Western North Carolina Nature Center, Asheville

About Western North Carolina Nature Center

The Western North Carolina Nature Center spans 42 acres of habitats showcasing wildlife native to Southern Appalachia. Visitors walk through exhibits to observe black bears, red wolves, otters, red pandas, raccoons, foxes, skunks, timber rattlesnakes, turkey vultures, and goats in settings designed to represent their natural environments. The center features Brandon's Otter Falls, a Turtle Pond Exhibit, the Arachnid Adventure Playground, an enhanced Red Wolf Exhibit, the Appalachian Station with a Hellbender Exhibit, and the Gateway to the Southern Appalachians with a Butterfly Pollinator Garden. The facility houses sixty animal species and hundreds of plant species representative of the region. School groups and adult visitors come to learn about Southern Appalachian wildlife and conservation. The center operates seven days a week with last admission in the afternoon. Located in Asheville, North Carolina, it is managed by the City of Asheville.