Rancho Texas Park

Rancho Texas Park is an animal park and family attraction in Tías, right by Puerto del Carmen on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Rather than a conventional zoo, it presents its animal exhibits inside a setting built around the look and feel of the American Wild West, giving it a distinct identity among the island's leisure venues.

Why is it called Rancho Texas?

The name carries a deliberate historical meaning. On February 20, 1730, a group of settlers left Teguise, on Lanzarote, sailing first to Tenerife and then, on March 15 of that same year, on to Havana in Cuba. From there they continued to Veracruz in Mexico, before finishing the journey overland in a caravan, enduring weeks of hardship. The expedition brought together ten Canarian families — seven from Lanzarote and one each from Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma — 55 people in total, 43 of them from Lanzarote. These settlers went on to found the town known today as San Antonio, Texas. Rancho Texas Park was created as a tribute to that migration story and to the resilience of the people who made the crossing.

What is there to see at the park?

The venue operates as a non-profit organisation and functions as a home for a range of animal species, staged within a ranch-style, Wild West-inspired environment. Wooden structures and cowboy-era visual cues frame the animal areas, which makes a visit feel different from a standard zoo trip — something that appeals to families looking for a change of pace from the beaches of Puerto del Carmen.

Where exactly is Rancho Texas Park located?

The park sits within the municipality of Tías, just next to Puerto del Carmen, one of Lanzarote's busiest resort towns. Its coordinates are roughly 28.9313 N, 13.6449 W. Because of this position, the park is within easy reach for anyone staying in the hotels and apartment complexes along the Puerto del Carmen seafront, without the need to travel far inland.

Frequently asked questions

When did Rancho Texas Park open?

The park in its current form has operated since November 29, 2002, although the story it commemorates — the 1730 emigration from Lanzarote — dates back much further.

Is Rancho Texas Park just another zoo?

Not quite. It is technically an animal park, but it is run as a non-profit and shaped around a Wild West ranch theme tied directly to the history of Canarian emigration to Texas, which sets its concept apart from a standard zoo.

Why does a park on Lanzarote focus on Texas?

Because people from Lanzarote played a direct role in founding San Antonio, Texas, in the 18th century. The park was built to keep that historical connection between the island and the state of Texas visible, and it is the backbone of the whole concept.

How far is the park from Puerto del Carmen?

Rancho Texas Park lies within the Tías municipality, essentially adjoining the Puerto del Carmen area, so it is only a short ride away from most hotels in that resort.

Who is this attraction suited for?

Given its animal-park format and themed setting, it works well as a family day-out option, offering an alternative to the beach-focused routine typical of a Puerto del Carmen holiday.