Western North Carolina Nature Center – Located In Asheville, NC
Home to sixty species of wild and domestic animals and hundreds of species of plants, all representative of the unique bioregion of the Southern Appalachians. The zoo sits on a 42-acre site and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The original zoo, called The Asheville City Zoo, dates to the time of the Great Depression. In 1974 it started on a revitalization project and became the facility it is currently.
The zoo is located on a hill overlooking the Swannanoa River and most of the exhibits look as if they were just built within the natural landscape of the hill with minimal disruptions. It almost feels like you are walking a trail through the local mountains.
Species List as of 09/13/2025
The Farm Exhibit
A very large barn for indoor accommodations and multiple outdoor paddocks.
Cotswold Sheep
Sicilian Donkey
American Pygmy Goat
Angora Goat
Nigerian Dwarf Goat
Oberhasli Goat
Enclosed low lighted indoor exhibit with glass panels which is located inside the barn.
Stripped Skunk
Indoor/Outdoor Chicken Coop
Silver Spangled Hamburg Chicken
Brown Leghorn Chicken
Sicilian Buttercup Chicken
Egyptian Fayoumis Chicken
Blue Andalusian Chicken
Outdoor Exhibits
Black Bear Ridge
A large open natural exhibit with several climbing items. There is a small pond or pool, and the yard has plenty of shade and grass.
American Black Bear
Appalachian Cats
Good sized two-story fenced/netted natural exhibits with a shared small covered hut in between the two exhibits with large glass viewing panels for each of the exhibits. Both have plenty of enrichment items.
The Bobcats have many climbing items and plenty of shade trees and covered sleeping boxes.
Bobcat
The Mountain Lions have several rock perches with a waterfall and a small pond. There is also a covered den building inside the exhibit.
Mountain Lion (Cougar)
A very large slopping fenced natural exhibit with a stream and waterfalls. There are plenty of trees and other natural elements.
Gray Wolf
A very large two-story, slopping fenced natural exhibit with a stream and waterfalls. There is also a covered viewing area with glass panels.
Red Wolf
Large fenced and netted exhibit with plenty of natural elements and trees.
Coyote
Large two-story netted exhibit with plenty of climbing elements and shade. There is also n indoor exhibit with glass viewing panels.
Red Panda
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items. There are also glass viewing panels on one side of the exhibit.
Red Fox
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items. There are also glass viewing panels on one side of the exhibit.
Raccoon
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Gray Fox
Birds Of Prey
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Barn Owl
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Black Vulture
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Turkey Vulture
Otter Falls
Multi-level rock and water exhibit with a faux stream running down too a small pond. There is plenty of shade and swimming area for two the two otters. Exhibit has multiple viewing spots and two have glass underwater views.
North American River Otter
Turtle Pond (Outdoors)
A moderate sized exhibit with small natural pond fed by a small stream and plenty of plants and resting spots for the turtles. There is also plenty of land space and plants surrounding the for the Eastern Box Turtles. It was very nicely landscaped and looks like it has always been there.
Eastern Box Turtle
Red-Eared Slider
Painted Turtle
Yellow-Bellied Turtle
Appalachian Station (Indoors)
It may be a small sized building, but it is very well done. The exhibits are placed at a good height and are well lit. The visitor area is lit at a twilight level, which helps reduce the glare on the exhibits. There are natural murals and nighttime nature sounds, such as frogs croaking and owls hooting, playing in the background. There is also some good conservation information posted in various locations.
First Room
Two large nicely planted terrariums connected by a small tunnel.View media item 830409Corn Snake
Large thin aquarium that simulated a mountain stream with plenty of rocks and small live fish
Hellbender
Very large, tall terrarium with plenty of climbing branches.
Black Rat Snake
Moderate sized well planted terrarium
Northern Pine Snake
Large sized well planted terrarium
Northern Copperhead
Large sized well planted terrarium
Timber Rattlesnake
Second Room
All terrarium exhibits are well planted, natural looking and good sized for the animals in each exhibit
Marbled Salamander
Spotted Salamander
Gray Tree Frog
American Toad
Empty Exhibit
Carolina Anole
Eastern Garter Snake
Rough Green Snake
Juvenile Eastern Box Turtle
Row of well-planted aquarium exhibits.
Eastern Mud Turtle
Eastern Musk Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Eastern Red-Spotted Newt
Home to sixty species of wild and domestic animals and hundreds of species of plants, all representative of the unique bioregion of the Southern Appalachians. The zoo sits on a 42-acre site and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The original zoo, called The Asheville City Zoo, dates to the time of the Great Depression. In 1974 it started on a revitalization project and became the facility it is currently.
The zoo is located on a hill overlooking the Swannanoa River and most of the exhibits look as if they were just built within the natural landscape of the hill with minimal disruptions. It almost feels like you are walking a trail through the local mountains.
Species List as of 09/13/2025
The Farm Exhibit
A very large barn for indoor accommodations and multiple outdoor paddocks.
Cotswold Sheep
Sicilian Donkey
American Pygmy Goat
Angora Goat
Nigerian Dwarf Goat
Oberhasli Goat
Enclosed low lighted indoor exhibit with glass panels which is located inside the barn.
Stripped Skunk
Indoor/Outdoor Chicken Coop
Silver Spangled Hamburg Chicken
Brown Leghorn Chicken
Sicilian Buttercup Chicken
Egyptian Fayoumis Chicken
Blue Andalusian Chicken
Outdoor Exhibits
Black Bear Ridge
A large open natural exhibit with several climbing items. There is a small pond or pool, and the yard has plenty of shade and grass.
American Black Bear
Appalachian Cats
Good sized two-story fenced/netted natural exhibits with a shared small covered hut in between the two exhibits with large glass viewing panels for each of the exhibits. Both have plenty of enrichment items.
The Bobcats have many climbing items and plenty of shade trees and covered sleeping boxes.
Bobcat
The Mountain Lions have several rock perches with a waterfall and a small pond. There is also a covered den building inside the exhibit.
Mountain Lion (Cougar)
A very large slopping fenced natural exhibit with a stream and waterfalls. There are plenty of trees and other natural elements.
Gray Wolf
A very large two-story, slopping fenced natural exhibit with a stream and waterfalls. There is also a covered viewing area with glass panels.
Red Wolf
Large fenced and netted exhibit with plenty of natural elements and trees.
Coyote
Large two-story netted exhibit with plenty of climbing elements and shade. There is also n indoor exhibit with glass viewing panels.
Red Panda
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items. There are also glass viewing panels on one side of the exhibit.
Red Fox
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items. There are also glass viewing panels on one side of the exhibit.
Raccoon
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Gray Fox
Birds Of Prey
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Barn Owl
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Black Vulture
A large two-story netted natural exhibit with plenty of trees, nest boxes and various enrichment items.
Turkey Vulture
Otter Falls
Multi-level rock and water exhibit with a faux stream running down too a small pond. There is plenty of shade and swimming area for two the two otters. Exhibit has multiple viewing spots and two have glass underwater views.
North American River Otter
Turtle Pond (Outdoors)
A moderate sized exhibit with small natural pond fed by a small stream and plenty of plants and resting spots for the turtles. There is also plenty of land space and plants surrounding the for the Eastern Box Turtles. It was very nicely landscaped and looks like it has always been there.
Eastern Box Turtle
Red-Eared Slider
Painted Turtle
Yellow-Bellied Turtle
Appalachian Station (Indoors)
It may be a small sized building, but it is very well done. The exhibits are placed at a good height and are well lit. The visitor area is lit at a twilight level, which helps reduce the glare on the exhibits. There are natural murals and nighttime nature sounds, such as frogs croaking and owls hooting, playing in the background. There is also some good conservation information posted in various locations.
First Room
Two large nicely planted terrariums connected by a small tunnel.View media item 830409Corn Snake
Large thin aquarium that simulated a mountain stream with plenty of rocks and small live fish
Hellbender
Very large, tall terrarium with plenty of climbing branches.
Black Rat Snake
Moderate sized well planted terrarium
Northern Pine Snake
Large sized well planted terrarium
Northern Copperhead
Large sized well planted terrarium
Timber Rattlesnake
Second Room
All terrarium exhibits are well planted, natural looking and good sized for the animals in each exhibit
Marbled Salamander
Spotted Salamander
Gray Tree Frog
American Toad
Empty Exhibit
Carolina Anole
Eastern Garter Snake
Rough Green Snake
Juvenile Eastern Box Turtle
Row of well-planted aquarium exhibits.
Eastern Mud Turtle
Eastern Musk Turtle
Common Snapping Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Eastern Red-Spotted Newt