Big Run Wolf Ranch is a non-profit, federally licensed, educational program which specializes in education and conservation of North American wildlife. We have been licensed for approximately 21 years and doing educational lectures for approximately 15 years. Many of the animals here at Big Run have been rescued wherein the only other alternative was euthanasia. Visit us during our Open House events and see our wide array of wolves, as well as our coyote, cougar, black bear and skunk.
Farm favorites such as cows, pigs, chicks, ducks, llamas, and sheep make our Children’s Zoo a real barnyard blast! Kids of all ages can get up close to interact with animals in a petting zoo area, learn about dairy farming in the big red barn, or visit other interesting species including hawks, snakes, groundhogs, reindeer, and even an eagle.
If you have dreamed of being a zookeeper, and wished you could join in on a sea lion training session or work side by side with zookeepers as they care for penguins or kangaroos, or you just love birds or snakes, big animals, or little critters, then Wild Encounters is just for you!
The Henson Robinson Zoo began in 1967 as just a dream of a prominent Springfield citizen by the name of Henson C. Robinson. The zoo is now home to more than 300 animals native to Australia, Africa, Asia and North and South America. Henson Robinson Zoo offers a variety of classes for ages 2 to 17. Each class is filled with games, crafts, zoo discovery walks, and fun learning about wild animals and their habitats!
Fun for the whole family, the Farmyard features a petting area with sheep and goats. Enjoy a variety of attractions like mini-golf, a mini-train ride, cow bounce house and an Old World carousel. Located in Libertyville, Illinois, Lambs Farm is a place that, most importantly, empowers an extraordinary group of more than 250 people with developmental disabilities to lead personally fulfilling lives. Uniquely, Lambs Farm is also a place where families gather to enjoy our many shops and attractions, where community groups hold meetings and picnics, where businesses have products made with care and where many others attend a wide variety of entertaining events.
Randall Oaks Park is the largest of the district’s parks, boasting 141 acres of space. It’s the ideal place for a company picnic, family gathering, or a day out of the house. With picnic areas that include grills, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, volleyball areas and underdeveloped land. We have a variety of picnic areas and shelters available for rental that are sure to suit your needs. Randall Oaks Barnyard Zoo provides a variety of farm animals for petting and feeding.
