Ice Age Mammoths at Wildflower Center

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center opened “Ice Age in the Wild” on May 9 at its 4801 La Crosse Ave. campus in Austin, turning parts of its gardens and trails into an outdoor prehistoric display. The seasonal exhibit features 15 life-size animatronic Ice Age mammals, including a 17,500-pound woolly mammoth, according to event listings from the Wildflower Center and Do512. The installation is included with general admission and is free for Wildflower Center members, the center said. The University of Texas at Austin-affiliated site is using the show as its summer family exhibition, with the animals spread across the grounds through mid-August. ### Which animals are actually on display at the Wildflower Center? The Wildflower Center said the exhibit brings “life-sized mammals” into the gardens, while CBS Austin reported the installation includes 15 animatronic creatures representing 11 species. The display uses movement and sound effects to stage the animals outdoors, CBS Austin reported. Do512 said the centerpiece is a 17,500-pound woolly mammoth. CBS Austin said the lineup ranges from large mammals to smaller Ice Age creatures and was designed to give visitors a more realistic look at animals that lived before humans. ### Who built the exhibit, and how is it being presented? CBS Austin identified Dino Don Lessem as the developer of the exhibit. The outlet said Lessem, known for prehistoric-animal touring shows, served as an adviser on *Jurassic Park* and has written books on prehistoric life. Erika Tucker, director of hospitality at the Wildflower Center, told CBS Austin the exhibition was expected to draw strong reactions from visitors over the summer. The Wildflower Center’s own event pages describe the animals as having “taken over the gardens,” framing the installation as an immersive walk-through experience rather than a museum-style indoor show. ### How long does it run, and when can people go? May 9 was the opening date listed by the Wildflower Center, and the organizer page says “Ice Age in the Wild” runs through August 15. CBS Austin reported the exhibit runs through August 16, a one-day discrepancy that appears between third-party coverage and the venue’s current calendar listing. CBS Austin said Wildflower Center hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through May 31, then 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June 1 through August 31. The exhibit is included with general admission, and Do512 listed ticket prices ranging from $15 to $18 for adults, $9 to $12 for ages 3 to 17, and free admission for children 2 and younger. ### Why is the Wildflower Center hosting Ice Age animals at a botanic garden? CBS Austin said the exhibit is part of the Wildflower Center’s annual family-friendly summer exhibition series. The center, part of The University of Texas at Austin, spans 284 acres and serves as the State Botanic Garden and Arboretum of Texas, according to the Wildflower Center and CBS Austin. CBS Austin also tied the exhibit to a recent Central Texas fossil discovery by University of Texas at Austin paleontologist John Moretti and local caver John Young, giving the show a local scientific connection. That connection was reported by CBS Austin, not described in the Wildflower Center’s short event listing. ### What is the next event tied to the exhibit? May 28 is the date of “Ice Age Night,” a separate evening program at the Wildflower Center tied to the exhibit. The center said the after-hours event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and include face painting, a prehistoric craft, a dance party in the Great Hall, and food trucks including Fairy Freeze and The Corndog Company. The Wildflower Center’s calendar currently lists “Ice Age in the Wild” through August 15 and “Ice Age Night” on May 28. The venue’s event pages and ticket listings carry the latest schedule and admission details for visitors planning a trip later this season.