In 1963, the Abilene Zoological Society was formed to support and raise funds for a new larger Zoo at a completely new location.

In fact the Zoo's new parking lot was once the airport's runway, where Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart once landed their planes.

Private citizens donated animals, equipment, resources, and even purchased the Abilene Zoo an elephant.

[8] In 2009, the Elm Creek Backyard exhibit was completed with funds from the 2006 bond issue plus a $525,000 grant from the Grover Nelson Foundation.

The Zoo announced the addition of new species such as meerkats, pygmy hippopotamus, cheetah, wildebeest, and bison.

The announcement also included a new train ride, play area, concert venue, restaurant, and renovations to current habitats.

[8][10] An elevated boardwalk that lets visitors get a close look at animals that inhabit the wetlands exhibits at the zoo.

As soon as guests walk through the gate, they'll see this new exhibit, which houses African birds: lesser flamingos and yellow-billed ducks.

The Adventure Center, which opened in 2007, is a 12,000-square-foot (1,115 m2) complex that includes admissions, customer relations, and a gift shop, as well as administrative offices and classrooms that can hold up to 150 people.

[8][11][12] The current master plan, developed by Parkhill, a Texas-based Architecture and Engineering firm, created in 2022 includes four phases.

The newly added land totals 18 acres and the zoo announced plans to convert it into a native grassland habitat and wetland, featuring American bison and pronghorn antelope.