Western North Carolina Nature Center — Attraction in Asheville

We love visiting that nature center. We have the annual pass for a family. We live a little over an hour away, but we've already been three times since June. I don't think a lot of reviewers realize that this is not a regular zoo. these are animals that are native to this area. That's why there's a petting zoo with farm animals, which I do not like that there's not someone there to let you in to put the animals anymore. That used to be a very nice feature. Theres deer, black bear, two different kinds of owls, a hawk, wolves, red panda, fox, coyotes, snakes, bugs, fish, etc. Some of you said there was two or three animals, that is not true. There's also a time when they come out and feed the otters and do other programming that you can catch. There's three nice little play areas for the kids. The bathrooms are clean and there's two or three bathrooms around the park. There's a brand new nice gift shop. There's a wall where you can paint with water, our 1-year-old absolutely love this along with my 4-year-old niece. There's a really neat old tractor that you can sit on and we were lucky enough to meet a man who was visiting He was able to tell us all about the tractor because he actually drove on us a child.

I do feel some things could be updated. I don't know if they need to do some better fundraising, which they seem to do with some of the events that they host that cost more money. I feel like the otter area I could be cleaned up, there is another play area that has a puppet show and some wooden toys you can build with, this area could be a lot nicer and better. There are a few things that can use a little updating. I believe they are working to fundraise and update. I know the flood did some damage. But that being said it is still a very nice zoo worth the price and especially if you live in the area or can visit more than once just do the family pass.

More picnic tables throughout the park, would be nice or even a little...

Let me start by saying, the folks who work in this facility, aside from the guy at the ticket booth, are hard-working individuals who have a passion for caring for these animals and educating the public. We appreciate the time and effort you have spent sowing into the lives of the animals who call the Nature Center home and the members of our community. I grew up in Asheville and lived there for 20 years. With all of the devastation that Helene caused, it is amazing how much work has been done to restore this facility, in which I spent a lot of my childhood. We were members of the Nature Center for most of the years my children were young and made a visit to the Nature Center a weekly routine for them! That being said, I realize the revenue from this facility helps to restore it from all of the damage, but when I currently live 50 minutes west of there and I have spent so many years supporting this organization, and the ticket booth operator tells me that I am not considered local enough to pay the local price, when my mom still lives in the designated area, it honestly does start my visit off on a bad note. We brought our family in to see the “new” exhibits that we were told about. I’m not sure if it is because of the damage from Helene or what, but since our last visit, there were less animals in each exhibit and some had none at all. The facility looks nice, but the variety is not what we have experienced in the past. Most of the exhibits had only one animal of its kind and they looked lonely and most were lying in a corner. Sadly, this place where we made so many wonderful memories has become an over-priced walking path with a few animals and plenty of opportunities to spend money on vending machine stuffed animals and gem mining. Next time we will head to the Knoxville Zoo! So...

We had a great time today at the WNC. The park is very reasonably priced, with me and three kids totaling $35. The staff were all very knowledgeable and engaged. All the animals had access to water and shade. The otter show was really enjoyable, as was the deer feeding. A few things to note for your trip:

Arrive as soon as the park opens, at 10 AM. Go directly to the large animal exhibits. You are much more likely to see them out and active earlier in the day; as the sun rises they are more likely to go into the shade and nap, which will make them harder to see. You can go back and do the indoor (air-conditioned!), exhibits when the sun is highest in the sky. Pack a lunch. There is no concession stand on site. We brought a compact rolling cooler. There is a playground and picnic area at the back end/halfway point of the park, with restrooms and a fountain. I recommend stopping there to rest before moving on. This may not be the best place for people with health issues. There is a significant amount of walking, and shortcuts through the park all have stairs. I did not see any motorized carts available. If you really want to come with someone who has a hard time walking, it would be best to call ahead and ask what they can do to accommodate you. Have realistic expectations. It is a zoo, not a circus. If one or two animals are unavailable, it shouldn’t ruin your day. The whole place is filled with natural beauty, with song birds in the trees and the sounds of leaves in the wind and miniature waterfalls. You will still have lots to see even if a few animals...