WNC Nature Center is a zoo and wildlife park in Asheville, Buncombe County, in North Carolina's Asheville & Foothills. Admission: from $16.95. Hours: 10:00am – 4:30pm, last entry at 3:30pm; Open 361 days a year; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Facts read from the official site on October 27, 2026.
- Hours10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.official hours below
- AdmissionFrom $16.95
- WhereAshevilleBuncombe County, Asheville & Foothills
- DogsNot published
Not confirmed: The official site blocked our reader, so the hours and the youth and child prices below come from the site's own search excerpt, and adult and senior prices, parking and accessibility are not published here. Check wildwnc.org before you go.
About WNC Nature Center
A city-run wildlife park in Asheville showing animals native to the southern Appalachians.
- Open 361 days a year
- Friends membership includes free daily admission and early entry at 9:30 AM
- Visitors may need an altered route because the Gashes Creek Bridge was lost in Tropical Storm Helene
Plan It in Three Lines
Getting In
Admission: from $16.95.
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.Make It a Day
Blue Ridge Parkway is about 1 mile away (straight line).
5 places within 30 miles
WNC Nature Center Hours
Hours in a day
- OpenEvery day10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Bars that fade start at sunrise or end at sunset or dark, which move with the season. The full hours, word for word, are in the list below.
- 10:00am – 4:30pm, last entry at 3:30pm
- Open 361 days a year; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Hours source: official site, read October 27, 2026.
Admission and Parking
- Youth (13-15)$16.95
- Children 3-12$12.95
- Children 2 and underFree
The first price on each official line (where online and gate prices differ, the line below says which). Read October 27, 2026.
- Youth (13-15): $16.95 + tax (City of Asheville: $11.95 + tax)
- Children 3-12: $12.95 + tax
- Children 2 and under: free
- Active-duty and retired military: free with ID
Directions and Contact
- Address: 75 Gashes Creek Road
- Phone: 828-259-8080
- Map point: 35.57823,-82.49494, from the US Census geocoder on the official address. Directions in Google Maps
- Official site: wildwnc.org
Dogs and Accessibility
- Dogs: Not published on the official site.
- Accessibility: not published on the pages we read.
Near WNC Nature Center
- 1Blue Ridge ParkwayNational Parkway (NPS Scenic Drive)under 1 mi
- 2Biltmore EstateHistoric House, Gardens and Wineryabout 3 mi
- 3Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State ParkState Park Attraction With Elevator, Trails and Waterfallabout 17 mi
- 4Chimney Rock State ParkState Parkabout 17 mi
- 5Mount Mitchell State ParkState Parkabout 17 mi
Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.
Coming Up in Asheville
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WNC Nature Center | Oct 24-Mar 31, 2027 (not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | Adults $16.95 plus tax ($11.95 City of Asheville residents); seniors 65+ $15.95 ($10.95); more prices on the event page |
| Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore | Nov 3-Jan 9, 2027 (not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| UNC Asheville Bulldogs Men's Basketball vs Western Carolina | Sat, Nov 7 (5:30 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Stephen Lynch: The Me Tour | Wed, Nov 11 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Hudson Westbrook: The Hits Me Tour | Fri, Nov 13 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum | Nov 13-Jan 3, 2027 (Gates open 6:00 PM, last entry 9:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| A Magical Cirque Christmas | Sun, Nov 15 (Doors 5:00 PM; show 6:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| National Gingerbread House Display at The Omni Grove Park Inn Our guide | Nov 17-Jan 3, 2027 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Hiss Golden Messenger: I'm People Tour | Thu, Nov 19 (Show 8 PM; doors not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Ingles Southern Conference Women's Volleyball Championships | Nov 19-22 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| 80th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade | Sat, Nov 21 (11:00 AM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Rock N Roll Rewind: 4th Annual Black Friday Show | Fri, Nov 27 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Fireside Collective's Family Jamboree | Sat, Nov 28 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| UNC Asheville Bulldogs Men's Basketball vs Georgia Southern | Sat, Nov 28 (2:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Get the LED Out: A Celebration of The Mighty Zep | Thu, Dec 3 (Time not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| The Big Crafty | Dec 5-6 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | Saturday $10; Sunday free to the public (online may add processing fees) |
| NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet | Mon, Dec 7 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Matthew West: Come Home for Christmas Live on Tour | Thu, Dec 10 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam Our guide | Sat, Dec 12 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Thievery Corporation 30th Anniversary Tour | Dec 13-14 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM both nights) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Grahame Lesh & Friends | Fri, Dec 18 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| New Year's Eve: Hot in Herre 2000s Dance Party | Thu, Dec 31 (Doors 9 PM; show 10 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| The Avett Brothers New Year's Eve | Thu, Dec 31 (Doors 7:00 PM; show 8:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| The Gala 2027 Women's Gymnastics Competition | Jan 8-10 (Doors 7:00 AM daily) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | Tickets only at the door, cash only: adult $25 (weekend $40); more prices on the event page |
| Sons of Cream | Fri, Jan 15 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Marc Maron: Yammering Into The Void Tour | Thu, Jan 21 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Braxton Keith with Wild Bill and The Bruisers | Sat, Jan 30 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Carmina Burana with Immersive Projection Art | Sat, Jan 30 (Doors 7:00 PM; show 8:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Billy Strings Winter 2027 Tour (five nights) | Feb 4-9 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience | Sun, Feb 7 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Taylor Tomlinson: Nobody Asked You to Do That | Fri, Feb 19 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Cory Wong featuring dodie with special guest PREP | Wed, Feb 24 (Doors 5:30 PM; show 6:30 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Wizard of Oz on Ice | Sun, Feb 28 (Doors 2:00 PM; show 3:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| NEEDTOBREATHE: The Long Surrender Tour | Thu, Mar 11 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
From our checked events calendar, matched by venue name and town; times and tickets are on each organizer’s page.
Also see Asheville & Foothills events.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does WNC Nature Center cost?
From $16.95. Youth (13-15): $16.95 + tax (City of Asheville: $11.95 + tax); Children 3-12: $12.95 + tax; Children 2 and under: free
What are the hours at WNC Nature Center?
10:00am – 4:30pm, last entry at 3:30pm; Open 361 days a year; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Can I bring a dog to WNC Nature Center?
The official site does not say.
What We Could Not Verify
- ZIP not read.
- Hours and prices change; check the official site the day you go.
Sources
- WNC Nature Center: hours (read 2026-10-27)
- WNC Nature Center: official site (read 2026-10-27)
- OpenStreetMap (map point)
Last checked October 27, 2026 by the It’s North Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “WNC Nature Center”, itsnorthcarolina.com/places-to-go-in-north-carolina/wnc-nature-center/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.