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OPEN TODAY: 10AM-4:30PM Last Admission @ 3:30

See Our Wild Side

The WNC Nature Center offers 42 acres of award-winning habitats that bring you closer than ever to the incredible wildlife of Southern Appalachia

Featured Event
EGG-stravaganza!

April 4, 2026, 10:00AM
Bring some-bunny special to the Nature Center on Saturday, April 4! Kids can hop into our egg scavenger hunt. Once you’ve cracked the clues, bring your completed sheet to the Membership Office for a prize! From 10 a.m. to noon, catch our bobcats, b…

Get Tickets

Adults: $13.95 +tax
(City of Asheville: $9.95)


Seniors (65+): $12.95 +tax
(City of Asheville: $8.95)


Youth (13-15): $13.95 +tax
(City of Asheville: $9.95)


Child (3-12): $9.95 +tax
(City of Asheville: $7.95)


2 & Under: FREE

Explore the WNC Nature Center

Meet Our Animals

Black bears, red wolves, otters, and red pandas await you! Learn more about the special animals you’ll see who call the WNC Nature Center home.

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura
Turkey vultures are large black birds with bright, bare red heads. They have a wingspan of about 6 feet and are one of…

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus
Known for its triangular head, slanted eyes and elliptical pupils, the timber rattlesnake is venomous. Large and stock…

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis
Striped skunks are about the size of a domestic cat, weighing from 2.5 to 10 pounds. Typically, striped skunks have a…

Red Panda

Ailurus fulgens
Red pandas are, as named, covered in red fur with patches of black and white around their face and legs.

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes
The red fox resembles a bushy-tailed, medium-sized dog. The usual coloration is a bright rusty-red with black feet and…

Oberhasli Goat

Capra aegagrus hircus
The Oberhasli goat is a medium sized goat and they can weigh up to 150 pounds. Their tan, brown and black color patter…

Nigerian Dwarf Goat

Capra hircus
Nigerian dwarf goats are small in size and vary widely in coloration and patterns making them a popular farm animal.

Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus
Eastern musk turtles are a dark brown with yellow stripes on their head. They also have a dark brown carapace or shell…

Hellbender

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Growing up to 2 feet long and weighing more than 3 pounds, the eastern hellbender is among the world’s largest salaman…

Gray Wolf

Canis lupus
Gray wolves are large canines with a wide variety of colors mixing gray, white, and brown.  They are powerful animals…

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