African endangered species Nile Lechwe, Arabian Oryx, Dama Gazelle, and Bongo Antelope.

Get a close-up look at zebras at
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Reticulated Giraffes roam in an open enclosure environment in the center of Tower Creek. It’s the first time in the ranch’s history where visitors are able to feed the Reticulated Giraffes from their vehicles.

“After the birth of the twin Reticulated Giraffes last year, we knew it was time to bring visitors a bit closer to these amazing creatures,” Soechting says. “It’s the reason we named the expansion Tower Creek. Tower is a herd of giraffe—and that’s what visitors will see at as they descend onto the property.” 

The one-year old twin Reticulated Giraffes, Nakato and Wasswa, born in 2013, are thriving and have proved to be a big attraction at the Wildlife Ranch. Their enclosure remains at the entrance of the ranch for their safety, allowing ranch personnel easier access for feeding and care.

This fellow checks out passengers in a car driving
on the Wildlife Ranch's road.

Over 31,000 cubic feet of limestone was milled from the bluff over Tower Creek, which was used to build the 2-mile road through the expansion. Visitors are able to see the depth of the limestone rock wall, which is exposed at the expansion’s entrance.  “It’s a unique opportunity to see the geology of the Texas Hill Country,” said Soechting.

The Safari Sweet Spot, the Ranch’s new eatery that offers ice cream, fudge, and candy, is located under a grove of oak trees in Tower Creek, providing visitors a unique perch to watch the giraffes roam. “It just brings people closer to the giraffes and gives them  a comfortable space to see the giraffes  frolic, run, and play,” Soechting says.



 Touring the Wildlife Ranch give visitors
an appreciation for unique animals.

Opened in 1984, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch has become one of Texas’ most recognized entertainment attractions. The Ranch covers 450 acres of Texas hill country terrain and provides 6 miles of paved roads where guests drive through and witness the natural animal behaviors of over 500 animals from 40 exotic, native, and endangered animal species worldwide.  The natural, free-roaming environment is home to many unique animals, including Southern White Rhinoceros’, North American Buffalo, Reticulated Giraffes, as well as many zebras, emus, ostriches, elk, gazelle and wildebeests.

While there, plan to spend time touring the caves and enjoying Discovery Village, the newest addition at adjacent Natural Bridge Caverns. Located near New Braunfels, the Natural Bridge attractions are conveniently situated between San Antonio and Austin.

Read more here: http://stripedpot.com/2014/04/01/discovery-village-adds-more-fun-to-natural-bridge-caverns

Information courtesy of Melissa Welch, PR. Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier