Find Out What Illinois Looked Like During Pioneer Days At This Unique Park
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published April 14, 2018
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
Illinois was once a wild land that belonged more to nature than to humans. Prior to the pioneer days, there was forestry, fresh air, and wildlife everywhere, and there’s a park tucked away in our state that lets locals go back to that time.
Learn all about Illinois before it had a documented history at this amazing wildlife park. Scroll on for more details.
Wildlife Prairie Park is an exciting zoological park that aims to preserve life that's native to Illinois. It is one of the best attractions in the whole Midwest, and it is located in the small town of Hanna City, just west of Peoria.
During the warm months, admission is free for members and children under age 2 while senior citizens pay $7. The price for adults and those age 13 and up is $9 and children between 3 and 12 may enter for $6. Prices are reduced by a dollar during the winter.
Including 2,000 acres of gorgeous views, this lovely place includes woods, lakes, and other natural attractions that resemble what Illinois looked like during pioneer days.
The main attraction to this amazing park are the 150 animals, of which there are about 50 different species, including bison, wolves, cougars, waterfowl, black bears, elk, and more.
Wildlife Prairie Park has been in operation since 1978 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It attracts more than 100,000 visitors from across the globe each year, and you should be one of them.
The best way to enjoy the park is abroad the Wildlife Prairie Railroad. It features an educational tour that goes through the forest in search of wildlife.
The train costs $4 for a single ride and $5 for an all-day pass.
Visitors can even stay the night in guest rooms, cabins, and tents. There is a special train caboose option that is like no other overnight stay you've ever experienced.
Fun outdoor activities include hiking, biking, fishing, boating, disc golf, a butterfly habitat, a sculpture walk, and a sledding hill, when appropriate.
