Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Little Known Zoo In Northern Utah

Until just a few years ago, when I took my daughters on one of our "adventure days," I hadn't realized that Logan, Utah had a zoo. At 15 acres (including the surrounding park), it is quite a bit smaller than Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, but it doesn't make the Willow Park Zoo any less appealing. In fact, Willow Park Zoo, in the times that I have been there, has been far less crowded and far more serene than Hogle Zoo. It doesn't have the "big ticket" animals such as elephants, lions and giraffes, but my children found the zoo exciting in a whole different way- it seemed a much more personal, up close experience with the animals.

Located in Willow Park, adjacent to the Cache County Fairgrounds, the zoo was opened in 1971. It is both easy to find and get to. The selection of animals for a small zoo is impressive. They have 11 mammal species, over 100 bird species from around the world, and a good selection of reptiles and fish. One of my children's favorites was the turtle exhibit. I liked seeing both the bald eagle and the bull elk.

For what you get to experience in this relaxing environment, the entrance fee ($2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children 12 and under) is well worth it. If you have a membership to Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, there is a reciprocal agreement that gets you into Willow Park Zoo for free.

Make a day of going to Willow Park Zoo, pack a lunch, wander a bit, and play in the beautiful park. Later on, you could even head up the street to the Utah State University Campus and buy some "Aggie" ice cream for everyone. The Willow Park Zoo was probably one of the more relaxing of all the "adventure days" we went on.

Place: Willow Park Zoo
Location: 419 West 700 South, Logan, UT
Phone: 435.716.9265
Hours: 9 a.m. to Sunset, Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Cost: $ (Adults- $2.00, Children 12 and under- $1.00)


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Distance From:
Salt Lake City: 81.7 miles
Ogden: 47 miles
Provo: 123 miles
Logan (downtown): 1.8 miles

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