If you are thinking about where to go for your next fun family vacation, than you should really put Virginia on your list. Mill Mountain Park is one of the region’s most distinguished parks. Spanning an incredible 568 full acres, the regional park is occasionally reserved for private events, including amazing parties and awesome weddings.
Home to the famous Roanoke Star, and Recreation’s Discovery Center and Mill Mountain Zoo, Mill Mountain Park is a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike that is located beside the Blue Ridge Parkway and is easily accessible by road or trail. With so much to do, everyone is sure to have an amazing time.
Mill Mountain Zoo is within Mill Mountain Park, a beautiful 568-acre regional park that’s maintained by Roanoke Parks and Recreation. Located at the top of Mill Mountain just off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, the zoo overlooks the city of Roanoke and the surrounding mountain vistas. A fun day is sure to be had here.
The zoo was founded in 1952 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operated by the Blue Ridge Zoological Society. There mission at zoo is to promote an appreciation and understanding of wildlife and habitat preservation through the use of quality exhibits and educational programs, and to work in cooperation with other animal conservation programs.
The zoo strives to provide an enjoyable experience for visitors, within the context of an educational organization dedicated to the natural sciences and management of captive animal species. The zoo is about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot. It’s much more scenic to take the pathway through the wildflower garden than the paved road.
This small zoo is home to more than 50 animal species, including snow leopards, monkeys, turtles and tortoises, hawks, red pandas, Japanese macaques, and red wolves. The animals are caged, so don’t come up here if that bothers you. An open-air, narrow gauge train runs around the periphery, giving access to red wolves and deer.
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