Zoos are started for a variety of reasons—usually the animals come first, and a zoo is built to house them and educate the public about their lives. The Austin Zoo, however, was founded for a very different purpose. In 1990, a former goat ranch was purchased and renamed the Good Day Ranch, dedicated to taking in injured or abandoned animals in need of rehabilitation. Over the years, the ranch’s collection of animals has expanded exponentially. Starting out with mainly domestic animals, more and more exotic creatures were added until it was officially renamed the Austin Zoo in 1994. Now it is home to over 300 animals from 100 species, all rescued from or abandoned by their former owners. One of the biggest draws is the pair of Barbary lions, believed to be extinct in the wild, who are being used as a successful breeding family and have sired two cubs.

Austin Zoo
10807 Rawhide Trail
Austin, TX 78736
(512) 288-1490

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Texas has wide open spaces, a laid back attitude. and a unique culture. It has always drawn storytellers in all mediums to the state. Here are just a few of the films that have been set and filmed in the Lone Star State:

Rio Bravo
As gimmicky as the starring lineup of John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson might seem, Rio Bravo is a classic Western with heart, humor and, of course, some killer musical interludes.

The Last Picture Show
This stark and beautiful film is based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry. The film follows the coming of age of a young ensemble cast in a 1950s Texas town.

Blood Simple
The Coen brothers’ neo-noir about a Texas bartender sending a PI after his wife has so many twists and turns you won’t be sure what the truth is by the end. The Coens always seem to return to this genre, and their stellar first outing may explain why.

Smokey and the Bandit
Nothing personifies the Texas spirit like the lure of the open road. In Smokey and the Bandit, Jackie Gleason is in hot pursuit! This romp is a heck of a lot of fun as Burt Reynolds leads Smokey through what seems like most of the state.

Paris, Texas
Considered one of Wim Wenders’s masterpieces, this slow and meditative film captures the state of mind of a man who wanders out of the Texas desert not sure where or how he has spent the last 5 years. It's a film that rewards patient viewing.