Cosley Zoo

Great small zoo for kids. Mostly farm animals with exception of some coyotes, foxes, bobcats. The Christmas lights were underwhelming but its a good place to get a real Christmas tree and see some animals. And its free. You just have to get online tickets for specific times.

One of the best little zoos and kids outdoor areas. Lots of small farm animals and awesome programs offered for educational and celebratory events. The price is right at $7 for non-residents and kids free for all. Inclusion is built in, a rare and spectacular find in more affluent communities and suburbs around the city, we have found the western burbs quite inviting. Lots of great things around the area to do and eat just a few min.’s away you can make it a day. Grab a bite and hop over to one of Wheaton’s a DuPage county’s awesome nature preservation parks. The near by Lincoln Marsh is a new fav of ours, read more and see all our links here at: thechicagomom.com

This is a fun, small zoo. What is wonderful is that you can get up real close to all of the animals. And the information boards for the exhibits is excellent. It is not too much to take in, and I always come away learning a lot.

They did a great job with the trees this year. You need to get tickets in advance (free) but it wasnt crowded and have us a chance to each around and see the lights.

A cute little zoo for younger kids that features common farm animals as well as wildlife native to northern Illinois. The animals look like they are treated well and every pen has a good description of the animals along with some fun facts. All in all, a nice place to spend a nice afternoon!

Fun if you have kids and want to take them out for some fun watching cute ponies, cows, horses, goats, chickens, an owl, fox, coyote, pig, birds, and ducks. Those are the animals we saw and you can also pet the horse since the barn is open. It’s a small suburban petting “zoo” not technically a zoo but it’s just a small private suburban animal park if you ask me. It’s cute and fun. The lady up front was not too pleasant when she told me to buy tickets online, due to covid. But I told her: so you’re telling me to drive back home and get them online?? Her way of speaking was incorrect. already drove here and I didn’t know. So she said it’s ok. It’s ok though. 9/10.

Loved this little place when my son was smallNow we are bringing our 15 month old Granddaughter. We will be coming for a long time. Wonderful day!

Lovely place, animals were very aware and vibrant and the staff was very pleasant. Definitely not a petting zoo but my children loved the animals being shown. Very educational with easy to interpret labels everywhere. Will definitely apply to become a member here.

Cosley Zoo is the perfect size for the little ones. The grandkids really enjoyed the bobcat and they love the duck pond with the little bridges. Nice little picnic area to have lunch too.

What a cute little zoo...hence little. I expected more to see and maybe a petting zoo for the youngins. The staff was all friendly that we ran into so thank you for that. Plus it was only 7$ to get in for adults and the kids were free so that was nice as well. If there was more to see and do there they would probably get 5 stars! Oh and 2.70$ for a popsicle is a little much....

Honestly I was very underwhelmed and so was my child. Shes never been too interested in animals but there just wasnt much to look at anyway and no fun things for the kids. Maybe they had something fun that is just currently closed due to covid but it didnt appear that way. I guess if youre just looking to get out and walk or your child is obsessed with animals this is a good cheap place to take them. It is very clean and well kept, I will add.

Really enjoyed the experience of buying a Christmas tree. Appointments required!

The kids have fun playing with the pumpkins and looking @ the animals..

We went all summer and decided to become members. We love this zoo.

Amazing Zoo with a lot of different animals i.e. Bobcats, Owls, Rabbits, Birds, Ducks, Goats, Racoons, Horses, etc. They have also have a cafe and a gift shop. My 4 year old LOVES this zoo and seeing all of the animals!

A hidden little gem in Wheaton that is only $6 for seniors or free for residents. Well not anywhere nearly extensive as a traditional zoo it has enough local animals to entertain toddlers and young children. The snack bar has reasonably priced treats and the entire facility is clean and well maintained. Well no brainer for residents of Wheaton to visit often it is still worth the admission to experience it for those that live outside of town.

There is great fun here at Cosley Zoo! There is such a variety of different animals, and you can learn very much about the study of zoology. It is even fun for adults. I love this zoo very much and to be honest it is definitely one of the best in the area!

Lovely little spot with a mix of domestic and wild animals. Small but sweet.

Nice small family oriented zoo. Mostly farm animals and suburban wildlife...No lions or tigers or bears here....

If your looking for a Well Maintained Zoo its here. Its small enough to keep the young ones attention but still be fun.

Turned away coming to buy a Christmas tree. Appointment only! Will not return.

Cutest place to take your kids for a little entertainment for about 30 minutes . Nothing to crazy

Its a really lovely zoo and a best for kids!

Quaint little zoo. Great for families, small children, etc. One way traffic flow, masks when you cant maintain 6ft from others (which was probably 75% of the time), and parts see off limits due to the pandemic.

Nice zoo for families and kids. Many changes coming...expansion

Lots of fun for kids.

I was very disappointed with our visit today. The website had me convinced that it was safe to attend this zoo. However their mandatory use of masks was not being enforced and about 50 percent of attendees were wearing one.

The best looking Chrismas trees in the area!!!

Very nice for families with small children.

Unless you feel comfortable standing next to people not wearing their masks properly or, in many cases, at all, i would suggest staying away from this zoo for now. Normally a good experience for Wheaton residents as it is free.

Went for the winter lights display, kids loved it

Great holiday tradition and it helps support the Zoo!

Nice, well kept small zoo. Plenty of critters to see without spending a whole day like large zoos.

I think it would have had more to offer but for the pandemic.

Covid regulations not in order. People on top of each other. Covid 19 feast

Not a bad place to visit, but overall its small. So you can tour the entire area in an hour or so.

The kids had a great time and it was not over crowded.

I highly recommend this zoo! It’s great for smallChildren! My two year old twins had a blast! I’m so surprised that I only had to pay $7 for myself, all children are free. That’s such a great price for what they have. They really do have a wide variety of animals. I plan on coming here again very soon!

Great spot. $7 a person. Children 17 and under get in free. Can walk through quickly or take a few hours to soak everything in. Mostly local wildlife with some farm animals that looks extremely well taken care of and happy. Always someone around to answer questions.

What an amazing Zoo, everybody is warm and friendly and they take really good care of the animals. We will be back this October

23 Dollars for ducks, a cow, 2 sheep and a horse. All the animals seemed to be in hiding. I wont be visiting again!

Great place to see local animals in one location.

Very cute small petting zoo with llamas, goats, cows, chickens and a lovely Christmas lit walk. They have a cool Ozinga concrete mixer truck hooked up to a light show. So cute for family and friends to take a little outing!

Very cute small local friendly Zoo, nice for kids and adults to interact with animals. Nice picnic tables, small fun fairs (pay extra for that). Easy parking.

Awesome place for the family

It is a smaller place that features mostly farm animals and walking areas. Family friendly. Sometimes they have added attractions, like corn mazes or pumpkin picking or hayrides or decorations in winter. Can be very quiet and kinda empty at other times of the year. Reasonable price. Good for young kids to run around. Not as fancy as Morton Arboretum or as large.

We were here for a birthday party and had a wonderful time! Natasha brought 3 animals out for the kids to pet and did an amazing job answering questions and managing kid enthusiasm. Its a really lovely zoo and a great place to hold a birthday party.

Nice place to have fun with kids

What a great tradition!

Just go to pet land there’s more animals there than this zoo and it’s free

Such a fun little zoo! All the animals were displaying natural behaviors and there enclosures are so nice. Loved the raccoons. Loved the bird aviaries. Such a neat zoo doing so much good!

Great zoo to bring the little ones to.

Perfect small zoo especially for younger children who may get overwhelmed with a big zoo. My 1 year old daughter loved getting to see animals up close and was nice to let her be able to walk around a bit and see the animals.

Very clean nice for kids

I took my daughter to this zoo about a week ago and she had a blast. I think it is one of the best zoos I have been to around Chicago. If you or your kids love animals this is a great place to go.

Nice, small kid friendly zoo with gift shop and a place to have some snacks.

Animals look extremely sad & mistreated

Fun place, I enjoyed myself very well with all my friends. Pleasant place to relax and see lovely and wild animals.

Very cheap and beautiful little zoo to come for a date or just to bring the kids. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff willing to answer questions and teach. From owls, turtles, pigs, horses and much more, Cosley Zoo is one of Wheatons underrated gems.They have duck feeding, turtle petting, and some behind the scenes tour experiences if you look on the website. Definitely worth spending a day here and enjoying the nature.

Great place to go for all ages. Saw signs they plan to add even more animals. So, looking forward to coming back. No matter the season, this place is a must.

Great place to take kids or nephews/nieces. Gives you a family vibe and a more down to earth experience with a handful of simple farm animals. Been going here since I was a kid myself, soon to be taking my own kids here! Nice place to take a blanket and have a picnic after touring the animals. Don’t forget to go inside the caboose!

Perfect zoo for little kiddos 2-4. The big zoo is an all-day in city affair and this is korr than your avg pumpkin patch petting zoo yet not so big it takes all afternoon. Plus the variety of animals is

Perfect zoo for toddlers. Small enough for their short attention spans but enough to see to keep them happy.

Ive been coming here since I was a child in the 70s. Its a nice place to visit around Christmas time (free during the holidays). This is a special local zoo that loves animals of all kinds.

Small but nice zoo. Attended a birthday party here and it was fun for kids!

Adorable, nicely designed and has a fascinating variety of fauna.

Very nice when you want to see some animals but dont want the overwhelming experience of a large zoo. Could use more snakes. Im rarely in Wheaton but always make a point to come here. My husband grew up here and has been going his entire life.

Great place for kids! Lots do do and a lot of great animals!

Went here about an hour before close. Had to pay the $14 enter but all the animals were locked up and put away. Very small which would be good if the animals were out but we paid to see nothing really.

Good Place. We had a great time with our family at the Cosley Zoo.The zoo is very well taken care of and has lots to see.We had lots of fun. We will go back soon.

Great for younger kids

A very small zoo that is a cute place for little kids.

Great way to spend the day!!

My family like this zoo!

I grew up within walking distance of Cosley, and still visit it regularly with my daughter. We never miss the special activities in the spring and fall months, and usually get our Halloween pumpkins and our holiday tree in December from Cosley (the holiday lights in the winter months are excellent). Walking through the zoo itself is fun, educational, and relaxing. The animals are well cared for and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Cosley Zoo is a gem.

I recommend. The zoo is very good for children. Excellent place for walking with family. In my opinion, one of the best zoos in this area.Thank you for your good time.

My grandchildren and I really enjoyed seeing all of the many animals. We go there often because its so nice and they keep adding additions of various animals as well as expanded shelters for them. I give them a five star for cleanliness, for their beautiful and creative exhibits for each animal and for the ways children interact with baby sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, horses, cows, chickens and ducks. They also have bobcats, deer, owls, many species of birds etc. The fact that kids are free is an added bonus. Pack a lunch! They have many, many picnic tables, and they sell food and ice cream as well.

We were in town visiting family and this zoo was close by. It is small but well cared for. With one child who wishes to be a zookeeper, were always looking for good opportunities. Cosley Zoo offers a Backstage Bobcats program where you go into the Bobcats building and they show you how they train the cats. A really educational presentation that the kids enjoyed. To participate - you can call ahead or stop at the gift shop. Its $12/person and starts promptly at 10:55am each day.

Had a great day with my grandaughter had alot of animals to see all up close!!!

Wonderful place for kids and adults. Many repeated visits and all varied and fun. Thanks

It’s a nice little zoo in the area if you don’t want to go far to Lincoln Park or Brookfield zoo. Good to bring little kids and spend quality time. Don’t expect to see lion or any exotic animals here as it is more of a community zoo. Not sure if they have a time for petting animals but would be nice to have if not.

Very good choice for younger children. Too small for older than 5 years. It is small, but a family can visit and enjoy the animals and still get the young children down for naps. The larger zoos strain the sleeping schedule and the end of day can be difficult for off-schedule kids.

A must go place, friendly personnel and quiet ambient

A must go place, friendly personnel and quiet ambient

Kids will love coming here! In my opinion, this is the perfect place for 6 years and under. The reasoning behind my opinion is the size of the zoo. I have found that the little ones get to see everything and they arent exhausted by the time we leave. As opposed to older children getting a little bored because they looked at everything so quickly. Highly recommend this zoo! Friendly staff and well maintained!!!

Took my in home daycare children here for a field trip. I paid for myself $7 to enter and the children were all free. What a bargain basically a dollar a person for us to visit here seeing I had five children with me. I love that the area is clean and stroller friendly. The children were able to pet a chicken in the chicken barn area. We enjoyed seeing all the animals up close. We did stay and eat at the snack shop area. We brought our own lunch but could buy a dessert here. Overall, I would recommend this mini farm/zoo as a go to for a summer field trip.

This place is amazing for all ages. Its not very big but its a beautiful place and has very cool animals. In the winter season they have really nice Christmas trees big and small. Great place for everyone!

Kids love this place. You can feed the chickens twice a day (for a dollar each) and they think it is the best thing ever. Small, so this is more of a quick trip. If you wanted to, you could see the whole place in an hour or so. Not had for $5 admission.

I have been to Cosley many times and its always nice. We went for the Christmas lights. Even though it was a free event, you would never know. The lights were nice, an there were even quite a few animals out. The whole family thought it was fun.

Good for families w/small children. Spend an hour. Allow slightly more time if you bring or buy a lunch. Brought teen girls, we all enjoyed our visit. ImHO, becoming too modernized, used to be charming. Even the caboose has been modernized and is virtually unrecognizable inside as a caboose. Now walls are lined w/ preschool exhibits.

It is a very nice zoo

Great little local zoo with a variety of animals to see. Took my son on a weekday afternoon and he loved it. There are other fun activities to do with the kids like feeding the animals and playing in the kids areas. Cute little gift shop too.

Delightful place for the kids!

For a cute visit and short walking distance a five dollar bill (for adults and children get in free) you can enjoy an afternoon at the zoo. They have wildlife from the area, barn animals, and the best part of the zoo the birds. The only downfall was the gift shop.

The zoo was perfect for my small children. The zoo is small enough that they werent burnt out from walking. We feed the ducks and all the animals were available for show. I would definitely recommend to anyone.

I been coming here for 6 years and I think they have charged in a good way and I love the new look. Cant wait to visit again. This place is great for small kids.

Outstanding for younger children. Our 18 month old absolutely loved it. She got to feed the ducks and chickens. Also she was able to pet many of the other ani.

I love the Cosley Zoo all year! It is a great price to have the kids run around and experience great animals. The duck feeding in the am and afternoon is always a hit. We bring out own lunch and have a picnic before we continue exploring this small zoo. You can spend a good few hours there easily. And not surprisingly they love the train car too!

This is a great place to spend a few hours. Good for little ones and older kids too. The bobcat area is really neat. Cosley Zoo is a Wheaton treasure!

Really great for small children. Prices are reasonable.