Fun In The Piedmont

North Carolina Zoo

Animals at home ‘in the wild’ make NC Zoo a family vacation favorite.

Come take a walk on the wild side at the North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro. You’ll see elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, chimpanzees, baboons, gorillas, bison, elk, otters, sea lions, alligators and more, all in environments similar to those in which they would live in the wild.

Situated in the scenic Uwharrie Mountains, the North Carolina Zoo is the nation’s largest walk-through, natural habitat zoo. Five miles of walkways meander through 500 acres of painstakingly re-created habitats of numerous African and North American animal species. Another 900 acres remain available for future development.

The world-class facility that was built on the natural habitat philosophy from its inception in 1974 is now better than ever. In April 2008, it unveiled the new multi-exhibit Watani Grasslands Reserve, which boasts some of the largest and most technologically advanced facilities in zoo-dom for the exhibition and care of elephants and rhinoceroses. With the opening of the Reserve, the elephant exhibit doubled in size from 3.5 acres to seven acres and is home to seven elephants, including Samantha, who arrived in October 2007 via truck from Canada’s Valley Zoo in Edmonton. An “immersion” walkway extends more than 100 feet out into the elephants’ living space, enabling visitors to get a close look at Samantha and her pachyderm pals – and vice versa.

At the African Pavilion, the western lowland gorilla routinely charges the glass barrier and thumps its chest, much to onlookers’ nervous delight.

Hundreds of exotic, brilliantly colored birds such as the scarlet ibis and Chilean flamingo populate the R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary, which also showcases more than 3,000 tropical plants in its enclosed rainforest environment.

Another indoor attraction, the Sonora Desert exhibit teems with creepy-crawly creatures such as tarantulas, giant hairy scorpions, vampire bats, Gila monsters and rattlesnakes, as well as not-creepy roadrunners and ocelots.

Interpretive galleries and informative signs throughout the zoo educate patrons about the vital connections between people, animals and the earth. To entertain and engage its youngest guests in the wonders of nature, the zoo features a playground that resembles a giant squash vine and contains a 3-foot ladybug, a 6-foot praying mantis and several super-size bees.

The North Carolina Zoo is open 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day). Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students and $6 for children ages 2-12. Zoo personnel advise visitors to allow at least five hours to fully explore the park.

Other nearby attractions include:

• Seagrove’s community of more than 100 potters and studios
• Level Cross’s Richard Petty Museum devoted to the "King" of stock car racing
• The North Carolina Aviation Museum in Asheboro
• Asheboro’s American Classic Motorcycle Museum devoted to more than 60 years of Harley-Davidson history

Getting There:
The North Carolina Zoological Park is located in Asheboro, at the geographic center of the state. It is about 75 miles west of Raleigh, 25 miles south of Greensboro and 85 miles north of Charlotte. Take Highway 64 to Zoo Parkway and follow the signs.

New at the Zoo

The "Acacia Station," a tree-level deck where zoo visitors can view the giraffes (including two new giraffes), is now open to the public. Acacia Station is located at the northern edge of the Forest Glade and will lift visitors into the trees to greet the giraffes while offering a bird's eye view of their habitat.

During its initial operation, Acacia Station will be free to visitors who will have a hand in helping keepers acclimate the zoo's five giraffes to the new viewing deck. Later on a $3 fee will be required.

By Carol Cowan, courtesy of Journal Communications  

added: December 22, 2008

updated: February 16, 2012