Open 361 Days a Year: Admissions 10:00am – 3:30pm; park closes at 4:30pm

Holiday Gift Guide

Find gifts they'll go WILD for!

100 Years of Wild & 50 Years of Friends

Recreation Park Zoo opened in 1925, featuring exotic animals. The Friends nonprofit was established in 1975, helping bring about the Nature Center in 1977 with its focus on animals native to this region.

All year long, we'll be commemorating these two milestones!

Celebrate with Us!

See Our Wild Side

42 acres of award-winning habitats get you closer than you ever thought possible to the incredible wildlife of the Southern Appalachians

Meet Our Animals

Tickets

Experiences

Membership

Directions

Know Before You Go

Visitors will need to alter their typical route to accommodate for the loss of Gashes Creek Bridge due to Tropical Storm Helene.

DIRECTIONS:

• Drive to the Nature Center as normal, turning from Swannanoa River Road onto Azalea Road.

• Instead of turning right to cross the bridge as usual, continue straight for half a mile. This road is now TWO-WAY all the way to the roundabout. This two-way traffic pattern is new and can be narrow in places, so please use caution and drive carefully.

• At the roundabout, take the first exit. A traffic signal has been installed on either side of the one-way metal bridge.

• After crossing the metal bridge, turn left on Gashes Creek Road and enter the Nature Center’s parking lots.

• Guests will depart from the Nature Center in the same way.

ALTERNATE ROUTE:
To avoid narrow roads, guests can also access the Nature Center by turning onto Azalea Road East off of Tunnel Road (Rt. 70) near Xpertech Car Care.

• Follow Azalea Road East for two miles.

• At the roundabout, take the second exit. A traffic signal has been installed on either side of the one-way metal bridge.

• After crossing the metal bridge, turn left on Gashes Creek Road and enter the Nature Center’s parking lots.

• Guests will depart from the Nature Center in the same way.

OVERFLOW PARKING:
On busy days, overflow parking is available at the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex. Follow signs from the main parking lot.

PAYMENT:

The Ticket Office is now cashless. Tickets are available for purchase in advance online or in person using credit/debit and prepaid cash cards.

Tickets & Hours

We are open 361 days a year (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day).
Admissions from 10am-3:30pm with the park closing at 4:30 pm.
Our admissions windows are cashless. Tickets are available for purchase in advance online or in person using credit/debit and prepaid cash cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, and Apple Pay.

Adults

^$13^.95

plus tax

(City of Asheville - $9.95*)

Seniors (65+)

^$12^.95

plus tax

(City of Asheville - $8.95*)

Youth (13-15)

^$13^.95

plus tax

(City of Asheville - $9.95*)

Child (3-12)

^$9^.95

plus tax

(City of Asheville - $7.95*)

2 & Younger

FREE

All active duty and retired military receive free admission with ID.

*Asheville City residents receive discounted admission. The Nature Center is part of the City of Asheville’s Parks & Recreation Department, and Asheville residents’ tax dollars support the Nature Center’s operation.

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.
See all of our animals.

American Black Bear

Generally shy and reclusive animals, black bears avoid human contact and are not normally aggressive. Two black bears, Uno and Ursa, live at the Nature Center.

American Red Wolf

Red wolves are highly endangered species that has been eliminated from almost all of its natural range. Our breeding pair of red wolves, Oak and Gloria, are part of the AZA Species Survival Plan.

American Pygmy Goat

Similar to the Nigerian dwarf goat, the American pygmy is a small goat that only reaches 1-2 feet in height. They vary widely in coloration including white, tan, caramel, gray, and black.

Become a Member

Become a Friend of the WNC Nature Center today and enjoy savings and benefits as a member.

Corporate Friends

Our Corporate Friends help Keep Asheville Wild by supporting the WNC Nature Center’s animal habitats, education and recreation programming, and conservation efforts. Please support these local Sponsors and Partners!