Henry Vilas Zoo
Zoo Henry Vilas Zoo, 702 S Randall Ave, Madison, WI 53715, United States:
220 reviews
of visitors, the most complete information about the address, business hours, location on the map, photos, phone number, website and other contacts.
Address: 702 S Randall Ave, Madison, WI 53715, United States
Website: henryvilaszoo.gov
Phone number: +1 608-266-4732
GPS coordinates
Latitude: 43.0606974Longitude: -89.4099191
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reviews
Lorenz Mager
We had a great family day at the zoo! My daughter loves her giraffes , we even got a pretty cool picture of the giraffe up close! You can tell this zoo takes very good care of the animals. We love going here during the summer times. The zoo is free which is a plus! However we always donate when we go. ???? Henry villa zoo, is one of our favorites! Staff is very friendly too and loved listening to their stories about the animals!
1 month ago
Brad Gunner
Several animals are off display to protect them from covid, and the indoor animal houses are unavailable to protect the guests, but the zoo is a treasure and well worth supporting. There are also outside concessions, if an ice cream or hot dog are a key part of your visit.
1 month ago
Valara Keesey
We had an amazing time!! We took a mini birthday vacation and first time here! Kids loved it! Zoo was very well kept, kind staff, lots of animals, and had an overall awesome time! Kids enjoyed eating lunch near the polar bears and watching them come by the windows. Can't believe this is a free zoo! We would totally come again if in town!
1 month ago
Brandon Pena
Where else can you still find something fun and exciting that passes time for free?!?!? They have done pretty well with allowing the experience to happen happen even accommodate food and the gift shop. Be aware that they still have the buildings closed though!
1 month ago
Chris Roland
Small zoo but it’s free, fun for a break! Small parking lot but if you go left instead of right there are more spots in the back or street parking. Lots of animals were not in the exhibits, playground was closed and you need to pay $3 per person to ride the carousel (even the parent just standing by the child riding). But the Zoo is free and it was a nice break from a long car ride for the kiddos.
1 month ago
Jana Kameda
Henry Vilas Zoo was a great experience. My daughter had fun, and that's what matters. I didn't expect too much from a zoo that only costs a non specified amount of donation, and we had a great time. I would highly recommend.
1 month ago
Peter Kingson
Free zoo. Cant complain. In house exhibits were closed but there were a surprising amount of exibits that were available. A nice walk in a nice setting. There is a beautiful park near water next to the zoo as well.
1 month ago
Anna Tekhlikidi
Absolutely fantastic Zoo. Loved the exhibits. I couldn’t believe it was a FREE Zoo. We made a cash donation to help with anyway we could. Thank you for this excellent exhibit!
1 month ago
c sul
Love the zoo so much! Hadn't visited since Covid-19 and felt really safe with all the precautions the zoo were taking. I love the capybaras and the aardvark and the flamingos the best ????
1 month ago
Eric Hudson
This is a great place to spend part of your afternoon. I've been here before and love it! Today was a little disappointing as a number of exhibits were closed and there was never any announcements made or signs put up indicating that. That being said, hearing the lion's loud roaring, the rhino throwing a huge log around, and the porcupines standing on their back legs while eating a piece of lettuce was certainly a treat. Best of all, this place is free!
1 month ago
evelyn rivera
An enjoyable zoo, if a bit smaller. We visited didn't Covid-19 so many exhibits weren't open. The polar bears were great, same for the baggers. Penguins not so much.
1 month ago
Hannah Stimpson
Due to covid precautions none of the buildings or playground was open.
They did open the carousel, which the kids enjoyed. But with it still being cold most animals were still inside. Kids still enjoyed it and the animals that were out were pretty active for the most part. We'll still be back this summer!!
***Only a couple photos most were videos.
3 months ago
Alan Grossberg
So disappointed in my zoo experience today, somewhere I have cherished memories of over the past 14 years or so. Whomever volunteered at the front gate this afternoon was unnecessarily rude and inappropriate to the situation as I came unprepared to mask up outside. As I was saying a quick hello and goodbye to a friend, prepared to leave the park because I wasn’t going to wear a mask, the volunteer yelled from a bout 35 feet away, loudly and rudely. I was not uncooperative and was was about to exit the park when the volunteer decided to call security. It was all of 2 minutes that this occurred.
Had the volunteer had enough human decency to politely confront me to ask me to put a mask on, she would have been informed of the situation. We could have had a warm and kind exchange, Instead, she decided to escalate to the situation in and act of humiliation and aggressiveness.
This volunteer is poor representation for a wonderful park and for which I do have respect for their precautions.
Please train volunteers to act with civility with their guest, otherwise perhaps they are not suited for the position.
The most important thing is to treat others kindly. I’m not sure why she chose the action she did.
I will not return to the zoo even with my mask.
3 months ago
Personal Assistant
Absolutely wonderful place, the animals all look very healthy and the whole place was really clean. We had a great day, we'll definitely be visiting again. Thank you for sharing these amazing animals with us
1 month ago
Kartik Kadel
It's a nice getaway and free but they went a little overboard with their covid response. The only foodstand that was open when I was there was crazy slow.
1 month ago
Mark P
Loved seeing so many children again after the year of covid restrictions ????♀️????♂️????♂️
1 month ago
Weronia Kwiecinski
Great zoo, all builds were closed because of covid tbough
1 month ago
Betsy Lundy
Wonderful place to just enjoy some family time and animals, best ice cream shop around.
2 months ago
Tara O
Great family place that is free and entertaining. Our grandson loved all the animals. Only wish the indoor exhibits were open and more signs to let you know where
you're going.
1 month ago
Anne Ryan
Great experience! Kids had a great time! Perfect weather for the zoo.
1 month ago
Bonnie Criner
Love going here!! Got engaged in front of the polar bears last year!! <3
1 month ago
Jovan Funches
Had a blast with my family and it's free. Highly recommended!
1 month ago
Stephanie Pare
Inside places are still currently closed but it was still fun and a beautiful day. Large animals are outside such as lion/tiger/rhino/giraffe/flamingos etc.
1 month ago
Angela Roney
Beautiful weather today so lots of animals out. Indoor exhibits are still closed but was a great trip with the 4&1yo. Brought picnic lunch &big kid got icecream ????
1 month ago
Brian Perry
One of my favorites! Free admission (please donate if you are able). Just the right size zoo not to be overwhelming, but with a great variety of exhibits that rival larger zoos.
2 months ago
Tony Varas
We adore this zoo. The staff is just incredible and there's always something special going on for the kids. We always stop for some chocolate shoppe ice cream too!
1 month ago
Reuven Glanz
Very nice smaller zoo. Its amazing that the zoo is free. Plenty of staff. Highly recommend. Parking is free, but space is limited in parking lot. It took us about an hour to walk around the entire zoo.
2 months ago
Adam Clayton
Very nice zoo with lots of paths to animal and plant exhibits. Great walking paths....wish I lived closer!
1 month ago
Glenn Miller
Zoos are so fun, and this one is really neat with all the animals it has, especially for being a non profit zoo. Great place for people of all ages!
1 month ago
Angela M
Exhibits bottlenecked and miss some important ones. I dearly love the animals though and happiest with them and observing.them.
4 weeks ago
agustina Perez
Not bad for a free zoo experience, however none of the buildings were open to view animals...BUT the building with the carousel was????? So, going into a building when you have to pay for something is ok, but otherwise it’s not. Priorities:(
1 month ago
Frank Vennix
Amazing afternoon or morning trip! Lots of knowledgeable workers and volunteers to tell you about the animals and their habitats.
1 month ago
anna primak
Safety measures in place. Clean. Nice exhibits. It's the end of February,so still chilly and many animals are inside yet. Lions,Tigers, seals, bison, badger, camel and more were out and visible though. Must wear mask unless eating or drinking.
3 months ago
Tom Millard
Took the fam here for the first time, loved it, even if everything wasn't open just yet!
2 months ago
Marshall Doane
Had fun here great to bring kids or a date. Very nice and helpful staff would definitely visit again if I go back to Wisconsin.
2 months ago
Andres Dominges
Best zoo around! Love when the lions and tiger come out!
1 month ago
Paul Fehmel
Go here if you have the chance, the zoo is great and it could use all the foot traffic it can get right now. My kid loves wondering around here.
1 month ago
Nili Simhai
It was a beautiful day to go the zoo! Pleasantly surprised that most people wore masks! Some of the exhibits were closed but perfect for an impatient grandson!! Can't wait to go back!!
2 months ago
Kelly Haskee
The Zoo has drastically changed since I was last there in the 90's. I cannot tell how much are the effects of Covid 19 and how much is financial. But none of the indoor exhibits were open. They had very few outside exhibits visibly occupied outside. Some notables missing were the polar bear and penguines. The polar bear in particular used to have an outdoor exhibit featuring him swimming up close and personal in a pool of water which was visible to park visitors. That's now gone either to the seals or otters can't tell which. Elephant's are now extinct at most all of the smaller Zoo's these days so I won't hold that against them. But barely worth the 2 1/2 hr drive the tiger came out as we were leaving and he pretty much saved the day unlike the lazy lay about lions he was quite active and our grand kids are still impressed and talking about him. Scarcely the zoo I remembered it to be....probably won't be back not a very handicapped friendly Zoo either. Thank you
2 months ago
Michael Brasslett
Peaceful days in family. Nice animals in big spaces. A must if you have kids...and it's for free.
2 months ago
Andrew Antill
It's free with free parking!! The animals are always out and about and I'm in love with this zoo!!!!
1 month ago
Lynn Stephens
Had a fantastic day out with my daughter and grandkids!
2 months ago
Mark N
This zoo is free and open to the public and is situated at an excellent cross roads near downtown Madison. I do not know what more could be asked for. The landscape of the exhibits is inspired and fun to traverse and in particular the Badger exhibit is an excellent rescue omage to Bucky and Wisconsin's whole story as a mascot and a mining state. I didn't expect that level of historical learning, but Herny Vilas Zoo is just that great.
3 months ago
Sven S
Out favorite zoo. We came bright and early and was able to find parking. We were sad to not be able to go into the buildings, but covid-19 ruins many things these days. We enjoyed our time and saw most animals.
2 months ago
Mk Watson
Great free zoo. Weren't sure what would be out in the winter but the lions and tigers were. It was much easier to see them without all the vegetation. The zoo was also not crowded.
4 months ago
Liz Andujar
It was a good visit for a Thursday. Not that many people were there. It was clean. Unfortunately many of the exhibits indoors are still closed.
2 months ago
Daniel Osorio
Nice place to spend a good time with kids.. . We had a lot of fun...
1 month ago
Michael Azevedo
I hadn't been here since I was probably 6 or 8 years old, and it's still just as wonderful!
Very well maintained, excellent staff, and even with the buildings closed due to covid, still well worth the trip.
Lions, tigers, and bears (oh my). Otters, seals, bison, and an orangutan gathering parts to build some sort of devious device, probably to try to take over the world. I think it might have been some kind of mechanized orangutan suit being driven by two lab mice, but I didn't get any proof, so it's just speculation as of right now.
We had a really great time, and look forward to returning again someday.
Many Pokestops and several gyms for the Go players.
8 months ago
Ronald Cotoni
Love this zoo. The animals were very active
1 month ago
Band Mann
This was a great zoo to visit! We can't wit to go in the summer!! The polar bears were so active! We wish we had 2 at the Milwaukee zoo
5 months ago
