Dallas Zoo Safari Trail Zip Line

The Dallas Zoo is building a new 710 sq ft queue line structure for its Safari Trail Zip Line at 650 R.L. Thornton FWY in Dallas, Texas. This new construction project, filed under the name "Dallas Zoo Safari Trail Zip Line," is scheduled to finish in November 2026. The work involves civil, structural, and electrical systems for the addition, which will serve visitors waiting for the attraction.

Quorum Architects serves as the design firm of record for this privately funded project on private land. George A Patterson is the registered accessibility specialist associated with the filing. The estimated cost for the construction is $410,000, which works out to $577 per square foot. This cost is below the median estimated cost of $950,000 for new construction filings in Dallas County, though the per-square-foot rate is above the county median of $125.

Timeline and Status

TDLR completed plan review in August 2026, and the project status is marked as Review Complete. Construction is set to begin in September 2026, creating a scheduled build window of 90 days. This timeline is shorter than the median scheduled build window of 243 days for similar new construction projects in Dallas County.

The Dallas Zoo has two other TDLR-registered projects in Dallas, both of which are closed: the Herpetarium Building ($1,400,000) and the Maned Wolf Holding Building ($475,000). Quorum Architects has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $14,782,000, including work for the Lewisville Animal Shelter and Six Flags Over Texas. The ZIP code 75203 area has a population of about 15,710, with a median household income of $46,358 according to U.S. Census ACS 2023 five-year estimates.

Local labor market conditions show a Dallas County unemployment rate of 3.3 percent which is higher than a year earlier. The project remains under the regulatory oversight of TDLR for accessibility standards, ensuring the new queue line meets required specifications before the anticipated completion in late 2026.