“Smart Zoo” Experience Bringing Animatronic Wildlife to Jasper on March 2

JASPER, Texas — A unique traveling attraction is set to transform the local Lowe’s Home Improvement parking lot into a prehistoric and wild safari next week. I Heart Cookies has announced its "Wild Adventures: A Smart Zoo Experience" will stop in Jasper on Monday, March 2, 2026.

The event, which runs from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, is being billed as the company’s "biggest and best" yet.

An Immersive "Smart" Experience

The "Smart Zoo" concept differentiates itself by utilizing technology rather than live animals. The exhibit features hyper-realistic and fully animatronic animals designed to provide an educational and immersive experience. Highlights of the traveling zoo include:

• Diverse Wildlife: Animatronic lions, tigers, elephants, pandas, and monkeys.

• Prehistoric Guests: A collection of dinosaurs, including a T-Rex, raptors, and "Trixie," a walking baby Triceratops.

• The 40-foot King Cobra: A massive, smoke-breathing snake that serves as a centerpiece of the display.

Interactive Activities for Families

Beyond the animal displays, the event offers several interactive stations for children and families:

• Virtual Reality: A fully immersive VR aquarium experience.

• Play Zones: Soft play equipment where children can climb and crawl through structures shaped like bears, frogs, and hippos.

• Fossil Digs: Three separate pits for budding paleontologists to discover "fossils."

• Extras: Professional face painting and numerous photo-op stations throughout the exhibit.

Admission Details

In a unique business model, admission to the "Smart Zoo" is tied to the purchase of the company's signature Deep Dish Cookies.

• Cost: Cookies are $5 each (or a pack of 6 for $25).

• Requirement: A cookie purchase is required for each person attending the event, regardless of age.

Based out of Wichita, Kansas, I Heart Cookies began as a dessert truck in 2021 before expanding into a large-scale traveling attraction. The Jasper stop is part of a wider Texas tour that includes recent visits to cities like Nacogdoches and Brownwood.