Henry Vilas Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo and its collection
Henry Vilas Zoo, opened in 1911, is a zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.
History
Fifty acres were handed to the city in 1904 by William Freeman Vilas, a former senator, and his wife Anna. Their gift came with a stipulation that the land serve only as a public park. The name commemorates their son Henry, who had died of complications of diabetes in 1899, aged 27.
Animals and collection
American bison occupy the George Fait prairie yard. Lions and Amur tigers are kept in enclosures fitted with heated rocks for winter.
Exhibits
Arctic Passage, from 2015, holds polar bears, grizzlies and harbour seals, and the Wisconsin Heritage Trail, dating from 2016, covers the state's mining past. A rainforest aviary costing $4.2 million opened in 2000. The Primate House, opened in 1995, keeps Bornean orangutans and two species of lemur.
Things to do
Things to do include Giraffe Feeding, Behind the Scenes Tours, Guided Walking Tours, Breakfast with the Animals and Evening Programs.
What the venue says
- On-site dining is available at the **Glacier Grille & Zoo Snacks** , which features indoor seating with a polar bear viewing area as well as quick-bite American fare like burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and ice cream.
- The zoo features three on-site parking lots which are completely free of charge.
- The zoo offers wheelchair-accessible event paths with automatic doors, and wheelchairs are available for rent at Guest Services.
- They also partner with KultureCity to offer free sensory bag checkouts (complete with noise-canceling headphones and fidget tools) for guests with sensory processing needs.
Images of Henry Vilas Zoo
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Gatovilas, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Staticshakedown, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Staticshakedown, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Staticshakedown, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Alexculli, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Sumanuil, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Corey Coyle, CC-BY-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Corey Coyle, CC-BY-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Corey Coyle, CC-BY-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Mike Goad, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opening hours
| Days | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Every day | 09:30 | 17:00 |
Hours can change on public holidays. Check with the venue before travelling.
Hours may vary on holidays
Admission
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Zoo train / carousel ride | 3.00 USD |
Facilities
- Night and evening opening
- Animal encounter
- Animal feeding experience
- Behind-the-scenes tour
- Guided tour
Exhibitions & events
No upcoming events
No temporary exhibitions or scheduled public events are published for Henry Vilas Zoo at this time.
Accreditation
Location & map
WisconsinMadison
United States
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© OpenStreetMap contributors
Frequently asked questions
No frequently asked questions yet
We have not published any questions and answers for Henry Vilas Zoo.
Animals
Photographs show each species in general. They were not taken at Henry Vilas Zoo.
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African Lion -
Bornean Orangutan -
Polar Bear
Exhibits
- Giraffe Pavilion