Vilas (Henry) Park
4.7(4,902)4.7 out of 5 stars, 4902 reviews Madison, WI
About Vilas (Henry) Park
A fantastic, free-admission zoo that offers a great variety of well-cared-for animals, engaging primate and predator exhibits, and educational write-ups, though visitors should prepare for limited parking and highly expensive on-site dining.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a high-value, budget-friendly outdoor activityQuick educational trips to see a diverse range of active animalsToddlers and preschoolers who can utilize the rentable wagonsSchool-age children who can engage with the educational animal write-ups
Why families love it
- Free admission making it highly accessible
- Engaging primate house featuring active orangutans
- Up-close views of active lions and tigers
- Educational plaques featuring individual animal names and fun facts
- Rentable wagons and wheelchairs available at the entrance
- Primate house and monkey area
Insider tips
- Bring your own lunch or snacks to avoid the high cafe prices
- Pay close attention to landmarks and signs to locate the exit easily
- Look out for sandhill cranes roaming near the parking lot area
- Rent a wagon at the entrance to make transporting young children easier
Good to know before you go
- Buying lunch at the cafe if you are on a budget
- Expecting to see giraffes as they have been relocated
- On-site cafe food is extremely expensive, costing over $60 for two people
- Parking is limited and can be confusing to navigate
- The exit can be difficult to find due to poor signage layout
- Crowds
- Can be very quiet and uncrowded, particularly on off-peak or colder days
- Value
- Incredible value due to free admission, though on-site dining is a major hidden cost with lunch for two exceeding $60.
- Food
- Upgraded cafe food is available on-site but is very expensive
- Accessibility
- Rentable wheelchairs are available for visitors with mobility needs
- Safety
- Well-maintained animal enclosures that keep visitors safe while allowing good visibility
What parents say
"I absolutely loved the zoo. I didn't get to see all the exhibits, but the ones I did see were exciting. I hadn't seen some of their animals in person before, so I loved being able to observe them. Only thing is some of the animals are nocturnal so they were asleep 🤣. The zoo includes write-ups about the animals including their individual names and a few fun facts about them. Best part? Admission is free! It was kind of hard to find the exit, though so pay close attention to signs and landmarks."
9 months ago
"I was in a cold day. The tiger and lions were awake. Is a nice zoo, small and free. The monkeys area is nice."
3 months ago
"Always 5 stars! Sadly the giraffe had been moved, so we didn't get to see them. But there were a lot of other animals to see. The riger was napping behind his favorite rock. The rhinoceros was moving trees (whole trees). The flamingos were very fun and colorful. The bats made my wife run from the aviary. The poison frogs were beyond adorable. There was a little green one that was about 1/4" long! So tiny! It was so "not busy", it was a blessing. The sand hill cranes were in the parking lot and I got to feed them mullberries from the tree, as they were otherwise waiting for the berries to fall "
9 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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