Ice Age in the Wild

Ice Age in the Wild is running at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center through August 16, 2026. It's an outdoor exhibit that turns the gardens into a prehistoric landscape, with 15 animatronic creatures representing 11 different extinct mammal species. They aren't just statues—they move and make sound, so you'll see them acting out rather than just standing there. The creatures are spread across the grounds, and since the Wildflower Center is 284 acres, you've got plenty of room to walk between them.

The whole thing was developed by Dino Don Lessem, a dinosaur expert who served as an advisor on Jurassic Park and has written several books on prehistoric life. The exhibit also ties back to something local: a recent Ice Age fossil discovery in Central Texas made by UT Austin paleontologist Dr. John Moretti and local caver John Young. The Wildflower Center is part of The University of Texas at Austin and serves as the State Botanic Garden and Arboretum of Texas, welcoming more than 276,000 visitors a year.

Logistically, it's easy to fit in. Admission to the exhibit is included with general admission, and it's free for Wildflower Center members. The hours shift as the summer goes on: it's open 9 AM to 4 PM daily through May 31, and 7 AM to 2 PM from June 1 through August 31. You'll find the center at 4801 La Crosse Avenue in Austin.