Cosley Zoo is a smaller zoo spanning over five acres, located in Wheaton, Ill., about 25 miles west of downtown Chicago. It is part of the Wheaton Park District and is an accredited zoo of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Cosley Zoo features domestic farm animals as well as wildlife native to the state of Illinois.
Cosley Zoo features more than 200 animals and 20 exhibits. This zoo is dedicated to recreation, education, and wildlife conservation. Admission to the zoo was free for everyone until this past year. Now, members and all children through age 17 remain free, as well as all residents of the Wheaton Park District area. Non-resident adults are now charged a small admission fee of $3 per person. This is still a great value in these times of increasing costs.
Cosley Zoo is a great place to take young children, as it is not so big as to be overwhelming, and you can actually cover the entire zoo within a couple of hours. It’s just the right size. There is a lovely picnic area near the entrance, and a great duck pond that captures kids’ attention, featuring many different varieties of ducks.
The barn is also a wonderful attraction, with goats and sheep and llamas just waiting to be petted by the kids. Outside the barn, a large horse and pony roam, and a cow and mule are awaiting your visit. Some of my personal favorite exhibits are those of the red foxes and raccoons, where I have captured many fabulous photos through the years. There is also a coyote, and a display of deer in their natural habitat. Peacocks wander among the deer, and they seem to get along famously.
Snakes and toads and bugs…oh my!… are on display for viewing during the warmer months, and are usually moved to the inside barn area when cooler weather hits. Then you will find a display of beautiful birds such as the cardinal and the oriole, and then amazing birds of prey like Red-Tailed hawks. There are also some amazing owls on display.
The kids will love being able to pet the animals in the barn, the enormous bunnies sitting in their exhibit, and the caboose in which they can climb up and do some fun, kid friendly activities inside. There is also a snack bar available, and a nice gift shop with various shirts, and animal theme toys and gifts. You will also find a display of poisonous dart frogs in a terrarium inside the gift shop, so don’t forget to stop by and see them.
In October, the Cosley Zoo holds a pumpkin festival, which is a great fall attraction. They decorate very nicely for this, and it really gives you a nice, festive, autumn feel. Obviously, the Chicago area boasts such major zoo attractions as the Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo, but the Cosley Zoo should not be overlooked and should be recognized for offering a pleasant afternoon of family fun, at a low cost. It’s definitely a place the kids will enjoy.Visit their web site at www.cosleyzoo.org .
Cosley Zoo is open year round, every day, with the exceptions of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.