21-05-2025
Lubbock's Ringtail Ranch animal rescue is moving near Abilene
Lemurs are on the move, with a Lubbock-based rescue set to relocate to Central Texas between Abilene and Fort Worth.
Ringtail Ranch Lemur Rescue and Educational Center announced the upcoming move, expected to happen over the summer of 2025. Owner Jeanna Treider explained the reasons for the move and details big plans for the new 25-acre space in Mingus.
'We really outgrew our facility, that was the number one reason,' Treider said. 'The number two is, we just weren't hitting the numbers that we needed to grow as fast as we were growing.'
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Within the first few months of public tour operations in 2023, Ringtail Ranch housed 36 lemurs, two red kangaroos, two bearded dragons, two miniature horses, two rabbits and a macaw. Since then, that has grown to 80 lemurs, along with the addition of kinkajous, a fox and marmosets. There's even a waiting list for lemurs awaiting rescue.
The new facility at 1210 Parsons Road in Mingus covers 25 acres and includes a 10,000 sq. ft. insulated barn-like building. Electricity and HVAC systems are in the installation process. Treider hopes to reopen Ringtail Ranch in the new space this summer.
'It's about to get wild,' Treider said. 'I would like to encourage the community to continue to follow us in our journey and encourage them to visit when we are open Summer 2025.'
The space caught Treider's attention, then the central location to several cities and an upcoming state park sealed the deal. The nearby locales and drive-times are:
32 minutes from Stephenville.
35 minutes from Weatherford.
About an hour from Fort Worth and Dallas.
An hour and 13 minutes from Abilene.
2 hours from Wichita Falls.
About 2 and a half hours from San Angelo.
3 and a half hours from Lubbock.
It is also close to the upcoming Palo Pinto Mountains State Park near Strawn, which will be the first Texas state park established in more than two decades.
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'There's going to be a lot of people traveling through,' Treider said. 'Now, the property that we bought gives us the ability to do more.'
That more will include AirBnBs, more education programs and additional animals, including an otter encounter. Staff will also be able to live on-site and provide 24/7 care. Larger habitats and indoor-outdoor enclosures will be added.
Ringtail Ranch will have some final chances for people to see them in Lubbock before the move. The final events will be part of the Lubbock Public Library's Summer Reading Program:
2 p.m. June 2 in the Mahon Community Room in the Mahon Public Library, 1306 9th St.
2 p.m. June 3 in the Easy Book Area in the Godeke Branch Library, 5034 Frankford Ave.
2 p.m. June 4 in the Community Room at the Patterson Branch Library, 1836 Parkway Drive.
2 p.m. June 5 in the Groves Branch Library, 5520 19th St.
People can also reserve encounters on Saturdays and Sundays. People can make a reservation by calling or texting 806-781-1076, or emailing ringtailranchtx@ Visits at the Mingus location will also be by appointment only.
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'I would like to add a thank you to the Lubbock community for allowing us to share our animals with them, and also, thank the Community Foundation of West Texas for their continued support,' Treider said. 'Even through we're not here, we're just a few hours away, so come out and see us.'
People can keep up with the rescue at Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Donations can be made at
'If there are any contractors or businesses in the area that have the ability to help us, we're actively building, so we are in need of pretty much everything,' Treider said. 'We rely solely on donations and grants, and all donations are tax deductible.'
Ringtail Ranch is a 501c3 nonprofit and USDA approved.
Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Ringtail Ranch Lemur rescue Lubbock moving to Big Country near Abilene
