An overnight stay at Foothills Safari Camp’s cabins immerses visitors in the daily and nightly goings-on of the animals in the park. Fossil Rim began as a private ranch owned by Tom Mantzel, a Fort Worth oil man and hunter who became an impassioned steward of endangered animals and eventually opened the ranch to the public in 1984.
Foothills, just one of the on-site lodging areas, is composed of seven cabins just big enough to squeeze in two people each. Even at capacity, the camp stays cozy and quiet. The cabins’ front porches are prime observation decks. When the stars begin to fill the sky, the animals retreat from the watering hole to the woods, and the Mexican wolves sing their evening song.

The Foothills Safari Cabins. Photo: Tom McCarthy Jr.
Most daytime visitors choose to take the two-hour self-guided drive on Gosdin Scenic Drive, a paved road that winds just over 7 miles through the ranch. You can marvel at zebra, giraffe, and other creatures; throw them the feed provided at check-in; and pull over to admire the rolling hills. The 8:30 a.m. guided “Behind the Scenes” tour takes place just after breakfast, which is served in the camp’s dining room. This three-hour tour, suitable for children 7 and above, is the best way to learn about the animals and the park’s role in sustaining them.
Jack Francis, our informative and passionate guide, shared enlightening facts, like how the spots on the cheetahs’ tails are unique, giving each its own “bar code.” And he engaged the children in discussion about how challenges like habitat loss, the black market, and hunting put many of these species’ survival at risk. Francis also helped us lure over a 16-foot giraffe named Shiner, who gobbled the lettuce leaves we were holding with her big black tongue—a thrill that made even the most serious grown-ups on our tour laugh like kids.
Even after just one night at Foothills Safari Camp, we drove away changed, more in awe of Earth’s wild creatures and the humans who help them stick around.
—Clayton Maxwell