New Brookshire’s Wildlife Museum Opens This Week

(Tyler, Texas) Grand opening day is here for the re-imagined Brookshire's Wildlife Museum in Tyler, Texas. According to 903 Family on social media, the museum will open to visitors at 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 4th, at its new location. It's located across the parking lot from FRESH by Brookshire's, at 6970 Arbor Ridge Dr. Visitors will be taken back in time and get to see animals from around the world.

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A Look Back at the Museum’s History

I remember taking my daughter to the museum and playground when it was located by the Brookshire's warehouse complex on Old Jacksonville Hwy. when she was much younger. We would go through the old country store and then check out all of the animals on display and spend the day there, and have lots of fun. However, that all ended in early September 2017 when the facility had to close due to an event at the Brookshire's warehouse.

Brookshire’s announced in October 2018 that the museum's playground would be relocated to its FRESH by Brookshire's location on Old Jacksonville, leaving many to wonder about the fate of the animals in the museum. In July 2024, it was announced that the museum would have a new home and that many of the animals would be relocated to it.

This new location of the museum still offers visitors two major attractions: a Brookshire's store from the early days and an immersive wildlife exhibit.

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What Visitors Can Expect to See Inside

The new museum will again take visitors on a trip back to the 1920s to see what Brookshire's looked like when it first opened, and leading up to where the grocery store chain is today. This store is filled with nostalgic items and gives visitors a glimpse of what it was like to shop during those early days.

The biggest draw of the museum by far is the wildlife. While walking through the exhibit, you'll learn about animals from around the world, their habitat, and so much more. Among the animals on display are polar bears, penguins, seals, lions, deer, hippos, buffalo, bears, moose, snakes, rabbits, zebras, rhinos, and many other animals from Africa and around the world.

Why This Return Matters to East Texas

The grand opening event will happen on Tuesday, November 4, beginning at 9 a.m. The museum will be open weekly, Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the Brookshire's Wildlife Museum is free. You will soon be able to make reservations on the wildlife museum's website for tours and large groups who are interested in visiting the museum.