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Location
Best time
Visit on weekdays when crowds are minimal for a more relaxed experience. Reviewers noted having the zoo nearly to themselves, allowing 2.5-3 hours to enjoy animals at their own pace without congestion.
Visitor tip
The parakeet/bird cage experience is thrilling but not suitable for young children - birds get underfoot and can startle small kids, risking injury to the birds. It's better suited for older kids and adults who won't be frightened by birds landing on them.
Visitor tip
Bring a stroller for children under 5-6 years old. The grounds require significant walking, and the path down to see zebras goes over a hill. Strollers help tired young visitors complete the full experience without carrying them.
About Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo
Celebrated spot with an array of species. Native & exotic animals can be seen at this family-friendly destination with all-ages activities.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Location
- West Virginia
- Opening Day 2026
- April 11
- Animal Species
- Over 30 species including giraffes, big cats, primates, and more
- Interactive Experiences
- Animal feeding and viewing experiences
What visitors say
We had Hovatter's Wildlife Zoo nearly to ourselves yesterday and it was lovely! For $48, we bought two adult tickets, all the feeding options and extra carrot sticks. In total, we spent about 2.5-3 hours walking around at our own pace,…
This zoo is very clean and well taken care off. My great nephews had such fun feeding the animals. Buy the bags of food and have fun! The goats are hilarious. My favorite is feeding the giraffes and going in the bird cage. Watching the…
Took my 4 year old son and he loved this place, I was very pleased with the variety of animals and plan on visiting again as my son has said he would like to go again. We had a great time for a 4 1/2 hour round trip. They have a decent…
From 1,961 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- Hovatter's Wildlife Zoo offers interactive feeding experiences with multiple animal species including giraffes, camels, pygmy goats, lemurs, and parakeets, allowing visitors to hand-feed animals directly
- The zoo features an immersive bird cage walk-through experience where parakeets land directly on visitors, creating a Disney princess-like interactive encounter
- The zoo regularly hosts special events featuring newborn animals available for photo opportunities, indicating an active breeding program
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