Wheaton's Cosley Zoo to charge admission for out-of-towners

Five smackers for out-of-towners 18 and older. I haven't been to Cosley Zoo in a long time but I do recall it being rather small and sort of rundown.

What do they charge to get into the big downtown museums these days? When I was a kid.....most were free.

Now? You need tickets in advance and I think the Shedd Aquarium is $25 for a single adult admission. Museum of Sci & Ind? $15 bones.

I won't even look up the Art Institute.

And Morton Arboreteum? Last time I went there, they charged by the person - something like $8 a head.

Every single one of these places used to be free or dirt cheap. So I guess Cosley Zoo is just following on.

Art Institute has a free, IIRC. Tuesdays? Either way, worth the price of admission. You could go to the AI 20 times and still not see everything. Someone who lives in our house has a degree from the place, not certain if it is one of the kids or Parker, so we try to get there every so often.

Cosley.....meh. Nice concept for the under 7 set. But zzzzzzsville for anyone older.

The last time I went to the Art Institute, it was a free will suggested donation of $5 per head I think....not a requirement, though. JRBs right, it can take days to cover the whole place....kinda like Disney World

I also agree about Cosley and the recommended age group. BUT, if you do have little ones, paying $5 isn't much for a few hours out of the house. It is rather small and rundown and I've honestly been wondering for years how it's managed to stay open. I'm surprised it took this long for an admission charge.

Bummer. We'd go there as a family on Sunday afternoons - it's a 45 minute visit, tops, unless you picnic there, too. But, I'm not about to pay $10 in admission costs per visit for that. It was just a thing to do, not some grand outing. We'll just go to Lake Ellyn or something.

I'm certain you 19+ year-old children will be upset to hear that.

Mamattorney I agree it is a 45 min visit. When my kids were young we always put a small amount in the donation box but I guess not many did or didn't put in enough.

I've driven past, but never stopped in. What do they have there? Nearby Klein Creek Farm might be a good - and still free - substitute.

Yeah, because that steep price of admission is really going to set someone like you back, Fan. Jerk.

Dins,

Here's a list of species.

Wow - a lot more than I had thought.
I might stop by - always wondered where I could catch a glimpse of a coyote!

Willowbrook is good for a little kid animal fix as well. We sometimes go there just to visit the bald eagle.

I'm surprised it was free for out of the city residents. Most Park D and library services recover cost if your not a taxpayer. Cosley is pretty unique here for a PD. There was (is?) a cool raptor center in Itasca (Itasca PD?) also. Not sure if it's still around.

I don't know about a raptor center, but Itasca has a really awesome nature center. Been there a couple of times with Girl Scouts and once or twice otherwise as well. It's a really beautiful place with some really great and well-educated staff members.

Yes thats it. Springbrook Nature Center. THey used to also rehabilitate hawks and such.

I had a WONDERFUL 21st birthday, but I didn't spend it with my school friends. My birthday falls during winter break, so my three older siblings (and a few others) took me out. My parents WERE not involved and that was a good thing (for them).

Awesome. Was it at Cosley? Did the have the mule/donkey back then? That mule/donkey is cool.

Whoops - wrong thread

Although I have been to birthday parties at Cosley - they are a big hit!

Were donkeys or mules at these parties?

best as I recall, there were rabbits, turtles and hissing cockroaches. But no mules.

Cosley Zoo reduces admission fees

quote:

Just a month after deciding adults who don't live in the city must start paying to enter the popular zoo, Wheaton Park District board members Wednesday reduced the nonresident admission fee to $3 for adults and $2 for senior citizens.

Officials originally planned to charge $5 for all nonresident adults when the change takes effect in late June or early July.

Seems fair enough.