Ready to Travel? Here Are 3 New Reasons to Visit Tyler, TX
From new immersive experiences to revitalizations, several development projects are creating travel opportunities for visitors. Take a look at three new additions to the region that are providing new reasons to visit Tyler for business and leisure travel.
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Experience South American Wildlife
The Caldwell Zoo is embarking on several new renovations, including one to its South American section.
The new Amazon River’s Edge section will be inhabited by giant river otters, piranhas, poison dart frogs, and a huge walk-through aviary that includes tropical birds and mammals, says Caldwell Zoo President and CEO Steve Marshall.
“We cleared off the site and started with a fresh canvas to deliver a new and exciting experience to our guests,” Marshall says. “Other habitats will have small primates and jaguars.”
Many people visit Tyler to see the Caldwell Zoo, and Marshall anticipates that the total reconstruction of the South American exhibit will continue to boost tourism. “Amazon River’s Edge and these other improvements will continue to draw visitors to our city,” he says.
The Amazon River’s Edge is scheduled to open in 2024, bringing an immersive experience unlike any other to the region.
Be Awed by the Rose Complex
The Rose Complex is a cultural hub featuring the Tyler Rose Garden, W.T. Brookshire Conference Center, Tyler Civic Theatre, Historic Mayfair Building, and the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium and Mike Carter Field.
W.T. Brookshire Conference Center opened in spring 2023, operating as the centerpiece of the state-of-the-art complex. While the completion of the project has been significant, the Rose Complex has leaned into a destination that is well known in Tyler among residents – and now visitors, too.
“The Tyler Rose Garden is not only a national landmark and historical site for Tyler but also one of the city’s top tourist attractions. With the addition of the Rose Complex, its appeal has only grown,” says Julie Goodgame, director of marketing and communications for the City of Tyler.
The new W.T. Brookshire Conference Center has 24,000 square feet of meeting space, a large performance stage and professional-grade audio and visual equipment available for use.
Equipped with modern amenities and top-notch facilities, it’s become a popular choice for business conferences, meetings and other events, Goodgame says.
Also newly revitalized is the Historic Mayfair Building. Built in the late 1920s, the Mayfair serves as a multifunctional space for conferences and concerts, breathing new life into its historic setting.
“What makes this project unique is its commitment to preserving the building’s history, from the original oak flooring to reserving Elvis’ dressing room,” Goodgame says. “This renovation goes beyond creating an event space; it’s an intentional effort to transport visitors back to the Mayfair’s dance hall days.”
Make a Stop at the Greyhound Inn
With everything the city has to offer in the form of arts and entertainment, there are an equal number of unique places to stay when you visit Tyler.
The Greyhound Inn is located in what was once the Tyler Union Station Building, a 1932 art deco building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Original glass windows, hardwood floors, period-door hardware and a photo gallery in each room depicting the city’s history are just a few of the highlights.
“The Greyhound Inn is the most convenient overnight lodging for guests wanting to experience the Tyler Rose Garden, Caldwell Zoo or the annual Azalea Trails – all about a five-minute drive from our central downtown location,” says Andy Bergfeld manager member of Greyhound Inn. “We are also an easy 15-minute drive to Tyler State Park with its great hiking and natural beauty.”
Bergfeld says transitioning the bus station to the Greyhound Inn felt fitting to the building’s roots. Many residents, he recalls, have memories of the bus station in operation between 1946 and 2019. With the building’s revitalization, it can continue to be a nostalgic stop for travelers who rest their heads in Tyler.
“Our neon sign on the corner of the building is even a replica of the original one on Tyler Union Station,” he says.
Bonus: Zoo a Safe Haven for Endangered Species
More than 20 different species at Caldwell Zoo are on the endangered list or considered threatened in the wild, which is why the Tyler-based zoo provides a safe haven to support some of nature’s most beautiful creatures.
“Conservation has been part of our history and interest for decades, and we continue to provide several endangered species programs,” says Scott Maddox, chief operating officer at Caldwell Zoo. “We’re often like a head-start program that cares for animals until they get some size on them, so they have a better chance for survival when they are released in the wild.”
One of the zoo’s endangered species programs involves helping the Texas horned lizard species. In 2023, Caldwell Zoo cared for 63 horned lizards during the year, and 61 were eventually released into the wild.
“Another example is our care for the Attwater’s prairie chicken species. Only about 200 of those chickens remain on the planet,” Maddox says. “In 2023, the zoo cared for 36 Attwaters and released eight, and the others went into a breeding program to ultimately raise more prairie chickens.”
Some of the other endangered or threatened species that live at Caldwell Zoo include the African cheetah, African elephant, Aldabra giant tortoise, black rhinoceros, hyacinth macaw, king vulture, poison dart frog and ring-tailed lemur.
“We are among only 10% of zoos in America that are accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos & Aquariums,” Maddox says. “Caldwell Zoo is known for our expertise when it comes to climate control, social groupings and scientific nutritional food when caring for the many animals that live here.”
– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.
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