Texas State Parks-State Parks-State Parks in Texas-Photos of Texas State Parks
Blossom Prairie
Texas Park Index Mushroom Hunters Pandoras Pixels Into the Woods The Nature Hut Quasimother Thin Thin Diet Bites Trinity Moon
East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore, Texas
Amid our recent visit to the East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore, Texas we expected so much more for the current price tag of $6.
If you have thirty minutes, you can see the entire museum, including a couple of short, very primitive shows they run - such as a mock elevator that appears to go deep within the earth, depicting the earth's layers as it heads for the sweet spot (oil). Two ancient looking, doddering puppets take you on the jostling journey and even when it's not their turn to talk, they keep moving their hands, legs and mouths amid the 8 minute journey.
A visitor to the East Texas Oil Museum will also discover quaint memorabilia from another era which has been organized in a fake town setting - from a glassed-in barber shop to a mud-caked street containing stuck wagons, miners and mules - oh my!
If you take a camera and a tripod, be sure to check with the manger of the museum rather than assuming that 'permission from staff' includes the person at the front desk.
A much better buy for our money was the Tyler Zoo - an entire day's worth of fun for about $8 (with discounts for kids and seniors). Parking is totally free at this time. On the day of our visit, it was extremely warm, yet the canopy of trees engrained within the park helped to block out the sun and the heat.
There are several air-conditioned buildings filled with things of wonder. The animals look very content and the staff was very friendly and interactive with the visitors.
One of the outdoor exhibits currently houses two white tigers that are absolutely gorgeous! The female appeared to enjoy posing for the camera and was a perfect model.
Another thing we love about the Caldwell Zoo is that they mix animals that might co-exist with one another in the wild. This allows more room for the animals than separating them would - and it gives the exhibits a more natural effect. We kept wishing that the Fort Worth Zoo would take a lesson from the Caldwell Zoo as many of their exhibits breaks our heart. The coyotes, the bobcat (no buddy) and many of the other animals in the Texas Wild section at the Fort Worth Zoo basically have the space of a large closet and they appear miserable.
Return to Blossom Prairie Index Page
Blossom Prairie - Texas State Park Information & Pictures
Tickle Feather - A treasure box filled with whatever tickles your fancy.
Vain Jane - A collection of poems, prose & poetry.
The Lost Vineyard -Inspirational Dieting to touch your soul and lift your spirits!