Small zoo in the suburb of Chicago that offers free admissions in December. Kids can spend about an hour or so to check out all the different animals, from chicken and rabbits, to racoons, llama, and Canada lynx. The newest additions are 2 coyotes. The lights turn on at 3PM. They also sell Christmas tree and weaths in December. read more

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I had no idea about that "Cosley Zoo" existed until I found the deal on Groupon. My partner and I were planning a weekend getaway with the kids and "Cosley Zoo" came into the picture. The Groupon offer was equivalent to 50% off per adult, plus an internal promo code. That definitely sealed the deal for us. The surrounding area was having some constructions, but the direction to parking lot was clearly marked. I could see this zoo would be designed for local residents, but this was a quality one for taking small children for some good time. The animals appeared to be well taken care off. We dined at their cafe and the food wasn't too expensive. The giftshop was nicely air-conditioned and that was really a treat after a walk/chase with the little ones. My conlusion is that there is no need to travel specifically for "Cosley Zoo" unless you are also visiting other places in the area and happen to stop by. However, our little ones had great fun (no charge on admission for children under 11 year old) and helped us make some wonderful memories as a family. read more

Cosley Zoo is a wonderful outing destination, especially for families. They have a surprising amount of animals and a cute little gift shop. We visited during the holiday lights event, during which admission is free and they sell fresh Christmas trees. It was so much fun and we can't wait to return again when the weather is warmer. read more

Great day to see the zoo, with cooler weather most animals were outside. Give this place a try if you are in the Wheaton area! read more

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Every zoo can't be humongous. If you've never been to this one in Wheaton, you might be disappointed but even with it being small it's a good learning experience for kids and even adults too. Cosley Zoo is a lot different than Brookfield. One thing is that it doesn't have the same kinds of animals, but more like the ones you see daily. The zoo is pretty informative, but for many it just may not be enough. A zoo like this isn't big enough to hold the big animals. It also lacks the experts needed to care for these ones, so of course it has fewer. The animals here are ones you're more likely to often interact with. It's about $9 for adults. Kids are free. This zoo focuses on conservation and native species. A lot of animals in spite of the size of it. There's bobcats, ducks, goats, horses, and sheep among others. A lot of farm animals. This may make it seem more like a petting zoo. It's not one though, so don't touch the animals. The zoo is a pretty good size even though it's small. Great to visit it at least once before you judge it. It's not comparable to the big zoos but it's pretty good to the smaller ones that are like it. This zoo can be walked around in about an hour or so, making it one you won't spend huge amounts of time going around walking. read more

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Great place to take your kids or just walk around. While not huge, it is a perfect spot for younger children because it isn't too overwhelming. You can feed the animals at certain times a day for only $2. Admission is free to Wheaton residents or a small fee for visitors. Come learn about local animals and enjoy a quiet walk around! read more

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Nice "kids zoo" with a few common and some not-so-common animals. I had a hour to blow and the zoo was perfect for that. Got to see some nice stuff. The pricing is a bit out of whack if you ask me. Wheaton park district residents are free, the rest of us pay around ten bucks. read more

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I absolutely love this zoo. It's great to have such a beautiful place to visit with kids. Young kids really enjoy it and it's not overwhelming to take little ones. Took our 10 month grandson and he really enjoyed it. His face lit up from the animals and it was just enough for his attention span. read more

I loved this farm /regional zoo. There were sheep's cow goat rabbits chicken llama donkey owls ....coyotes and lots of different birds. The employees all seem to enjoy working here and the animals are well taken care of. It was a beautiful day in Illinois and we were allowed to pet the animals at the facility. I even saw some ponies! This is not a typical zoo as there are no large predators but it's cute and well designed that you can spend a good hour or so strolling around. Good for family with small kids! read more

Great place for kids. Small enough to get through in a couple of hours. A few exotic animals. Plenty of farm animals. Staff were very friendly. Nice for a short trip and something to do with young kids. If you are in the area this is a got to place in my book. read more

Cosley Zoo - Nice little zoo. Great for kids. Not too much walking. A few exotic animals and lots of farm animals. Well maintained facility. - Zoos Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

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We really enjoyed our visit to Cosley. This is a small, quaint zoo nestled in between subdivisions of Wheaton. The animals were all easy to see and you could get up close to them. My 2.5 y/o loved playing on the caboose. During the time we went it was fall fest & they had three little carnival rides (we did not ride), pumpkins you could buy & a little tunnel created by corn stalks. The one downfall was that there were no changing tables available (restrooms were under construction & the trailer did not have a changing table - I asked a worked too). This was a fun way to spend the morning & we will definitely be returning. read more

It's a clean, small zoo, perfect for young children, everything is up close for them. Not big enough to wear them out where they would get cranky. read more

Went for the Zoo Lights over the weekend and it was great to see animals (large pig, bunnies, frogs, llama, pony, deer, fancy ducks and birds). I wouldn't necessarily call it a Christmas Lights festival there were lights but it was very, very dark like almost unsafe. We were walking down the aisles or paths and could barely see we had to pull out our flashlights on our phones, we heard birds but didn't see any. Hot chocolate was available (no marshmallows but it's probably not safe?), I loved the gift shop and trees, wreathes are for sale. The staff is amazing and I intend to show my support and eventually get a membership. I'm pretty sure it's open all year round. Parking was free, admission is free and donations are encouraged! read more

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My daughter and I came here during summer break. It had been on my to try list, but I usually chose Brookfield Zoo or other zoos instead. The zoo itself is very small but has a variety of farm and forest animals. Most of the animals you can see in your backyard like bunnies or raccoons. However, they also have farm animals like chickens and cows that you can see closer. They have feedings on various schedules and my daughter loved watching the chickens being fed. Some of the animals were off exhibit or inside the habitat like the lynx and fox. Also, they had a little caboose with activities for younger kids, but some of them were a little run down or broken. My daughter fed the ducks which was a win for her since she absolutely loves ducks and she loved throwing the food to them. Also, they had a miniature pony that was very cute and some people were petting. I felt it was interactive for my 2-year-old and wasn't very crowded so I felt comfortable letting her wander a bit under my watchful eye. Overall, it was nice we enjoyed our time here. read more

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Very cute zoo, our walking 18 month old had a blast. Rides were age appropriate, feed the ducks. Enjoyed our memorable day!

Beautiful...relaxing place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Highly recommend. Clean and freindly environment. Even made a new freind! read more

Cosley Zoo - Crosley zoo...beautiful! - Zoos Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

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I have been meaning to check out Cosley Zoo for a while since there has been a lot of good reviews. I went with my almost 2 year old and was disappointed. It's more of a farm than a zoo. If you have been to Brookfield zoo and even Lincoln Park zoo, you won't be impressed. Some of animals they have, you can see in your backyard such as birds, raccoons, ducks and even a coyote. There are no monkeys, bears, lions, etc here. It honestly took me longer to drive here than to see the whole place. You can see all the animals in 30 minutes or less. It may be good for people as a first time zoo or babies. Kids are free and adults are $9. They have duck feeding times and it's $2 for the food. read more

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Love this little zoo. My kids, and now my grandkids, feel confident here. They don't get tired from traipsing in and out of buildings. It's completely accessible. I've heard the Wheaton Park District has a plan to enlarge the zoo and move the parking across Gary Avenue, a dangerous plan that takes away all the charm of the zoo. You'd think they could just make it better, but some people can only think bigger. read more

Cosley Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

I love going to Cosley zoo. I hadn't been there in a while but on this visit- 7/4/24 the duck pond was filled with water as it was drained the last time but no ducks. It was a 90* day and none of the animals had any water. This was very alarming to me. There should always be water available to them. The horse kept going over to the trough looking for water. The animals were not being well taken care of in my opinion. read more

We've been to Cosley Zoo twice now, once in the spring and once in November for their Festival of Lights and Tree Sale.  The zoo is on the smaller side, but it is the perfect size for small kiddos. There is time to get through the zoo before they lose interest. If you get back to the beginning and they're still going strong? Just go around again! The animals are mostly native to the midwest, which is fun! There are also some farm animals. Considering living in the suburbs you don't get to see many cows or sheep up close and personal, Cosley Zoo is a great place to do that! And practice animal sounds while you're at it. :) We also had a great time during the Festival of Lights. The holiday lights came on a 3pm, which was perfect for my little one who has an early bed time. After a trip through the zoo we picked out a Christmas tree to take home! It is affordable at less than $10 for adults, and free parking. And during the Festival of Lights the entrance fee was waived! read more

Always a fun place to go especially with kids. Run by the Wheaton Park District. Small zoo with ducks,birds,sheep,cows,horses,birds etc. You can picnic here or purchase from their small food store. No admission charge but they do suggest donations. Free parking area located at the entrance. Handicapped accessible. read more

We moved to the area last year and have visited Cosley a handful of times. It's great for my two young toddlers! We especially love seeing the friendly bluejay, horses, goats, sheep, red fox, bobcat, and ducks! In the current climate, I'm appreciative that they don't enforce masking whilst outdoors. For that, they will continue to receive our business and donations. Five stars. read more

Cosley Zoo - Turtle! - Zoos Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

This is my favorite Zoo maybe because it's so much more! They do a lot of rehab and rescue. Each animal has a story to tell and the people who work there love and take great care of the animals! Michael J Fox is a big attraction and did you know he can play soccer, thats how he gets his exercise! A great day out. Get your walk in get your googling at how cute the animals are and help a good cause! read more

Cosley zoo is wonderful. So impressed that I bought a membership... I went with my son, & two-year-old grandson. He was captivated watching the animals. We spent about two hours exploring. The animals and cages are clean, and seem to be well taken care of. Highly recommend! read more

Good mixture of animals, the kids always enjoy visiting. The little gift shop has plenty of toys and games for the kids to enjoy and buy

It's 2020, and options to entertain my toddler on the weekend are limited. Add to that 70 degree weather in November, and I headed to the Yelps for some ideas. Cosley Zoo still had Saturday tickets available, so we jumped on it! (Again, it's 2020 - advance tickets are required - probably not the case in "normal" times). Cosley Zoo was a huge hit with my (almost 3 y/o) toddler! She loved all of the animals and how close she was able to get. Her favorites were the goats and the raccoon. It's the perfect size for little ones - we walked around the whole thing in about an hour and then took another 30 minutes to do a second lap and revisit some of our favorites. Nothing too overwhelming or scary. With kids under 18 free, it's a great place to take a family (though adults do have to pay per person, more pricey if you don't live in Wheaton). Parking was tight - I got the last spot in the lot and they're limiting entry/ticket sales, so I can imagine that on a busy non-COVID weekend, you might have to park a couple of blocks away. COVID or not, we will definitely be back next spring/summer! read more

Many people don't realize that this AZA accredited zoo is indeed smaller than a zoo such as Brookfield because Cosley keeps, cares for, and educates the public on native species. Of course you aren't going to see bears and tigers. The conservation work they do with the Blanding's Turtle is bar none the best in the country. If you have small children, Cosley gives you a chance to teach them about endangered species and why it's important (as humans) to make sure they do their part to help keep the endangered species thriving. The experience up close and personal with the animals can help your children be amazed at how wonderful and necessary animals are for the future. The keepers and staff not only care about educating the public and children who are the future but they also devote their lives to the care of the animals. Cosley is a gem for Illinois and surrounding areas. I love it. read more

What a nice small zoo! You get a good look at the animals close up. The enclosures were nice and clean and seemed to be a really nice size. Very nice zoo especially for small children. However anyone would enjoy walking through the zoo for a couple hours. read more

Lately, I've been falling in love. With chickens. Goats. Llamas. Horses. Pigs. And other such farm animals. Because of this, I thought Cosley Zoo would be an enjoyable experience. While I loved the animals, I'm not a big fan of this zoo. We knew it would be a small charge for non-Wheaton residents, but when we arrived, there was some kind of memorial event for an animal-loving young man that passed away with Epilepsy, so everyone's admission was free. It was a nice tribute to him. We ended up dropping our intended admission payment in their donations jar. The zoo is small, so It didn't take us very long to walk around and see the animals. Is it strange to say that the animals looked kind of sad? I don't know if it was the cloudy weather, but nearly all the animals were laying down and kind of ignoring everyone. The goats seemed to be the only exception -- I LOVED the goats! We didn't see any deer. The coyote was sleeping. The bobcat was inside as the employees were working within its habitat. The pigs were laying on concrete in front of the gate, right next to their poop. I didn't even want to pet them because their home looked uncomfortable and dirty. The birds were birds. The bunnies were cute. The other animals were just... there. The duck pond was our favorite part of the zoo. Many ducks were sleeping with their heads tucked in (maybe it really was the weather), but it was fun to stand on the path and watch the ducks swim around. At least they seemed happy. We swung by the gift shop to check it out before leaving. It wasn't bad -- filled with some cute stuffed animals, books for kids, and a few other zoo odds and ends. Kind of pricey, though. We thought about staying to eat, but the menu didn't seem appetizing so we went elsewhere. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd come back again. But, I don't -- so I probably won't. read more

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This is a 5 acre zoo with a variety of birds, farm animals, and mammals indigenous to Illinois. It would be great for young kids. There are areas to climb on, various feedings throughout the day, very stroller friendly, and easy to navigate given the small size. We came as 2 adults, just wanting to see animals. We spent 90 minutes. Average might be a little shorter. Besides the animals, there's a historic train station, a caboose, and a couple of tree-lined areas to picnic, relax, just "get away from it". I'll enclose a couple of pictures. Price is $5 for adults; free for kids. There's food for purchase and a gift shop (there are a few animals in the gift shop - so don't miss it). Keepers are friendly and happy to answer questions. read more

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Wonderful place to see and learn about animals. Very kind and friendly staff. My now grown children enjoyed visiting when younger. As an activity aide, I now take my residents to visit and they always enjoy. As a teen, my child was in their Junior Zookeeper program. She had a great time and learned a lot. The young lady in charge is very good with teens. read more

May be small but really enjoyed our visit. So reasonably priced and parking is free we went early and was very glad we did as when we were leaving it was getting busy and there was a line of people in line to get in. I thought everything and cage looked really clean. They have picnic areas too. We checked out the little gift shop and train also. The pond area is so peaceful. I encourage anyone going to give a small donation as we did. My granddaughter (9) was free and just $6 for me plus the free parking very nice time for little money and hope it's around for generations to come read more

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It's a really great little zoo! Especially for younger kids. Doesn't take much time to walk thru though. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because the womens bathroom is absolutely DISGUSTING! It smells horrible and it's just dirty. Toilet paper laying on the ground, stains in the toilet and sinks, floor is filthy. Every time we go I try to avoid going to the bathroom. My son said the mens bathroom wasn't much better. Other than that, it's a cute little farm. Staff members are really nice and the gift shop is cute! Parking can be hard to find at times though. read more

I typically never write reviews but this one is warranted. it was a Very disappointing day for my grandkids ... at least half the exhibits are closed or empty. Even a caboose that you just walk thru was closed. The only highlight for my grandkids was feeding the ducks which they do at my house. Really shouldn't be charged when there is hardly anything to see read more

LOVED THIS ZOO!! All the animals and walking was perfect for me and the little babe. We loved our experience

They have the most ridiculous policy of charging a $2 service charge per ticket whether you pay cash or credit on location. I was told that it's only $0.35 if the tickets are bought online. I would have stepped aside and purchased the ticket online if we weren't with others and I didn't want to hold everyone up. At most places you save on service fees if you pay cash or purchase at the door. To charge a $2 service fee when paying cash is ridiculous. If they need more money, they should just raise ticket prices. Additionally, it's a very small Park. We walked the whole way through, which took up 10 or 15 minutes of our time. We went around one more time just to have something more to do. The duck pond was closed. They are not allowing any feedings. read more

Welllllllllll.... In my own opinion this zoo should be free! Worse zoo I've EVER been to. They only had like 8 animals. Don't waste your time. read more

I came here with my 3 year old and my baby. My toddler had a great time. Plenty of animals and areas for him to play in. And it was just the right size, not too big and we didn't have to walk too far to see each animal. With that said, it was really disappointing that we couldn't feed the animals. I know everything is different with covid, but there are other zoos that let you feed at least some of the animals. We probably won't go back until that changes. read more

The guy at the ticket booth was VERY rude. I was a bit confused on where to check in because I bought tickets online. But the lady at the gift shop was extremely kind enough to help me check in. Anyway. My kids enjoyed it. But otherwise, if that that grumpy rude guy wasn't at the ticket booth, I think our visit would've been more enjoyable because his attitude just rude it for me & my husband. read more

The city of Wheaton really needs to reevaluate the care of the animals at the zoo. The living conditions are poor. The larger animals (cows, horses, donkeys, pigs and llamas) have EXTREMELY small living spaces. The pig's shelter is on concrete (I think). No natural habitat for the pigs to root in. The raccoon's enclosure is electrified. Why? The larger raccoon was pacing at the door of the enclosure. Animals pacing is never a good sign. The animals looked in poor health. The goats and pigs had missing patches of fur. The demeanor of the animals was disturbing (horses eyes were vacant. One cow just stood staring off into space, not moving an inch). They looked bored at best. Traumatized at worst. This zoo would be way better off just having small animals. They do not have the space for larger ones. read more