Fort Worth Zoo’s ‘Iggy the Iguana’ to get a makeover, zoo officials say
The iguana sculpture atop the Fort Worth Zoo’s animal hospital has been temporarily removed to undergo refurbishment, zoo officials said in a statement Jan. 7.
The 40-foot sculpture, nicknamed Iggy by its late artist Bob “Daddy-O” Wade, was loaned to the zoo in 2007 by Lee M. Bass, according to the statement.
“After years of rain, snow, ice, extreme heat and a little hail damage, it’s time to give Iggy a much-deserved makeover,” said Ramona Bass, Lee’s wife and chair of the Fort Worth Zoo Board of Directors.
Refurbishment efforts will be conducted by a team of zoo artists and engineers and will include repairs to the iguana’s frame and a weather-resistant topcoat, according to the statement.
The sculpture previously sat watch over the Lone Star Cafe in New York City until being purchased by a Virginia couple who displayed it on their farm, zoo officials said.
In 1997, Wade and Dallas financier Monk White bought the iguana sculpture back and installed it on Pier 25 in Tribeca, where it stayed until Lee Bass purchased it in 1999.
Since the sculpture began to be displayed along University Drive, it has frequently worn a series of hats to mark occasions like the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and the 2011 Super Bowl.
The sculpture will return to its place later this spring, zoo officials said.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 2:58 PM.
