This place is great. Because of covid the reptile house and maps are off limits but it was an awesome experience. Its super pretty and the walk through it wasnt too difficult on my grandpa who has back problems. The animals were visible and active and the signs were fun and informative. Its really clean and a wonderful place! Its a ton of fun to visit and if youre ever in the area I highly recommend visiting.

Great place for family. A really nice get away. Definitely a must visit and the prices are very reasonable. Military members enter free and so do children under 3.

Great animal experience. Loads of social distance reminders and people did a great job keeping apart (that is so weird to say). Kids had a blast seeing all the cool animals. Definitely a good way to spend an afternoon.

So nice not too expensive great place just like Id imagined but better. Petting animals up close and neat exhibits and trails. Better then a zoo.

Perfect place for young children and senior citizens! Electric scooter friendly! Its not too big for little ones to walk. The bears, Mountain lions, the wolves, the red pandas, and more make it a must visit place.

Credit card only. I think this park may have been closed due to the pandemic prior to our visit. Looked like they were just getting up and running. Construction going just as you entered by the donkeys and sheep. Vegetation was overgrown, didnt seem maintained as we remember from a couple years ago. Barn stalls empty. Didnt see some of the animals that was suppose to be there. The kids didnt seem to mind so much. They loved the play areas.

What a wonderful surprise. We had a few hours to spend before heading over to the Biltmore so we stopped here. The animal enclosures were large and the setting was natural and beautiful..

A must for any red panda lover!! I had a phenomenal couple of hours of animal sightings here. I was able to get lengthy, close-up videos of the bears, otters, gray fox, and most notably, the adorable red panda, which I watched for 20-30 minutes.

Great place to see some awsome animals. They are all well cared for and have nice sized enclosures. Bigger than any place like this i have been.

I really wish the nature center would get more funding and they could really buy a bunch more land. We have the most species of flora and fauna of anywhere in the United states (besides Hawaii), and a ridiculous amount of mushroom species (well into the 100s of 1000s), and that most epic biodiversity truly needs a great showcase. With all the invasive species and logging coming to the area, many of them will go extinct soon (Im sure) without a safe haven. It would be most excellent as well if the bears, wolves and cougars had larger enclosures. This used to be one of my favorite places as a kid in town. Great summer day camps for kids and volunteer opportunities for teenagers. Keep them kids off the streets, and caring for animals yo. Donate to the Nature Center today!

Nice small AZA zoo that emphasizes local species and education. The kids love the play areas.

Very clean! We went in mid-October and it was perfect weather. Most of the animals were out and about. Were not from this area so it was neat to see all the different animals.

I mean its a cute place and has the stamp of a high approval for the way the animals are treated so what else can ya say. Its like a mini-zoo - about an hour or so one typically spends there (perhaps a little longer when theres not a pandemic). My son liked it so no complaints here.

The variety of animals was excellent. The grounds were clean and spacious. Your ability to view the animals in the enclosures was up close and clear. A worthwhile place to visit.

Wonderful nature center! They have plans to expand, too!

Great nature center for kids and families! We came here two days in a row, so we decided to purchase a membership, which was cheaper than paying for admission for 2 days! Most of the center was shaded, which was really nice. There are little play areas for kids spread throughout the park! The otter feeding program was neat and informative! Definitely glad we stopped here!

This is a nice little zoo, we stop by every time we visit Asheville! Neat and clean, great walking trail to see native plant and animal species. The red pandas are our favorites!

Great place to spend an afternoon outdoors. Very safe walking trails, beautiful wooded area, animals in good sized exhibit areas.

Great to see the wild animals close up. I feel badly for these animals. This wildlife center has unacceptable space for these large animals that should be in much larger habitats. Please Donate to the cause.

Nice place for the kids. We took our daughter there to check out the animals. Nice place to walk, learn and see the local wildlife.

This is a great space with a lot of outdoor walking. Some of the animal enclosures are fairly small, which is good for viewers but questionable for animals. I really enjoyed the multiple play areas for children, with a variety of creative play spaces and natural materials. We happened to visit on the day they were celebrating twin goats birthday. The staff was so friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate.

Wonderful shaded paths to see a great variety of animals. My 4 kids especially enjoyed the Nature Play areas sprinkled throughout the park. Well thought and planned out for maximum enjoyment of wildlife & play! We are out of state visitors otherwise I would definitely have plans to return! Fantastic wildlife park experience!

It was great to see the animals in nice wide open clean spaces. The kids loved it and especially the spider play area.

I was expecting to see more. I felt bad for the animals because their living space is small in my opinion. I went there expecting to have an experience like that of a zoo. However this is not a zoo therefore I should not have expected such

Great place to see and appreciate wildlife, which needs all the protection we can offer.

Wonderful place. Love all the animals. Especially the red pandas!

You can give a local zip code to get the resident discount and I highly suggest you do so. Not nearly the amount of animals they advertise on their website. There are some wolves, red panda, otter, black bear, deer, fox, owl, hawk and some snakes and turtles. Do not mistake this for a zoo.

Love taking my granddaughter here. So glad they were able to open again.

The WNC Nature Center has been doing a lot of work over the closure in 2020 and they have made a lot of nice improvements. It is a nice hike around the zoo and they have a fun playground for the kids.

Fun place! Great for kids. They loved the otters!

Such beautiful scenery and animals! I have actually been here twice and its the best thing to do with kids. The staff is always so nice and explain things thoroughly to the kids. The walks through the woods to the animals are absolutely gorgeous and you are so close to them!!

What a great little nature center. Wonderful for a walk in the afternoon with the kiddos

Great place to take the kids, we all enjoy our time here. Very kid friendly with various unique play areas along the way, even a builders area! Educational and a great way to get outside. 2 of our favorites are the petting area and the otters, of coarse!

The animals seem well cared for and comfortable. The park is lovely and easy to navigate. Red pandas are a great addition and Im really looking forward to the butterfly exhibit slated to arrive in 2020.

Perfect weather for animals to come out and say hello. Some exhibits were closed but make sense (indoor)

This is a really outstanding animal center. Not only do they have beautiful animals, but they are housed in wonderful enclosures that are spacious for the animals and easy to view for guests. Between most of the exhibits, there are play areas for kids such as puppet shows, playgrounds, and opportunities to build. The center is very spacious and the selection of animals is terrific. The admission is very affordable for families. Well worth your time and money.

Small, but very fun!!! We visited the Nature Center today with our small child and other family members. Our little boy loved everything. The new Red Panda exhibit was perfect. You could see the two Pandas perfectly. The otters were very active and super fun to watch. So of the park could use a little updating but it does take away from your visit. It is somewhat difficult to navigate with a stroller and would also be hard in a wheelchair. All in all we loved our visit. It is also very affordable.

The red pandas showed out! Lovely way to spend a morning outside!!

Great spot! We had an awesome time here. So much for the kids to do.

This place is awesome! I give a couple of times a year!

Awesome little zoo we stumbled upon a few years ago and now we try to visit as much as we can! They have recently upgraded and expanded a bit so it is even nicer!Some of the exhibits need better viewing areas but overall it is great! Lots of animals and even when it has been cold and rainy during our visits most of the residents have been out and active.Well worth the visit!

This place was a delight, good for all ages, nice variety of animals, cleanly kept and lots of things to entertain children. Loved it!

Great day for the family. The staff was super informative, and the kids loved it. We all had a wonderful day I would definitely take them back for another visit.

Beautiful walk and some amazing animals, make a donation if you are able.

Went during a recent trip to Asheville, and though small, this place was definitely worth the visit!

Its good for a quick little visit and walk. Dont expect a zoo size and youll be happy

This was a great place to visit. I enjoyed it more than I would have the zoo honestly. They had the local animal habitats in their natural environment. Well worth the $10 to get in.

A bit cautious about this place at first, didnt know if it was just for kids or families. Can confirm that it definitely is not! Lions, (little) Tigers, and Bears. Oh my goodness! They are obviously stressed a bit from the human presense, but it is a necessary evil. People would never otherwise appreciate these elusive animals nor seek to preserve them. Would recommend to any outdoors person!

Not worth the effort. And masks....in the great out doors. So unnecessary. We saw four animals total. Ridiculous waste of time.

Great day trip with family or a date with someone special. The animals are native from WNC and are more active in the cooler weather. The nature center has fun events throughout the seasons. A nice gift shop. They have a little food shop as well.

One of my favorite things to do in Asheville. The nature center is great for children and adults. The updated entrance looks so nice and inviting. It is fun to walk amongst animals that are native to Western NC. Some of the animals have been rescued, giving them a comfortable place to live. The walkways are nice and paved and the enclosures come with interesting information on all the animals. My favorites include the otters, red pandas, black bears, and sassy the raccoon. They have fun events like pints with bears that happen after the park is closed and are super cool. Dont miss the otter feeding and owl experience, both are informative and fun. Always a top pick for a sunny day in Asheville!

Red pandas! Grey and red wolves and other animals in nice habitats. Clean and cheery with many play areas for kids. Great nature trail, 3/4 of a mile.

It was great coming back to see my animal friends after months of quarantine! I dont work there, but I always feel at home with all the animals there every time I visit, especially since as of now I am a Wildlife Guardian Member. I had attended a lot of the fun events there during the past few years - especially in the spring and autumn - and that its opening to the public again (with Covid guidelines in place to follow, of course) is much cause for celebration.That being said, the Center - like many other nature centers, reserves, zoos, aquariums, etc., particularly those that are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) - has suffered a lot of setbacks following the pandemic outbreak, which has forced the staff to put a lot of their plans to expand the Center on the back burner. Their original 2020 plan, the designs which are featured at the Center and online - was to further expand the Center in order to create new pen exhibits to feature not only more American wildlife, including the Bald Eagle and Elk, but also a number of animals from over the world currently listed on the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List.Among these exhibits in the new expansion design that interest me the most are the Himalayas and Andes exhibits, as well as the Prehistoric Appalachia, which appeals to me above all because its intent was to showcase the contemporary international descendants of animals that once ruled the whole of Appalachia and not just WNC. Among the exotic specimens to be featured in this exhibit alone - many facing the encroaching threats of the current global extinction crisis in the Amazon, Africa and Southeast Asia - are the Rhino, Tapir, Giant Anteater, Sandhill Crane and more. One other particular exhibit was to be for nocturnal wildlife and would include specimens such as the Vampire Bat, whose relative species are facing serious decline.I hope that whether or not you visit the Nature Center, reading this post before or after the visit will make you realize the gravity of the situation is heavier than you might realize, and make you want to take proper action, not only to help the Center meet its goals through grants and in-kind donations, but above all to inform many, many others realize that we are risk at losing these beautiful creatures and the habitats in which they thrive. These animals are NOT a short-term commodity or trending fad - they are LIVING, BREATHING, THRIVING lifeforms like us humans who have a right to live, who serve a purpose in maintaining a fragile ecological balance already at stake, and for whom we are responsible for protecting from the continuing threats of global warming, illegal poaching and monoculture farming, disease, the illegal pet trade and much more.If you want these animals to exist so that you and your friends and family - and their children and their childrens children - can see them with their own eyes and not just as an image in a book, documentary film or online, you owe it to yourself to do everything possible to keep the WNC Nature Center and all other factions of the AZA going and growing. Our co-existence with and protection of Nature must be maintained AT ALL COSTS!

Took my 18 month old for the first time and she absolutely loved it! They have so much to learn and do there, plenty to keep the youngsters happy and entertained. All the animals are out and moving around in their habitats (around this time of year), got a lot of awesome photos. They have little jungle gyms, a hiking trail and a petting zoo. It is well maintained, animals are happy and healthy. Definitely a place I’ll be taking her again.

I’ve been going to the nature center since I was a little kid. No matter how many times I go I always see or find something new to explore. They have made a ton of improvements recently, and have a lot of fun active learning stations for kids in between exhibits. I couldn’t recommend coming here more with kids (or just as a super fun walk for just adults)! I’ve also attended several little kid birthday parties here, it’s a great and educational place to celebrate.

This was a great place to bring my 2 year old son who loves animals. Not expensive either and the otters are very entertaining!

This is an awesome place for the whole family. The new renovations to the entrance and barn area are gorgeous, the animals are all well cared for and healthy and its a great way to get up close to some local wildlife. Educational programs are informative and fun for kids and adults. Dont miss the otter feedings!

Pretty cool place.

Took my daughter here and she loved it. All the animals and little critters. We had a great time and will definitely be back.

Really cool place for a great price! I loved seeing all the reptiles and watching the feedings! It’s a great place to visit with your family or friends to enjoy the animals that live in our own area! I will definitely be back!

Wonderful place that is an easy walk and a great place to view local wildlife and red pandas

Very awesome spot to explore. The kids loved it!

This is a great place to go. For the family, there are good kid activities to keep them entertained beyond just looking at animals. For the individual, there are nice long walking paths and a relaxed atmosphere. The animals are well cared for and seem relaxed and in their natural surroundings. The bathrooms are clean and the staff is friendly and happy to chat about their charges indefinitely.

I loved this place. Wish I could stay longer. I kept getting dirty looks though since my toddler was screaming bloody murder in a designated quiet zone. Sorry bears. Wish I couldve stayed longer, maybe next time. Very nice sized natural exhibits and I think its wonderful how they have wildlife that is from the area. Tons of activities for kids. Hopefully yours behave better than mine.

Top knotch park! Kid friendly and very interactive!

WNC Nature Center was a great experience. Very economical for a family of 4. Everybody had a blast seeing the animals and learning about them and the native trees/forestry. Highly recommend.

Wonderful place to view NC wildlife(and some from outside NC). Animals looked to have been well cared for, and happy. They even had heaters going for the owls, on the chilly day we were there. I was very impressed with WNC Nature Center!!

While on the small side, theres a lot to see and do here! Theres quite a few awesome exhibits for animals native to the region including the incredibly rare red wolf. Theres plenty of stops for kids to play and even a petting zoo at the beginning!

Close to town. Small but nice enough. If I lived close by, Id get a season pass and go walking on the shaded paths. It was hot when we went, so the animals werent very active. But it was still nice to see and learn a little about native animals.

Beautiful zoo tucked away in the woods. The animals are way less active in the summer than in cooler seasons. Keep in kind when planning a visit.

What a great little park. My Daughter and I enjoyed it

Great day trip, the size is perfect for little ones. The animals are well cared for.

Had a lot of fun here with my 10 and 13 year olds. Great price and very friendly staff. We especially enjoyed watching the otters be fed, the reptile house, and the walking trail.

Small zoo that does a great job representing the wildlife of the Appalachian Mountains. All the animals are well taken care of, and they also have Red and Grey Foxes, Coyotes, Raccoons and Opossum. All of these animals are a pain to aquire in North Carolina, even for a zoo (due to poor law writing), so seeing them here is one of the few places you can in the state. Local Geology: Gniess and Schist bedrock. Garnets can be found occasionally.

This was a fun little wildlife center. It was just as advertised. I left there feeling like I had encountered all of the local animals you wouldnt likely see in the wild--but it would be cool if you did (safely). The cougar was active and the red panda was adorable. Its mostly geared toward little ones, but I had fun with my 10/11 year old boys. It helped there was basketball courts nextdoor afterwards. I also went ahead and signed up for my local museum pass which could be used here. This makes the cost seem like its less of a big deal.

I wanted to go and support our local businesses. The WNC Nature Center is always enjoyable. The otters are my favorites!

I always love coming here. If I could visit more often, I would.

A lot of fun, and nice little day trip for the family. This place isnt the biggest reserve, but there is plenty to see and do here, and surrounding areas.The staff is very frienly, and the inhabitants are well kept. Highly recommend if you are looking for a easy little trip to take

A fun educational experience seeing the animals in a natural setting. Lots of information at each animal exhibit. Friendly staff and clean facility.

Great place. Easy to walk all paved. Not to big. Animals are in great care. Also has a play ground. Well shaded

Beautiful place, animals looked happy and healthy!

Its a nice small zoo to visit for a walk wikt kids....we really liked their new red pandas exhibit and predators like wolfs and mountain lions.

Nice animal enclosures. Saw most of the animals. Better early in the morning. Animals get hot and dont move around as much up in the day. Nice activities and play areas for children.

Great value and great times! They had a little bit of all the native animals to this region plus a few surprises.Well worth the time and money we spent here. Cant wait to come back and bring the whole family.

Not much animals. Only they have few animals. Never expected like this. Need to improve a lot. Good luck.

Its not very big but for the price its well worth it. A lot of cool animals from WNC! Also its great for little kids

This was a really cool place to visit when we had time to kill before our flight home. It was raining and cold when we went, but don’t let that deter you because we had the entire place to ourselves and the animals were still pretty active (cougar and otters especially).

Really cool place to chill ax look at the animals staff very knowledgeable nice to see the animals and then began a decent habitat instead of locked up in cages

First off it was today visit to a zoo....which was sad for animals. In mid fiscal matter ...wheres the grass

Worth it! Great place for a cute date or for families. The bobcat is sneaky (and sleepy), but the cougars are very visible and!! As of February 2019 they have TWO red pandas!Also otters-- very fun to watch.

This is a great place to visit in Asheville. It has species native to Western North Carolina. Its a great size for younger kids too. My 5 year old loves this place.

Great nature center, very relaxing and the displays for the animals are well placed with nice walking trails along the way. The best part was seeing the red pandas!!♡♡♡Definitely make this place a stop if you visit Asheville. Its a nice gateway from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

We stumbled upon this place using Siri on my son’s iPad and we couldn’t have been more happy.The prices are extremely reasonable and the enclosures are incorporated into the landscape. The animals seemed happy and had a good amount of room. They did a great job of integrating kid’s activities into the park keeping the whole family entertained.We spent about 2 hours here and really enjoyed it. It’s a great family activity that won’t break the bank.

Fun day for kids 4-10. Favorite animal was red panda.

WNC Nature Center is the coolest place in town. Not only do you get to view animals up close but they are in a setting that is spacious and much like their natural habitat. So you get to see the animals behaving much like they would in the wild. These animals arent caught for your viewing pleasure either, much like happens in a regular zoo. At the nature center these animals are part of a conservation effort OR are being rehabilitated for reentry into the wild. The walk throughout the center is serene and beautiful, with trees native to the area towering above and providing natural shade. Its a very relaxing and educational experience to come here.

Love it. year pass best deal in town. Gets you astc and aza all for free or half off, all over world.Great for traveling cheap stuff. Here fun and slow no rush. On a hill but not steep. People there great. Still own by city..

So kewlllll animals wooooo

Had an awesome time with my nephew Joseph at this great little gem. Check it out if you like wildlife and a little hike. Side note, the picture with the bobcat looking at you, he has egg yolk on his nose

Very affordable way to get up close and personal with some local wildlife! The pictures tell the story better than any words could- a must-see if you are in the area!

Loved this place. Me and my sister will be going back. We wanna go see the male & female red panda on February 14th 2019.