Wildlife Prairie Park - Hanna City, IL
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 40° 44.123 W 089° 44.161
16T E 268965 N 4512983
Wildlife Prairie Park, recently taken back into private ownership, has many fenced in areas where animals can roam among wooded or prairie habitats, and a train that you can ride in.
Waymark Code: WMJHV8
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 11/21/2013
Views: 3
Near Hanna City, off I-74, is Wildlife Prairie Park, a zoo with natural habitats and a train that you can ride.
To get to the zoo, from I-74, take Exit 82 onto Kickapoo-Edwards Road. Go south on this road to the entrance to the zoo on the east (left) side.
Wildlife Prairie Park is a place with both a zoo and a miniature railroad to ride on. You first go through the admission gates and then follow the road to a parking area. The zoo is at the parking lot further back.
From the web site:
"Located just outside of Peoria, IL, this 2,000 acre zoological park is home to over 150 animals; that's 50 different species that are native to Illinois. Our guests come to learn about wolves, bison, waterfowl, black bears, elk, cougar, otter and much more. You will enjoy the Park's spectacular natural landscape and our many avenues of recreation: hiking, biking, fishing, and lodging, and a train ride, too!"
There are trails where you walk around to see the animal displays. There's no guarantee that they will be visible, especially in the heat of the day - like we were in. But you will likely see most of them. There is also a reptile house where you can see various snakes, frogs and toads. At the time of the visit (09.2013) the butterfly house was in its final stages of construction.
The zoo was started in 1978 by Bill Rutherford. The original idea was to be a place to raise rare and exotic animals for the Brookfield Zoo (near Chicago). Those plans changed, but the founding of the zoo went on anyway as a place to show native animals and vegetation. In 2000, the deed to the zoo was handed over to the State of Illinois, and it became a state park. Within the last year, the zoo has returned to a private operation, run by the Friends of Wildlife Prairie.
Admission (Full List)
General Admission (April 1 thru October 31):*
Ages 13 & up $8.00
Ages 3-12 $6.00
Ages 2 & under FREE
WPSP Members FREE
Senior Citizens (65+) $7.00
At other months, the fees are a dollar less.
Zoo Website address: [Web Link]
Admission Cost: 8.00 (listed in local currency)
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Visit Instructions:
Please tell us a story about your visit to the zoo and the date of your visit. Additional photos, especially animals, are appreciated, but not required.