Western North Carolina Nature Center
A small zoo focused on native southern Appalachian animals, where you can see black bears, red wolves, and river otters up close.
The Western North Carolina Nature Center is a small municipal wildlife park in Asheville, housing about 60 species native to the southern Appalachians, including black bears, endangered red wolves, mountain lions, river otters, birds of prey, and farm animals. Most of the animals are rescued individuals that were injured. The park is small, so you can see everything in about 1.5 to 2 hours, making it great for families. Admission is about US$15, and it is roughly a 15-minute drive from downtown.
Opening hours
10:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Folk Art Center
- Biltmore Village
- Downtown Asheville & Pack Square
- Asheville Art Museum
- Thomas Wolfe Memorial
- South Slope Brewery District
- Omni Grove Park Inn
- Grove Arcade