Oglebay Good Zoo image

Oglebay Good Zoo

Zoo

Rare & endangered species reside in this large zoo with a variety of exhibits & nature programs. People often mention animals, small, time, kids, train, walk, great, animal, nice, good,


Address

345 Zoo Cir, Wheeling, WV 26003, United States

Website

oglebay.com

Contact

+1 304-243-4100

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Monday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Tuesday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Wednesday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Thursday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Friday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: animals (81) small (29) time (27) kids (24) train (21) walk (20) great (20) animal (19) nice (17) good (16)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 R W. 1 year ago on Google
    After reading the many negative reviews, it left us very apprehensive about our visit. We called ahead and spoke to Shauna, who was very accommodating in getting us set up with a personal tour. My mom is disabled and could not walk the entire zoo. Our tour guide Peyton was AMAZING!!! She was very engaging, knowledgeable and personable! We thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the animals. We visited the last week of October, so the weather was very cooperative. We were able to see all the animals and some even performed on cue. LOL. While others complained in their reviews of the small size of the zoo, we thought it was the perfect size that was not too overwhelming. Being from NY with many major zoos which took several hours to complete, this zoo made for a quick fun visit for the family. Overall, it took about an hour to complete with our personal tour. It was totally worth every penny! Thanks Shauna and Peyton for making our first trip to WV VERY special.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rebekah S. 2 years ago on Google
    It's a smaller zoo but still very worth going to! We absolutely enjoyed our time at this zoo. There was one employee at the drink/food stand by the train that was incredibly unfriendly and she acted as if it was an inconvenience for her to get us anything. My son thanked her for the drink and she just looked at him and turned to sit back on her stool. The train driver and everyone else we encountered was very pleasant. I absolutely recommend getting tickets for the train ride. The animals seem happy, healthy and very well cared for. We were a little disappointed that the no one mentioned that we could apply our purchase today to a membership but I guess it's our bad for not looking into it before we left. In all we loved it and and we plan on visiting again.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Randy C. 1 year ago on Google
    This Zoo does have a lot to offer for the little ones. They also have a train that will take you through the zoo. It was a nice day so we walked the zoo. We took our time. It is a relaxing place. You can take your time. If you push you could walk it under 2 hours. There is a gift shop. I got some stuffed animals for my boys. Thought the price was fair at the gift shop. Stuffed animals were plush. I recommend this for the little ones
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stuart B. 4 months ago on Google • 93 reviews
    This Zoo is best described as quality over quantity. We visited, with our younger son, for the Red Panda Experience and we had the most memorable time! Before the experience, we toured the zoo and saw animals that we hadn't seen at some major zoos. After the Experience we hung around for their light show. I wish I could give it more stars; I heavily recommend this zoo!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael G. 1 year ago on Google
    We did the juvenile sloth encounter and it was an amazing experience. Included with the package, we got to pet, hold, and feed the sloth. We also got to feed 2 little monkeys and a tortoise. We got 45 minutes for the whole experience and used every minute. Then we got some snacks and drinks and continued walking the zoo. I have not seen or heard of some of these animals which made this really cool to be apart of. I highly recommend visiting this zoo and doing an encounter.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sean M. 11 months ago on Google • 66 reviews
    Excellent views with great habitats that appeared to have enough space with enrichment. The zoo itself has lots of wooded space to enjoy between exhibits as well. Good focus on animal rehab and conservation. We spent a good amount of time here and enjoyed ourselves!

  • 5/5 Ashley B. 3 months ago on Google • 45 reviews New
    We traveled from Michigan to see the festival of the lights. Of course we had to make a stop to the zoo! We are use to a bigger zoo since we aren't too far from the Toledo, OH zoo but we really enjoyed our time at Oglebay. Pretty much all of the animals were out which is always fun to see. We thought it was reasonably priced. It was a refreshing change from our local zoo!

  • 1/5 Sheila B. 3 years ago on Google
    So all I wanted was to see a reindeer for the first time in my life. I know it is silly but I just have always wanted to see one. We went on a Thursday and were told the zoo was open but the reindeer were not able to be seen because it was after 4pm. So the next day we went back early and went to where the reindeer were and there was just one in a small muddy pen but he was in his shelter and I couldn't see him. I waited quite a while and FINALLY he came out. It was raining this particular day in December and there were maybe 4 other people in the outside area of the park. When the sweet baby came out he walked to a water bowl around the side of the pen and I walked around in the grass to see him and get a photo. As I excitedly tried to take a photo ( I was a good 10' away from the fence but in the grass) a lady who was I guess a zoo handler or something entered the fence and rudely told me "you need to get back on the path". I looked at her and just said "wow". The zoo is in a State Park made of grass and trees I was standing in grass on the outside of the fence. I wasn't in a restricted area, there were no signs saying do not enter or stay away or remain on the path and there were literally no other patrons in sight and I paid $13 and came back twice just to have the opportunity to see a reindeer. When I went back to the path my friend asked if I got a picture and I said "no I got yelled at for walking in the grass" and a male employee overheard me and said "don't feel bad I get yelled at too and I work here".
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 R (Just some random c. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice little zoo. It was $15 for an adult to get in. It really doesn't take more than 90 minutes to walk through it. The most interesting thing I think was when I got to see an opossum in person and up close as one of the handlers was showing and discussing it. You were also allowed to pet it. I do think many of the enclosures were too small for some of the animals. That's unfortunate. The little armadillo kept spinning in circles, which is a sign of stress and mental anguish from being in a confined space too long. Also, the larger cat enclosures also seemed much too small for such large animals that are used to roaming. But the people were very friendly and the animals seemed well taken care of otherwise. There is an albino crocodile that we got to see being fed. The small tamarinds and lemurs were fun to watch. They also had a sloth, but he was hiding in the corner sleeping so I was unavailable to get any pictures or see him.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Arianna T. 1 year ago on Google
    A lot of up hill but the interaction with the animals for the kids was amazing. The sifting for fossils crysals and what not was so fun for the kids. They didn't even know what it was before doing it that day. Not enough time to do everything you want to do. The train ride was a great touch and they loved the dinosaur attractions. The jumping trampoline thing was a hit as well so all around fantastic day and look forward to going back. Can't wait for the Christmas lights!!!!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Meg M. 1 year ago on Google
    Cute little zoo. 2-4 hours depending how long you stay w each animal. Very pretty and the animals seem well taken care of. Got a behind the scenes tour of the zoo. The apprentice that drove me around told me lots of interesting facts and answered all my questions. It's unique because you can pay to have "experiences" like encounter with sloth, red panda, kangaroos and wolves etc. 30-45 minutes long. Tour was 90 minutes and we'll worth the 28 dollars. There is a cute gift shop too. Got to pet a kangaroo and the donkeys and goats.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sandra K. 10 months ago on Google
    We had another wonderful day ( 3 years in a row!) with Oglebay Good Zoo! We took our daughter, son in law and granddaughter this year! We all had such a great time with Susan and the juvenile sloth and Courtney and the red pandas ( even though the red pandas didn’t want to people, lol!) The added bonus was feeding the tamarins and turtles. I also got to feed the mongoose lemur, who is blind and just wants company🥰 Everyone who works here goes out of their way to make sure you have a great time! If you’re ever in the Wheeling area, check them out! You’ll be glad you do! Thank you everyone! Sandra and Doug Kincaid
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nicole L. 2 months ago on Google • 32 reviews New
    Incredible indoor area perfect for little ones. Themed toys are strategically placed between animal enclosures. I found myself able to take my time watching the animals while my toddler was entertained by the toys. The outside area was easy to walk with a stroller. Great viewing areas. We spent hours visiting and could have easily spent more time. Great little zoo!

  • 4/5 Yagya A. 9 months ago on Google • 30 reviews
    Zoo plus several other activities makes this place a perfect place for kids and adults. I would recommend to anyone to visit this place and go for day pass that ranges around 33 dollars. It would be nice to have train schedules, Map to display where which animals are located, route plan, arrows and markings to display which is the next animal, an option within the animal name board to contain QR code to scan to learn more about the particular animal that may contain audio, pics, history of animal, and general description.

  • 4/5 Karen S. 3 years ago on Google
    A little over an hour west of Pittsburgh, Oglebay Good Zoo is a great place to visit for a few hours. The cost was $13.05 (w/tx) for an adult admission. Masks are currently required indoors, and should be outdoors as well (as many families with children do not seem to understand physical distancing) and viewing the animals is often in a small confined area. Although there are a few hills while walking around the zoo, the paths are paved so very accessible to most individuals. (There is a small train one can ride for an additional fee to take you around the park.) The staff was amazing and the animals were incredible. FYI you can freely walk amongst a group of kangaroos and wallabies! The zoo itself is clean and the animals- an unusual assortment, seem content and well-cared for. A small gift shop is located near the visitor entrance.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Cindy H. 3 years ago on Google
    I was so very disappointed here. I’m sorry I know they are trying . But the animal enclosures are way too small and the animals were often alone. Herd animals such as a zebra were alone. Yes it’s been raining but the enclosures were drab and wet and muddy. Tiny space and animals going back and forth hanging heads.dont waste money . Maybe I’ve been to Yellowstone too often and have seen real true habitat. This is just sad.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Jessica C. 3 years ago on Google
    Really upsetting zoo to visit. The animals were all kept in very small quarters and many of the large animals like the big cats and the wolves were just pacing back and forth. For all the space at oglebay, it seems that the least they could do is expand the enclosures. The wolves didn't even have any shrubs or anything in theirs to be near-just was completely open. Also, herd animals like zebras were just by themselves. Many animals were all alone in a tiny space. I felt awful to contribute to that by spending the money here and certainly will not be going back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 brad b. 3 years ago on Google
    I've been going to the zoo since I was little and now I take my child. You never realize the small areas the animals are kept in as a child. But yes, the exhibits/ habitats are tiny. Once you've been to a real zoo and see how much area the animals get there and having more than a single 1. Makes you feel bad for the animals. There is plenty of space to expand the enclosures. For example, never seen such depressed kangaroo before. An albino alligator kept in a 15 x 6 foot room filled with 1 ft of water? I guess they ran out of funding for fencing. It's fun for local families and kids will never notice really but, makes you feel for the few animals.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kathy O. 2 years ago on Google
    We had perfect weather. All employees were very helpful. There were a few steep trails but a welcome bench was always in sight. We had three generations in our group and all enjoyed the Good Zoo. Of course, a few of us took naps afterwards.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rusty O. 2 years ago on Google
    Loved our visit to this zoo. It was a smaller zoo that you can get through in just a few hours. we took part in their red panda experience and we had a lot of fun. The animals are well cared for and seemed happy. I would definitely say it is a walk and extremely hilly. Lots of places are at the top or bottom of hills. It was a good walk though. I would not recommend this if you are handicap or in a wheelchair. It will be difficult to climb the hills and be a quick ride down. I don't know if they have other options for handicap people. But it is super nice
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kimberly M. 2 years ago on Google
    Smaller zoo lots of different animals. The kids and I enjoyed it! Train offers possible upclose view of zebra and ostrich. Watch for surprise statues on train. You can walk through wallaby and kangaroo's enclosure. Some decently steep hills may make it tough for some people. Staff was super friendly and helpful!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 S G. 1 year ago on Google
    Plan on walking up and down hills. Electric scooter a must if you need a wheelchair or have trouble walking. Pushing a stroller is possible but with effort up the hills. The zoo is spread out so there are animals for viewing and then a bit of a walk to the next viewing. All the animals were happy and moving. Their homes were clean and fun. There is a snow leopard, kangaroo walk about, lemurs, reptiles and many others. This would certainly be a great place to wear out the kiddos. Only snacks, no food is offered! They don’t provide a map so download one on your phone. There is a train for an added $5 per person.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mindi M. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a really good, small zoo (no pun intended). Most of the animals are exotic, which I did not expect at all. The kids loved every bit of it. There is so much to do, so many exhibits! We even got a couple bags of dirt for the kids to sift through to find gems and fossils, which kept them busy for over an hour. There are play areas in various places around the zoo, a "wolf den" for the kids to crawl into to see the maned wolf, and so many things that keep even really young kids (my youngest is 3) totally engaged. The animals were all healthy, attentive, happy, relaxed, and not stressed. This speaks volumes to me about the way the employees interact with the animals and the quality of their environment. The bobcat even brushed up against the glass when my daughter put her hand up on the other side. For those that collect pressed pennies, they have 4 different designs.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mary J. 1 year ago on Google
    It's a small, but super relaxed zoo. The animals all seemed very healthy and everyone working there either loves their jobs or fake it well. We did the lemur encounter and it was absolutely worth every penny. Magellan is so sweet! He wouldn't leave me alone and I wouldn't want it any other way. Despite being a beautiful day, there was no crowd. We felt like we had the place to ourselves at times. I have 0 negative things to say about this zoo.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Heidi L. 10 months ago on Google
    It is a really peaceful and calm zoo. The admission price is reasonable. I do wish there were just a few more animals. Each exhibit is a distance to the next so make sure you wear good walking shoes.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Alex H. 10 months ago on Google
    The zoo is nice, the train is certainly intended for children as the park is small enough to enjoy on foot in about an hour and a half. Even with children, the train may not be worth it as the trip is not very exciting and there is no narration or introductions to anything that is passed. You can get off and back on the train at any stop, but that is unnecessary because the train won't be back by the time you are done with everything at the stop you got off at. The zoo was located far back in the Oglebay compound, so it is important to pay attention to the mostly clear signage along the way to make it to the zoo. While the zoo itself is quite hilly, it is an enjoyable walk with the animals spaced between lush greenery. There are a few buildings as well that house some birds, reptiles, amphibians, monkeys, and rodents. Overall, a nice visit, but a bit overpriced for the experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Harry D. 9 months ago on Google
    Loved it , not typical though with most animals in danger. You can pay for animal encounter close up too
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ralph K. 6 months ago on Google • 3 reviews
    We paid for the Red Panda experience, which included the zoo. It was the Most Amazing thing my wife and I have done! It's a spectacular zoo with a very kind, friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chris E. 2 months ago on Google • 17 reviews New
    My wonderful wife bought me tickets for essentially anything they offer for 2 days (sloths, red pandas, lemurs, sassy cheetahs, red river hogs, night at the zoo, wallaby, kangaroo, bob cats, and more). I'm 43, blew out my knee could barely walk... and it was still without question one of the best days (2 days) of my life. I teared up more than once, being near or interacting with more than a few of these majestic creatures (and staff/people). My wife had a full Kristin Bell/sloth meltdown over a opossum (Reggie) and is easily one of my5 favorite moments in my life. The staff are truly magical there and deserve praise that I am not capable expressing on a keyboard. More that once they utter this wonderful sentence... "Hey, while we are here would you like to meet..." and then a special beautiful animal comes out and just warms your very soul. For my majestic wife, it was Reggie the opossum (who is the softest sweetest peanut butter fiend you could ever wish to meet) but for me it was Kutarna the porcupine. Kutarna is not a porcupine... she's a puppy. I know a puppy when I see one. I almost risked it all and went for full body hug when she was giving me her little kisses in exchange for almonds. I can honestly write a small book about how wonderful this place is, based on equal parts the animals and the people who care for them. The people who work there, truly care about your experience... but that comes second to how much the love the animals there and will always advocate for the animals first. I will recommend this to anyone who loves animals vs getting cool photos by forcing an interaction. Which is what makes this place special. If you truly love animals, their well being , how they are treated, and you want to carefully and lovingly exist in their space, you should come here. I will be back without question.

  • 3/5 Pasha N. 3 years ago on Google
    It's pretty hilly but the animals don't particularly look too happy. Cool shop though

  • 5/5 Amanda R. 3 years ago on Google
    Other than my boys going to and seeing some animals, not all of the animals were out in their habitats. It was honestly a disappointment! But, nonetheless the kids seemed to have enjoyed themselves overall.

  • 4/5 Joey S. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice place to visit. Not crowded. Price was decent. Animals looked to be cared for.

  • 5/5 Jenna A. 3 years ago on Google
    Better than I imagined! We went during the Halloween "Boo at the Zoo" and it was so fun! The kids could dress up and participate in a scavenger hunt. All the exhibits were decorated and the train ride was by far the most fun for the kids. Be prepared for lots of walking and hills, but worth every penny!

  • 5/5 debby w. 3 years ago on Google
    Took behind the scenes tour with snow leopard. Well worth the $$ got to feed her and scratch her back amongst other things

  • 5/5 Brian L. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent experience, staff went out of their way to make it a learning experience, and answered any questions we had!

  • 5/5 Brandon F. 3 years ago on Google
    We love the Christmas Lights. We plan to visit the Zoo next summer.

  • 5/5 Kyla W. 3 years ago on Google
    We had a great time. Staff was helpful and very informative. It's not a big zoo but enclosures look great animals looked comfortable

  • 4/5 Robert S. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice zoo! Nice addition to stopping to see the lights. Be sure to arrive early; closing time is 4!

  • 5/5 Evan M. 3 years ago on Google
    We visited in 2018 and we loved it. This zoo is VERY underrated.

  • 5/5 Angie S. 3 years ago on Google
    Good zoo. Very small. Nice setup tho!

  • 4/5 Karl D. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful zoo, it is really nice for young children. Its beautiful located amongst Rolling hills the red raccoons and albino alligator are highlights.

  • 5/5 l h. 3 years ago on Google
    it was fun to see the animals... 1st time ever seeing an albino alligator& a red panda & some other interesting animals. The kids absolutely loved seeing the reindeer& to know this is where they get trained for Santa😊.

  • 2/5 The Kasinec Family K. 3 years ago on Google
    This year the Zoo was not worth the $13.00 admission. There was nothing to do. Could not see the animals. No laser show. There should not have been an admission fee. This information would have been helpful on the website which we checked before we made the drive. We drove almost 2 hours and were so disappointed.....and out $50.00. We got to see the lights. Even the shops had minimal things to buy and look at also the greenhouse was closed... Not a fun trip this year........

  • 5/5 Shawn M. 3 years ago on Google
    Great still lot's of animals this year for the kid's 🙂

  • 4/5 Helen F. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice small zoo, cute animals, good experience

  • 1/5 Christopher C. 3 years ago on Google
    26.00 dollars for im not really sure?? Arrived at 745pm. Paid 25. Got a 10 minute light show that should be included in the overall cost of the bigger light show which is another 25.00. Anyways. Walked downstairs inside the zoo building and saw about 10 animals. No sign of a Santa or any Reindeer the girl at the front talked about? When we went back upstairs 20 minutes later everyone was gone??? 1 star is to high of a rating and I'm pretty easy to please. The main show is and always has been good.

  • 5/5 Thomas M. 3 years ago on Google
    Great small zoo with some excellent animal attractions in a wooded setting.

  • 5/5 Doug W. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice quaint smaller zoo.

  • 5/5 Jane D. 3 years ago on Google
    Great Light show, friendly employees, zoo animals seem happy. Will definitely return.

  • 4/5 Isabella Marie & Elizabeth Ella S. 3 years ago on Google
    Went to see the Festival of Lights and ended up loving the zoo just as much!

  • 5/5 Jeremy Z. 3 years ago on Google
    Red pandas rock

  • 3/5 Molly T. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice small zoo, we went early in the day and it was not busy at all. Majority of animals are cats and birds there are a few others but no elephants or giraffes. The only concession stand that was open was right when you walk in. The zoo is a lot of up and down hills, we were hoping to be able to rent a scooter or wheelchair for one person in our party but they didn’t have any available to rent. Wouldn’t drive the 2.5 hours to just go to this zoo but since we were in town it was nice to visit

  • 5/5 Shandi H. 3 years ago on Google
    Cute little zoo. Worth a day trip to visit the lights!

  • 5/5 Paula H. 3 years ago on Google
    The Good Zoo is very nice. Now, not all of the animals are out at this time, but it's still interesting to see the white crocodile, mole habitat, meerkat and the other animals in the building. There is a separate package to feed a reindeer and a Sandhill crane. That was very cool...it was like being a kid again! Santa has a workshop where kids can have their picture taken with him. There is also a light show every 15 or 30 minutes at the back patio. This includes music. The gift shop is very nice and well stocked. Handicap parking and entrance is available as well as an elevator to get to the lower level. Masks are required at all times and social distancing is practiced. I definitely recommend the Good Zoo!

  • 5/5 Alberta Z. 3 years ago on Google
    We sawthe Festival of Lights and the Zoo. Lots of walking but in SUMMER there's a train that transports you around the wildlife resort.

  • 5/5 Chelsey B. 3 years ago on Google
    I loved the information on each animal.

  • 4/5 Samantha B. 3 years ago on Google
    Playful animals, a white alligator, and lots of light displays for Christmas!

  • 5/5 RED L. 3 years ago on Google
    Great time as always

  • 3/5 gloria N. 3 years ago on Google
    Not very many animals and Santa is really really far away from everything the line to see him was very long

  • 5/5 Kayla A. 3 years ago on Google
    The Christmas show was great. Don't miss the garden walk thru and the light show on the homestead. Needed more lights on the drive thru part. The added music interactions is a good added extra. The animals was well taken care of don't miss the train ride.

  • 5/5 Treva K. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to visit. Many animals to see

  • 5/5 Connie 3 years ago on Google
    Loved it!

  • 5/5 R 3 years ago on Google
    People are great, loved it!

  • 5/5 Rich T. 3 years ago on Google
    Great , personal, clean and overall perfect

  • 3/5 Sheila J. 3 years ago on Google
    A good time for kids and enjoyng safe Halloween fun.

  • 5/5 Sam B. 3 years ago on Google
    Son and I had an amazing time. Always enjoy visiting Oglebay, whether in the Fall for Boo at the Zoo or the winter for the Christmas Lights Display.

  • 5/5 April B. 3 years ago on Google
    We love this place and go every 2 yrs or so for about the last 15 yeàrs

  • 5/5 Denna G. 3 years ago on Google
    Well kept, clear view of animals, & educational. My family loved it ! We drove from Ohio and will most definitely return.

  • 5/5 Brad B. 3 years ago on Google
    LOVE this zoo. If you're bringing the kids, make sure to sign them up for an animal encounter. The reindeer encounter was fun, especially around Christmas. Very knowledgeable zoo staff, and it's not hard to have a good time!

  • 3/5 Jesse C. 3 years ago on Google
    Over priced an not many attractions to see

  • 4/5 Ricky M. 3 years ago on Google
    Decent little zoo. Nothing to over the top since it's smaller. We started the day with picnic at shelter house near by. Then at the zoo we bought the day pass wrist band Red Panda was super cool. Meerkat, lemurs, kangaroos, walabys etc.

  • 5/5 Christine G. 3 years ago on Google
    Cute animals that seem to be well cared for.

  • 4/5 Rebekah S. 3 years ago on Google
    Enjoyable but not a ton to see. Red pandas, bob cats, 2 types of marmosets, a ring-tailed lemur, a mongoose lemur, a cheetah, 2 red river hogs, an albino crocodile, red wolves, beautiful cranes, a couple armdillos, a snow leapord, several different snakes and turtles and tortoises, meerkats, a macaw, 2 owls, 2 donkeys, a chicken, 4 goats, a reindeer, several hellbenders, and some alpacas. We went in February so the kangaroos, emu, zebra, serval, sloth, peafowl, and porcupine were not out. Animals appeared well cared for and staff was very friendly

  • 5/5 Casey H. 3 years ago on Google
    A beautiful zoo

  • 5/5 JOEL R. 3 years ago on Google
    Great zoo

  • 5/5 firemedic44 3 years ago on Google
    Kids loved it

  • 4/5 Just Call Me D. 3 years ago on Google
    My daughter Loved it! Stroller Friendly, paved path. Animals looked well taken care of. Priced right although there were a few exhibits that were empty (one being the wolf's, which I personally was excited to see. Near the Animal Hospital is a very nice park for the kids to play in. Allow your family approximately 2hrs or more to properly enjoy the zoo. We got a late start to our day so only had about 1½ to spend, I feel that the last few exhibits we had to rush through. Note: after exiting the building and walking down to the path, walk the loop counterclockwise. This is due to a steep hill that will allow you to walk down and allows you to walk a little longer distance (but not nearly a steep) when coming back up.

  • 5/5 Jonathan F. 3 years ago on Google
    We had an animal encounter with the Ring-tailed Lemur that also had the bonus of the Mongoose Lemurs and tortoises. Our 10 year old was in Heaven. We also enjoyed the lack of crowds while observing the Bobcat, Macropods and Snow Leopard.

  • 4/5 Joanne T. 3 years ago on Google
    Very nice for a small place. Admission was a little pricey.

  • 4/5 Terry G. 2 years ago on Google
    Neat little zoo with a diverse selection of animals. Fantastic for kids and adults. One on one encounters are amazing. Staff is very knowledgeable. The entire resort is over the top. Would love to return.

  • 5/5 melissa hill (. 2 years ago on Google
    What a great little zoo.The animals all look great! Well maintained grounds and enclosures.The staff were all super friendly and helpful.

  • 5/5 matower88 2 years ago on Google
    This was an awesome zoo. We were traveling through on our way to Virginia and need to stop and stretch. Decided to stop here. Great zoo without the corporate feel. They take care of their animals very well and the staff is great. Highly recommend stopping here. You won't regret it.

  • 4/5 John N. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice zoo with good education content. Friendly staff and not too crowded. Easy access and parking.

  • 5/5 ERIN F. 2 years ago on Google
    I've also been to the Akron, Pittsburgh and Columbus zoos within the last year, and Oglebay was by far the best experience. The smallness of the zoo with smaller habitats and less crowds makes it better. Every animal was out in its enclosure and within a good view. We had a great time.

  • 3/5 Larann S. 2 years ago on Google
    Very small but nice. Not many animals to see. However, they had it decorated nicely for Halloween. I decided to do the train ride and there were Zebras and ostriches roaming free which made the ride quite interesting. If you're looking for a nice way to spend your time and burn a few calories, this is the place to be!

  • 5/5 Caitlin S. 2 years ago on Google
    We absolutely love the Good Zoo! It is the perfect size because it’s big enough, with the extra activities like the train, theater, paddle boats, hiking trails, and large playground to keep the kiddos entertained all day, while still being small enough that you can still get through the whole zoo in a day. A lovely atmosphere and beautiful little zoo.

  • 5/5 Matthew G. 2 years ago on Google
    Great small zoo! Self-sufficient, no funding, only donations, ticket sales etc... Great place in WV!

  • 5/5 Michael G. 2 years ago on Google
    We bring out grandson here every year to see the Christmas lights. This was his 3rd time and I love seeing his face every year as we go thru the zoo and how excited he is. This year we were at the light show at the zoo and we had a great time. We can't wait for next year.

  • 5/5 Brandee Y. 2 years ago on Google
    I've definitely posted this before, but Oglebay is just one of those things that make you proud of the Ohio Valley. To me, there aren't many but they're really doing everything they can to tie in the community and make it feel more like home! The zoo is small but the staff is so nice and they offer experiences and golf cart rides if needed!

  • 5/5 Lizz W. 2 years ago on Google
    I go here every time I'm at Oglebay! They have some really unique animals and an emphasis on education and conservation. I did one of the animal encounters years ago and it's still one of my favorite memories. Staff knew the animals by name and would talk about them like old friends; you can tell that they care a lot. It isn't the biggest or flashiest zoo but it makes up for it with a lot of heart.

  • 3/5 Misty 2. 2 years ago on Google
    Went on a Sunday!. Arrived at 2 finished at about 4 with 6 kids ages 5 months-12yrs old. You could go through in about 1 HR. On the website it says train rides and stroller rental... I didn't see a place for stroller rental and I had to ask the front desk about the train. They are getting a new one so its down for now.. Also i only seen 1 person throughout the zoo with the animals and that was with the kangaroos. Great for children & a quick get away.

  • 5/5 Tracie S. 2 years ago on Google
    Very cute, small zoo. Don’t expect it to be like one of “big city” zoos but you also don’t pay a big price. They have tons of kids activities. Very nice for families

  • 5/5 Crystal W. 2 years ago on Google
    Love this zoo. It's small, but big enough. Had a train ride. We always do the animal experiences. It's awesome and the zoo makes money.

  • 5/5 Laurie L. M. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent place to visit. A mile walk around but if you need a wheelchair to get around make sure who is pushing you around can navigate as there are hills to walk up and down. They take good care of the animals.

  • 5/5 Lisa M. 10 months ago on Google
    The keepers really care about the animals, which is so important, and this zoo is made for the animals. Walking around can be tedious due to a lot of uphill and downhill routes for us humans. The cheetah animal encounter was insightful and exciting. Worth every penny.

  • 4/5 chris g. 10 months ago on Google
    Fun little zoo that’s tucked away in the hills of West Virginia. It’s modest in size, so it can be walked through relatively quickly making it a nice day trip for a family. It’s very affordable. You can buy water bottles at the concession stand and there are refill stations throughout the zoo, which is pretty nice on a hot day.

  • 5/5 Mary Kay F. 1 year ago on Google
    Visited the zoo with my son on a rainy day. The zoo was not at all busy, maybe 10 people in the entire zoo. I book the guided tour which turned out to be a private guided tour (@$35 each which also included admission...imo a great deal for a 2 hour tour and animal encounters) where my son got to feed the animals through the fences. You have to go in realizing that this is a very small zoo, not Cincinnati or Columbus. But in all lovely workers, lots of animals and good prices.

  • 5/5 Michelle L. 6 months ago on Google • 3 reviews
    Incredible zoo! May be small (the smallest in the country actually) but you get so up close to all the animals, it’s amazing! The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable! Great place to visit with kids!

  • 5/5 Chris D. 4 months ago on Google
    We love going to this zoo as.opposed to others, the main reason is the crowd spacing. Columbus Zoo is absolutely packed, shoulder to shoulder sometimes, and it's hard for kids to see everything and enjoy the scenery. The Good Zoo has great spacing, wide paths, so the kids can wander and see all the animals at their own pace and not be rushed and also not be in the middle of a huge crowd. This zoo is relaxing and great for families.

  • 5/5 Allan H. 5 months ago on Google
    Went to the Good Zoo in November (Black Friday). Even though the weather was cold, sunny but cold, the outside animals were mostly outside. I went here as a child and I remembered the Modal Railroad they used to have and was thrilled to see it again, but to my disappointment they had apparently taken it down and replaced it with the Red Panda Exhibit (They were cute though). Staff were very friendly and even told me about some of the activities I could attend for the Christmas Lights Festival. I would personally recommend to anyone single, couples or even families to come and see the Good Zoo!

  • 5/5 Erica B. 4 months ago on Google
    We traveled from Florida strictly for the red panda experience and was pleasantly surprised by the zoo itself. It isn't large but has a good amount of animals. A great place to take small kids as they have an awesome play ground as well as play areas inside. It isnt crowded and there was a ton of room to walk around. Their cafe was also great and super reasonable and everything tasted good. The staff was amazing. I also can't recommend the red panda experience enough. We travel a lot for zoos and seeing specific animals and it was one of the coolest things we have done. You have to book WAY ahead of time but if you are thinking about it you should!!!!


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Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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