Fort Worth Zoo
After a much-needed spa day (finally), Iggy the Iguana is back at the Fort Worth Zoo. The 40-foot, 2,600-pound reptilian giant has returned to his perch atop the Burnett Animal Health Science Center, looking fresh and ready to keep an eye on all those zoo visitors who probably never even noticed he needed a facelift.
For 15 years, Iggy has braved the elements — rain, ice, snow, and 100-degree heat — while enduring what we assume are countless bird pecks. Now, he’s been treated to a makeover, and he’s serving new and improved iguana realness.
Iggy’s saga began long before he became Fort Worth’s top reptile. The late artist Bob "Daddy-O" Wade created him in the late '70s, and he first saw the light of day in New York City, hanging out above the Lone Star Café, a watering hole for legends like Willie Nelson and Kinky Friedman. After a few moves (because what else do giant sculptures do?), Iggy landed in Fort Worth in 2007, thanks to Lee Bass.
Since then, Iggy has done it all — he’s been a hat-wearing icon at the zoo, a holiday mascot, and a symbol of all things educational in the Museum of Living Art. But after surviving years of storms, hail, and probably the occasional pigeon poop bomb, it was time for a little TLC. So, the zoo gave him a fresh coat of paint, a shiny new red manicure (because why not?), and even touched up those scales.
And because we know you’re all about that Iggy life, the zoo’s offering an adoption package so you can take home your very own plush iguana, complete with mini hats and a certificate — because a 2,600-pound statue is great, but a plush one you can cuddle is really where it’s at.
So next time you’re at the zoo, give a nod to Iggy — he’s back, he's buff, and ready to keep an eye on your every move.
