The property is massive, with wide open landscapes and views that stretch far across the hills. Waking up in the morning and looking out over the terrain was one of the highlights of the trip. It almost feels like stepping into another environment entirely, especially knowing the area is dedicated to wildlife conservation. Our campsite was quiet and well spaced out, which made it easy to enjoy the surroundings without constant noise from nearby groups. At night, the sky was incredibly clear, and the lack of city lights made stargazing surprisingly good. Facilities were simple but adequate, which fits the outdoor-focused setting. Everything we needed was available, and the grounds were kept in good condition. The staff we encountered were welcoming and clearly proud of the property, offering helpful guidance about the area. Camping at The Wilds is more than just pitching a tent--it's an opportunity to spend time in a unique natural environment that feels both peaceful and expansive. It's a great destination if you're looking for something a little different from the usual campground experience. read more

The Wilds - Parks Near Me - Cumberland, Ohio

Second time visiting. We will be back again. Staff is super knowledgeable and friendly . We saw so many animals up close. I would absolutely recommend the wild side tour Our tour leader Faith was absolutely amazing. read more

We are staying in one of the yurts on ground. We can see Père David's deer from our deck. Went on an open air safari tour and saw tons of animals! Our tour guide Carla was great! Breakfast and dinner included with the stay Courtney and Simon were the best servers. Attentive and quick.we have 3 more nights and already want to come back. read more

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After visiting the Columbus zoo a couple years ago, a trip to The Wilds was on our list if we were in the area again. Today we had that chance and had an absolute blast. The Wildside tour experience provided a unique chance to see rhinos, zebras, ostriches and giraffes up close just to name a few. Not only did we see rhinos enjoying their mud hole, we were able to feed a giraffe and see its prehensile tongues. The guide was knowledgeable and showed great care and passion for the animals she was showing us. read more

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Wifey and lil man love the show - secrets of the zoo and have wanted to come here for a while. Well we did the winter wildside tour and it was great! We got to see some of the animals they keep in the barns during the colder months. And the coolest had to be the rhinos and the giraffes. Never in my wildest imagination did I think I would be feeding and petting rhinos!!!! It was a small tour, about 7 of us. And the guide was super friendly and informative. Definitely would love to come back for a summer tour in the future. read more

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This place is fantastic, especially if you stay onsite at Nomad Ridge (age 21+ only, yurts that hold 2). I wish we could've stayed longer, to fully enjoy the tranquility and views. The open air safari is 2.25 hours of joy. You get to see the various endangered animals, and all are happy and breeding (selective breeding for those who need to boost their populations). I learned so much about rare species, their habits and care. My favorites were the Greater One-Horned Rhinos (so cute and active), parading Grevy's zebras and Sichuan Takins. As a guest at Nomad Ridge, dinner and breakfast are included. The food was quite good, though some staffing issues threw off our dinner timing. After you can lounge by the communal fire pit or retire to your yurt. At dinner we tried the steak and caprese mushrooms. The roasted vegetables side was fantastic! All dinners come with salad and dessert. Waking up in the yurt was phenomenal. You look out onto 5 different species, though you need binoculars to see some. Breakfast was also great, we had the cheetah bowl (biscuits and gravy) and frittata. I can't wait to go back and spend more than 1 night so there will be lots more time to lounge around taking in the environment. read more

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To Whom It May Concern, I wanted to take a quiet moment this evening to reflect on the incredible experience my fiancé and I had today at The Wilds. While every visit to your facility has always been wonderful, today held something especially meaningful for us -- and it came in the form of a young man named Simon. We participated in both the 11:15 AM zipline tour and the 3:30 PM open-air safari. The zipline guides were fantastic -- lively, funny, and genuinely kind. Though I regret not remembering their names, I want it known they gave us a morning we'll remember fondly and set a wonderful tone for the rest of our day. But Simon... Simon left an imprint on our hearts. From the moment we boarded the open-air safari, Simon's warmth and enthusiasm radiated. There was no pretense, no forced cheerfulness -- just genuine excitement to share something he so clearly loves. His knowledge was impressive, but it was the heart behind every word that made the experience unforgettable. He didn't recite facts; he told stories. He spoke about the animals like old friends, about the land like a guardian, and about The Wilds as someone who felt privileged to be part of it. He took the time to answer every question with kindness and care and ensured that every guest on that bus -- from eager kids to quiet adults -- felt seen, welcome, and engaged. I was particularly moved by the way he accommodated a family on our tour utilizing ADA access. Though we weren't part of that group, it meant something to see him go the extra mile to make sure they felt safe, included, and valued. And then came the moment I'll never forget. As our tour was nearing its end, Simon shared a personal story with us. He told us how, as a child, he visited The Wilds and made it his personal goal to one day return as a tour guide -- to be a voice for the animals, to protect the land, and to carry forward the mission that had so deeply inspired him years ago. It was already a beautiful moment, but what made it unforgettable was that up until that very moment, we had no idea it was his first day giving tours independently. We never would have guessed. He was so natural, so engaging, so effortlessly good at what he was doing, it felt like he had been doing it for years. The entire bus reacted with surprise and admiration when he shared that detail. And as if the universe itself wanted to bear witness to his achievement, a bald eagle soared directly over our bus at that exact moment as we exited the pasture. It was a moment so pure and moving it gave me chills. I've experienced synchronicities like this a few times in my life, and this one was unmistakable. That eagle wasn't a coincidence -- it was a sign. A moment of nature itself acknowledging Simon's journey. Simon didn't just guide a tour today. He created a memory for us. He made us laugh, made us think, made us feel connected -- not only to the animals and the land but to each other and something bigger than ourselves. That's not a job. That's a calling. And Simon carries it with grace, authenticity, and heart. In a world of online reviews and five-star ratings, I'm handwriting this letter because some things deserve more time, more care, and more heart. If it's allowed, I kindly ask that this letter be passed along to Simon. I'd love for him to have it as a keepsake from his very first day leading tours on his own -- as a tangible reminder of the mark he made on two guests who left The Wilds a little better for having crossed paths with him. Simon, you were extraordinary today. Thank you for sharing your kindness, passion, and light with us. You have a rare gift, and you are exactly where you are meant to be. That eagle knew it too. We'll be back -- with our seven children in tow -- because of you. With heartfelt gratitude, Margaret Greene P.S. I am submitting this review digitally because I want to be sure it's seen, but I'm also mailing a handwritten copy of this letter. My hope is that a copy might be made for Simon's employee file, and that the original can be given to him as a small keepsake from his very first day of solo tours -- a reminder of the wonderful work he's already doing and the lives he's already touched. He's truly earned it. read more

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Cool to see animals in a more wild setting. It is great all the conservation that they do for endangered animals. I purchased a membership since it was cheaper for my family to do that than to buy individual tickets. I was able to schedule over the phone. They give you several tips like arriving early. When you arrive you park in a lot at the bottom of the hill. They shuttle you up to the starting point where you checkin for your tour. If they have room on earlier tours they let you switch times as well. They have a few tanks with hellbenders in them. The kids favorite part was the children's discovery room. They had a lot of activities with a pretend vet area and a rubber mulch garden to dig in. Once it your time you get on the bus. The driver is also your tour guide telling you facts about the animals and the facility itself. That is truly what makes the park special. Seeing the animals is great but hearing stories about them is better. Afterwards you get dropped off in the gift shop area. I believe they have a good advice area as well. Then the shuttle takes you back to your car. read more

The Wilds - Animal vet area - Parks Near Me - Cumberland, Ohio

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This is our second year staying at one of their yurts and we love it! The service, gourmet meals and incredible scenery are incredible! We can't say enough good things about The Wilds. Do the open air safari and horseback rides, you will not be disappointed. read more

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KUDOS to our tour guide Brian for providing supreme quality customer service! The tour with the Mighty OAKS Foundation was wonderful, and the staff at the gift shop was friendly. Bought a postcard and pin! Please donate to the preservation of the animals! You can round it up! I highly recommend all to come and visit to support this local zoo! read more

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A friend and I went to The Wilds last weekend and stayed the night in a yurt. The Safari was amazing!!!! Our tour guide was full of information and if she didn't know an answer to a question she contacted someone who did. We got to see a baby zebra which was born on July 4, 2023. All employees were so friendly and helpful with all our needs. The yurt was amazing!!!! Very clean and spacious. The only disappointment was the dinner! My steak was very tough and my friend ordered a steak rare and it was well done. Her carrots were undercooked. But my zucchini was delicious! Breakfast was okay. read more

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The wife and I took out ten year old grandson for an Open-Air Safari today. We had "Jody" as our driver/tour guide. The tour was amazing and Jody gave specific and detailed animal information for each of the many animals species we saw during the two and a half hour tour. We were able to get some great pictures and our grandson was amazed (as were we). I had a lot of questions about the park and other areas while my grandson and other guests had a lot of animal questions. We were able to stop at each area and each time we were close to the various animals. It was a great afternoon with a great tour guide. Next year when my grandson comes in we plan to change it up. Attend the zip-line course, stay the night, then do the Wildside Safari so we can actually feed the rino's and Giraffes. Thanks to all of the staff at "THE WILDS" for an amazing experience. read more

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Earlier this year, my husband and I booked a one night stay in a Premium Yurt at Nomad's Ridge for October 14th. I will note that when he booked, the only available yurts were the "easy access" ones but that didn't throw a red flag about view as it wasn't mentioned. This trip is something we have talked about eventually doing since m 10 years ago before we were even married. We decided that we would do it this year for our 8th anniversary. So we drove almost 6 hours from our home even though I was a bit nervous being this far away from our kids for the first time. We were so excited to be able to sit on the deck of our yurt at night looking over the hills and to sit out there to watch the sunrise. It's all we talked about the whole drive. However, when we checked in at 3pm on the dot, we learned our yurt had absolutely zero view, unless you count trees right in front of you as a view. (See photo) But that is the view I have from my home; so I wouldn't say it was "pretty" to me at all. Upset was an understatement, and I tried to hold back my tears when my husband said he would talk to the concierge to see if there was anything to be done. By the time he came back, I was completely in tears grabbing our bags to leave as I no longer had any desire to be there. My husband asked that I give a little time to see if they could figure anything out. Concierge said she would talk to a few others who haven't checked in yet about moving yurts, but I found that very unlikely because who would choose to look at trees compared to over a pasture with animals? She offered us a cabin at Straker Lake. We drove there, and while it was nice it wasn't what we had wanted at all - an intimate setting for us to enjoy something we wouldn't ever get the chance to at home. We stay at lakes around home all the time, and this didn't make me feel like we were having any sort of fun experience we couldn't have 20 minutes from home. So we decided to continue to wait to see if any luck would come with a yurt. After all the driving around, we sat in our vehicle for an hour just waiting....wasting our time we would've spent together on our patio before dinner. Unfortunately, no one was willing to change, and I do commend Concierge for doing all she could. Shortly after 5pm (over 2 hours after arrival and just sitting in our vehicle) we went to our original yurt without a view and hurried to get ready for dinner. So we drove 6 hours for me to take a short nap in our vehicle and then rushing to dinner. Dinner itself was edible, but we are foodies and don't have high expectations. In the morning, I just walked to the deck at the concierge tent with the fire pit to watch the sunrise. To frustrate me even more, we realized there was absolutely no one else even on their patios watching it, and they had amazing views - which was a huge reason we wanted that. After scouring the website because I thought maybe WE missed something, no where does it mention obstructed views for certain yurts. This needs to be CLEARLY stated and potentially have a map of the yurts during booking so people know what to expect. I just can't express my extreme disappointment enough with the entire disastrous situation. I feel 10 years of excitement was for absolutely no reason. I hate that we chose to waste our anniversary on a subpar experience. One positive was that the open air safari was pretty cool, but it doesn't make up for the rest of the disaster. read more

The Wilds - View from our yurt - Parks Near Me - Cumberland, Ohio

The Wilds exceeded all of my expectations. I made reservations ahead of time with friends to go on the Open Air Safari tour. When you arrive at The Wilds you park in the lot by the road and they shuttle you up the hill. We arrived early and had lunch in the cafe which is the first building at the top of the hill. We ate outside where the view is breathtaking. Once we were done with lunch we headed over to our tour. The open air safari is just that- a bus that is completely open. Our tour time was 3:45pm and it was perfect. We saw so many animals up close it was truly an amazing experience. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about The Wilds. The tour is 2.5 hours which I thought would be long but the time flew by. There are a few stops along the way where you can get off the bus and look around. I will definitely come back in the future and bring my family! read more

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Updated 9/13/20: I tried the horseback riding. We got $5 off and are Wilds Members and thank goodness for these discounts. We drove an hour and half for the ride only to ride in a short loop less than 40 minutes. It rained and that may have been the reason for the short ride, however if that was the case the tour guides should have asked the riders if we wanted a short ride or not. The guides didn't really talk to us. The loop was around the butterfly gardens, there wasn't much to look at. After the ride was over the guides started putting the horses away and didn't really say anything to us. It was a bit awkward, especially because I wanted to tip and they just kind of left us there. The horses were all really nice and well taken care of. I wouldn't recommend the horseback riding. Original Post: It's great place to take the family! My family are avid zoo goers, and most years get a zoo membership. After living the first half of 2020 inside, I was looking for something special to do for father's day. Why not The Wilds?! My family and I got a membership (to The Wilds and the Columbus Zoo), and took the dads. The horizon and views are stunning. It was fun to try and see the animals as we were entering the park. We booked a reservation (a must) and arrived 30 minutes early to get parked and shuttled to the tour spot. The park is doing a great job to keep groups distanced from each other. We had a 12 person group and almost had the whole tour truck to ourselves. Our tour guide Bob was friendly, informative, and added his own personal encounters with the animals to the mix. He was a great tour guide! When entering the pastures there are gates to go through. It felt very Jurassic Park like! We had camels and ostrich come right up to the truck. We saw baby rhinos, takin, and deer. It was a lovely experience seeing the animals roaming free through giant pastures. They also offer private tours that allow you to feed and get closer to the animals. There are overnight stay packages, zip lining, and horseback riding tours available. I would love to go back and try some of their other tours and maybe even stay in a yurt! I could go on and on about The Wilds, but it's better to stop reading the reviews and go visit for yourself! read more

Our family booked an open air trip for the Wilds for, Monday Oct.6 at 3:30. Our group included a 3, 4, and an 8 year old. Due to the trip lasting past the kids dinner time I called the Wilds prior to the visit, to verify food availability. I was told that there would be a couple of food options during the tour. That would have been perfect. We could get snacks and drinks at the Terrace Grill. When we got there, it was closed. Nothing was available to get the kids who are now getting hungry and thirsty. Okay, we will have to hold them off until our trip is over. There was a restaurant at the drop-off place at the end of our tour. There website said it would be open until 8. We had rented one of their cabins since it was close in proximity to the tour versus getting a hotel room in Zanesville. Since we were told food would be available to us and that we were only spending 1 night, we decided we didn't need to bring food for dinner. Our tour was over at 630ish. Well, wouldn't you know, they decided to close the restaurant early. so there is no food or drink for the kids or us. We ended up having to drive a half hour to Zanesville to go to a restaurant, meaning getting there at 7 and getting anything for the kids to eat until 7:30. Had we known food or drink would not be available, we would not have rented the cabin and would have gotten a hotel in Zanesville, which would have saved us over half or more of the cost of the cabin and the hour ride there and back to the Wilds. Totally not happy with what The Wilds did to us. Would give a 0 if I could for the company. However, Liam, our tour guide would get a good mark. A word to the wise, we booked the open air because it had a wheelchair lift, which we needed. The lift rattled so loud that you couldn't hear anything he was talking about during the tour we mentioned it to him, and he agreed it was very loud but no way to resolve it. We purchased one night cabin rental and tour and cost was over 700 dollars for the service we received it was not worth it. read more

Overall an amazing and beautiful experience! I've heard a about The Wilds for years and finally made it there this summer. Two reasons this isn't a five star. I think it is pretty ridiculous that you have to pay for parking when you are literally in the middle of nowhere. And the unnecessarily long time in the middle of the tour (which I'll talk about later). We did the regular tour. When you arrive at the park you provide your name and they have your reservation information. You are then asked to board a bus that takes you up to the main area of the park. There is one building with bathrooms and a small gift shop where the "regular" tours board and the larger building with the gift shop, cafe and bathrooms. Our tour guide (who is a teacher during the school year) was friendly, knowledgeable and welcomed questions. We drove through several areas seeing a variety of species. About 45 minutes into the tour we stopped at the carnivores area. It has a snack bar, bathroom and shaded area (along with opportunities to see cheetahs, painted dogs and others). It was a nice area but the stop was a boy too long. I'm assuming it was to encourage people to spend money. The second half was more interesting to me animal wise because we saw a newborn zebra and some camels. Overall, it was longer than I was expecting (in a good way) and very much worth the cost. One thing to note is that the giraffes are currently not on exhibit. They are in their barn until they complete a renovation to the area to include more shade. read more

Amazing! Just amazing! What incredible work this organization is doing. Open-air safari vehicles and incredibly knowledgeable staff bring you up close with an incredible array of wild animals. One of the best days I've had in awhile! read more

The Wilds - Parks Near Me - Cumberland, Ohio

Cancelled us 4 days before our stay. Be prepared to have your vacation ruined. 4 days before our stay we got bumped due to a larger group making a booking error on their end. We had family from out of country & state coming. Plans, vacation, money spent on travel ruined from this place. They offered no compensation yet to stay in the tiny yurts as 5 people. There is no social space. There is a tiny balcony for 2 people & a bed. So you want 5 people to just hangout on a bed for multiple days? The yurts are a couples retreat. Completely unprofessional giving zero adequate options for compensation. They themselves have a 14 day policy and will charge you for cancelling. Yet we get the bare minimum of just getting a refund. We wasted travel money, animal boarding, time, & food money. This place used to be a favorite of ours. We been coming here for years. I will never come back or recommend again for how we were treated. Completely unacceptable. read more

Well worth the drive and ticket price! We did the Into the Wildside Tour during the winter (mid-November) It was so great to get up close to so many animals. We were in the back of a pickup truck in the open air. We got to feed an Indian rhino, pet white rhinos, and feed giraffes. We got to see camels, zebras, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and other hoofed animals. It was so very cool. My biggest complaint was the communication before the tour. We were NOT told to show up only 5 min before the tour because EVERYTHING was closed for the winter. We had arrived 2.5 hours early to eat lunch and go to the gift shop, but both were closed. I couldn't find this info in my emails or on the website. I'm sure it's much better in the summer. read more

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I love this place!! The Wilds is set on over 100 acres I believe and it feels like you're in another country ... not Ohio. The landscape is vast and beautiful! I came here on a Tuesday morning, and what a perfect time to come. It was not overwhelmingly busy and loud. We opted for the $35 open air tour, but the next time I go I'll go on the more expensive $135 tour. (You get to go up close and personal with the animals on that one - see picture #3). There's also several types of lodging here, a program for veterans, a camp for kids, and so much more here! Who knew!? Remember to pay for your tour-spots and parking before you go. Anyway, the tour I was on was still amazing! This 2 1/2 hours went by so fast. We saw so many different types of animals - I won't spoil it. We got close enough to them and even made a few "destination" stops. Like to aviary where we got to feed Budgies! (It's $1 a stick, by the way). The tour guide was so personable and knowledgeable. Overall, this was a day I'll never forget. read more

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Poor management decision. So I have been trying to book for a year. Finally after emails a phone calls I was able to book the lodge April 27th and 28th. I got four generations together ant at $1000 (roughly) booked. I was told that I just needed to book the complementary open air tour. I called and what a mess. They said the tour doesn't start until May 1st. Ok that's literally three days after we get there. Weather isn't going to change. Then they offered a discounted rate on a winter tour but kids under 6 can't attend it. ( Half my grandkids can't attend) I ended up having to cancel as they couldn't make a decision to do one of the following. Set up a VIP tour three days early. Give us a walking tour so the kids can see animals. This was very disappointing. Four generations driving 10+ hours to sit in a lodge without animals is ludicrous. I own several businesses and managers without empathy and can't do what is right to fix their mistake is a downfall for any business. I'm glad they aren't on my payroll. I was told they could switch dates but try to get four families scheduled for that is almost impossible. It goes to show how a manager without imagination or customer service can make a great adventure a really bad experience. Serve your customer to your utmost. The customer isn't always right but they could've been accommodating to this mistake. read more

RECOMMENDED!!!!!! This was One of my favorite experiences. My parents rented a cabin at Stricker lake and we took the overall Park tour and then we also the next day took the wild side Safari. Cabin: The cabins are very clean, and the setting was beautiful. We loved the screened in back porch with a nice view of the lake. They have boats that you can use out on the lake. There are kayaks and paddle boats, but they are first come first serve. Overall the cabin was an excellent place to stay. Park tour: The park tour is nice. It's a tram style bus with a tour guide. They take you all over the park and you get to see whatever animals are close to the trail. You will generally get to see a lot of animals and some animals even will come up to the bus. The bus ride is extremely bumpy though, and there is little to no padding on the seats. If you are planning on going with an older person definitely bring a seat cushion Wild side Open-Air Tour: my absolute favorite part of our experience at the wilds. You can fit 7 to 8 people in the back of a pick up truck which has nice thick cushion seats. Our tour guide was Mercedes and she was absolutely the best. In the open air tour they take you off roading around the park to get very close to the animals. We fed giraffes and a rhinoceros, it was an incredible experience. Overall, I would recommend this tour to anyone. When you go on the tour be open minded and ask a lot of questions you will learn so much and have an unforgettable experience. read more

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I purchased two tickets for a "Wildside Tour" at The Wilds as a Christmas Gift for my mother this year. The tickets were $125 a piece ($250 total). The beauty of booking a Wildside Tour is that you get to ride with an animal specialist (as opposed to a tour guide) and the truck can pull right up to the animals (instead of staying on the path). The tour normally has hands-on experiences (i.e. feeding giraffes, etc.). Because of COVID-19, guests are currently also socially distanced from the animals which means that none of those hands-on experiences can currently happen. I completely understand the policy, but I do wish that we would have been informed of this so that maybe we could have chosen to reschedule. That seems reasonable, given that the tickets aren't exactly cheap. Regardless, our guide (I believe her name was Kelsey) was great, and we had a great time. This experience gave me way fewer of the ethical delimmas I feel like I normally face at a zoo as the animals are given so much space. It was absolutely incredible getting as close to these animals as we were. I would definitely visit again. read more

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The pics here say it all. Who doesn't want to up close and personal with the animals! read more

The Wilds - Look at this beast...so close to us! And the rhino doesn't seem phased we are even there. The rhino is a massive beast. - Parks Near Me - Cumberland, Ohio

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Amazing animal conservatory! I haven't been here since the 90s but really wanted to zip line and see some giraffes so we came to the wilds! I did the wild side tour first. Hannah was our guide and she was very knowledgeable and had a passion for animals. She was great! We interacted with the giraffes (best part) and rhinos and saw many other awesome animals. The 5 course zip line was really fun too! The zip line guides were also very fun and friendly! I wish I would have done the 10 course but maybe next time. For animal lovers and thrill seekers, I highly recommend visiting the wilds. read more

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This is a must see place. I did the open air safari tour and it was great! I went early July and it was hot as expected. Bring water bottles and snacks if you want to avoid the tourist trap of purchasing overpriced drinks and food. However, there are food places to purchase food and drinks along the way on the safari tour as well as restrooms. The were an abundance of animals to see. The tour lasted a little over 2 hours. There are different safari rides to purchase. I did not purchase tickets online, however it is recommended. Also, try to go earlier in the day since the safari does take 2 hours. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. This safari is located in a small town and you might lose cell service on the way there, but it is worth it! read more

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Two of my favorite things are animals & travel & The Wilds delivers on this in spades. While in Ohio, once you arrive you will feel like you have been magically transported to majestic Africa as it is a delight for the senses. I have been lucky enough to have experienced this multiple times & my heart was filled with magic every minute of my experience. It is wonderful to have this access to these remarkable creatures albeit near (yes, the ostrich tried to get in our shuttle & a certain camel laid down right in front of our open air shuttle) or far (cheetah, obviously) it is a magical experience. Most importantly they are doing really important work in preserving & restoring animal species. read more

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About two months ago, we had to drive to Green, Oh for a Memorial Service for a friend who had passed. Since we were driving on a Friday and the service was on Saturday, we left Cornelius early with plans to stop at The Wilds on our way up. I had gone on line and booked reservations for the Winter at the Wilds Tour. Tickets are by reservation only and run $125 but they were have a buy one and get a complimentary ticket free so I jumped at it. To be honest, based on our experience, it would have been worth the $125 each. Normal The Wilds is open from May to Sept daily and on Weekends in April and October. Reservations are recommended. The Wilds is affiliated with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and you'll find their information on the home page for the Columbus Zoo. They are still a separate stand alone for tax purposes but the Columbus Zoo provides for most of the administrative support. We had a 2:00 pm reservation and stopped for lunch in Marietta, Oh which was only about 45 minutes away. The Wilds is about 15 miles SW of the Intersection of I-70 and I-77 or Cambridge OH. The land was originally one of the largest coal strip mines on the East Coast but the lands has since been reclaimed and was donated to The Wilds back in 1984 and they opened in 1994. The Wilds is not like other animal parks. All of the 27 or so animals with the exception of the Bison and Ostrich are endangered and some are extinct in the wild. This is a conservation program designed to save these animals from extinction. They were one of the first facilities to breed Cheetah's in captivity. If you or your kids have ever watched Jack Hanna on Saturday Morning, he will occassionally appear with a Cheetah. That Cheetah was one of four born here. A few minutes before 2:00, Chris showed up with a Park Vehicle. There was only one other couples taking the tour so we had a great chance to learn and Chris was a great teacher. In the course of 2 1/2 hours, we say many different animals, most were in open fields. My wife got to pet and feed a White Rhino and a Giraffe. Seeing these beautiful animals on TV or Film is one thing but nothing compared to seeing then up close and in a somewhat natural setting. We're planning on going back this summer and spend a full day and stay the night in one of the Yurts and the next day, driving to Columbus to spend a couple days there. I highly recommend and am posting a couple of the pictures we took of a great experience. Our thanks to Chris from IT, our guide for the day. read more

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You couldn't have asked for a nicer day to take an open air tour! When the Wilds sent out their welcome back email, I took full advantage and booked a tour for day two. Pro Tip - you need to book a reservation to get into the wilds, for now, during the Covid times. Super easy process and we got right in as usual. The last time we were here for a tour it was about 100 degrees and we got a nice taste of rain on the plains! It was beautiful today as you can see form the photos. It was also awesome that we were on the 2nd day back so all of the animals were super happy to see us and just about everyone came up to the open air bus to say hello! If you've never been here you get loaded up into a chopped school bus with a canvas top on it - you have 360 degree views around this 10,000 acre animal preserve. One of the hidden gems in Ohio! We will definitely be back - great job to Dan, our tour guide. read more

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For Christmas this year we did a trip to the Wilds, we reserved spots for the behind-the-scenes tour and then spent one night at the lodge. It was really cool to get to see the Wilds covered in snow and without other visitors. We had the whole place to ourselves. To start off we arrived at 9:45 am and our tour started around 11 am. There was a port-a-potty which was nice to have while we waited in our cars. Our tour guide, Jordan, was a pleasure, and getting to see behind the scenes was cool but I was disappointed. They really make this tour seem like you get to see all of this stuff, but in reality, we saw the giraffes, the med barn, and the rhinos. The tour didn't last very long and considering it was 300$ for us to do this tour I'm not fully satisfied with the experience. It really feels like if you come during the colder months then you get gypped. So I'd say go to the Wilds! Just go in the summer. Now on to the lodge, the lodge was nice it sleeps double the number of people in our family so there was lots of space. They provided pots, pans, dish soap, games, puzzles, movies, towels, basic hygiene products, and various other amenities. There was wifi because there is NO SERVICE out there. They provided a radio if something were to happen and we needed to call for help. The DVD player they provided kept giving us problems and even ate our movie for a solid five minutes before we were able to coax it out. And there were stink bugs in the house. We killed five just in our room alone, and I woke up to one crawling on my neck in the middle of the night. Ick! Although I will stay I'd prefer stink bugs to spiders. Lastly, we did the Butterfly Habitat Hike which was really beautiful all covered in snow, albeit very slippery. The trail was about a mile long and there were downed trees along the way from beavers which at times obscured the trail. Follow the green blazes and improvise a bit; that got us through the rough patch where the trail was hard to follow. Aside from all the small inconveniences, the premise of the experience was memorable and had enough potential for me to want to come back in the summer and give it another try. read more

An awesome place! Reclaimed strip mining land turned into a fantastic safari land. We took the least expensive open air tour and it was fantastic (they have more expensive options that get you up close to the animals, but that was above my pay grade). It's 9000 acres, divided into sections, according to wether or not they will eat each other. Some animals come right up to the bus...pretty awesome! read more

I stayed overnight at The Wilds on Nomad Ridge in one of the yurts. The yurt was amazing and the views were spectacular. The dinner and breakfast provided were wonderful - delicious and a large amount of food! My only complaint and the loss of a star is due to the overwhelming amount of gnats and flies in the dining area which made my experience less than blissful. I had alerted the concierge of the gnat problem when I checked out, having hoped that at breakfast I'd see less. She said that they were aware and actively trying to fix the issue, which was great. If you stay overnight, then you get a complimentary open air safari tour. We took ours in the morning after our stay. Our tour guide was Laura and she was amazing! She was very knowledgeable and funny. The tour was really great! We had an ostrich approach the truck and try to take things. Also a couple camels got really close as well. Overall, I highly recommend staying overnight at Nomad Ridge. My one recommendation is to go on your complimentary open air safari first before staying the night. Since we did ours after, we had to drive home with sweaty, dusty clothing. It would have been nice to have a refreshing shower after. read more

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What a great place!! My daughter had been asking for us to visit the Wilds for a while. So we planned on going during the week to avoid the weekend crowds. We picked a perfect day. The weather was dry and not too warm out. The animals were out and about and very active. You can not beat this experience for the price! Up close and personal with some amazing animals that you just dont see every day. Check it out, its worth the drive! read more

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I have visited The Wilds many times. I have greatly enjoyed their wildside tours, but my experience in one of their yurts was terrible, and a manager never resolved the problem. Tours - 5 stars - I have always done the $125/person "wildside" tour, in which I sit in the back of a pickup truck in the summer or in a van in the winter, and we go off-road to see the animals on the many acres of land. They do sell other types of tours for less money, but I would not enjoy them as much. We see up-close animals such as antelopes, birds, camels, African painted dogs, dholes, cheetahs, deer, giraffes, rhinoceroses, wild cattle, wild horses, and zebra. We get to hand-feet animals such as the giraffes and rhinoceroses. The animals look much happier than if they were in a typical small zoo, and the staff sometimes breed animals that are endangered or threatened so they can be reintroduced in the wild in their original habitats. Our tour guides have been informative and courteous. Yurt - 2 stars - I purchased one night in a yurt for $424 (including tax). I had purchased the "premium" yurt that supposedly has "central air conditioning" and "climate control" with a "thermostat." We did not see a thermostat, and we appeared to actually have a portable air conditioning unit, which would be for a cheaper yurt. The air conditioning did not work well, and my husband and I ended up sweating profusely and not sleeping. The 95-degree heat was miserable and almost unbearable, and we had to take several showers and drink several cold drinks throughout the night in order to tolerate the yurt. Another problem was that the parking is supposed to be included in the price of the yurt, but I did not realize initially, so I spent an extra $12 on parking in a different lot. In addition, the website says that all yurts are supposed to have complimentary Wi-Fi, but we did not have any Wi-Fi at all. We struggled to use our phone networks. The yurt did have much space, a comfortable bed, a nice full bathroom, and a mini fridge. Furthermore, dinner and breakfast were included. We ate steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and dessert for dinner and then eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns, and fruit for breakfast. The waiters were nice, but one brought an incorrect dessert and forgot a drink refill. On the day of our checkout, I emailed The Wilds to complain about the malfunctioning air conditioning in the yurt. A customer contact lead said that she would forward my email to a manager, but I never heard back. Customer service was non-existent. *DO NOT STAY IN A YURT AT THE WILDS!!!* Gift shop - 3 stars - The gift shop sells some nice souvenirs. I purchased a t-shirt for $30. Prices were a little high. The cashier did not cover her nose with a mask during the pandemic, and she required us to swipe our credit card four times because the computer was not working well. read more

We took my German nephew who loves zoos on the Wildside tour and it was a once in a lifetime great experience! Our amazing guide took us up very close to rinos , giraffes , ostrich and more. I highly recommend this place and tour. You will never regret it! read more

This place ripped me off for $275. We made arrangements to go from Los Angeles and when I had to cancel because it was snowing there they wouldn't give me a refund. That's the cost of doing business in an outdoor environment when you book things in the winter. It didn't cost them anything and yet they kept my $275. Very poor business practices. read more

If you are looking for a different type of an adventure in Ohio, then The Wilds should be on your list of things to do. In fact, there are lots of things to do here: zip lining, fishing, horseback riding and the Safaris! Something for everyone's tastes and budget. You choose. We signed up for the SUNSET speciality safari tour. Highly recommend doing the sunset tour. This particular tour allows you way better, and closer, access to the animals because its their feeding time. Staff put food along the trail, ensuring better access for viewing and picture taking.There is only one stop where you exit the bus to see the cheetahs and wild dogs that are fenced in. All the other animals are roaming "freely" in large gated enclosures on the 1500 acres designated for the wildlife. While these arent necessarily all African and exoctic animals, they are interesting & endangered. Ostriches, rhinos, elk, buffaloes, giraffes, etc. Part of the tour includes a dinner at the lodge. Plain ole chicken breast, meatballs, pasta, corn melange, fruit and cheesecake. Ice tea, lemonade are included too. Stuff I wouldnt necessarily choose to order, but when you are hungry, it's all good. You should also know: there are two different types of sunset tours. One is the "regular" and the other is "open air". There is a $50 price difference, with the open air being the pricier of the two. The open air allows you even closer viewing (but not significant) and interaction with the giraffes. Interaction with giraffes will only happen if the weather is warm, as they are sensitive to any chill. The open air is in a smaller vehicle (8 to 10 people) with no cover. 2-3 buses an evening. Tour is only on Fridays & Saturdays. Summer months. Make reservation. Check in with the cashier in the gift shop. Tour starts promptly, so don't be late. the ride to the Wilds on rt. 284 is pretty, winding and about 15 miles long. Nice during the day. But, In the evening it is dark and may be scary to some (me). Definitely you will need to use your bright lights. Also, don't count on your GPS working all the time. Have a backup for directions. Btw, the closest gas station is probably about 17 miles away from the Wilds. kids younger than 5 or 6 may have a difficult time on this tour. Most of it is on the bus and requires a long time sitting. The ride is bumpy at times. It can be hot. Also the meal comes after the tour during the month of September. Will interfere with most bedtimes. parking is included in tour cost. read more

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open air safari is fun, but i have to say, the best part of our trip here is definitely the horseback safari! it doesn't go through the open safari land (for some basic reasons, obviously) but to wander with the guides on a trail ride is SOOO amazing! i don't even have photos because it was so enjoyable to have my phone away and just enjoy the scenery (awe inspiring fyi!) already trying to plan another trip that way as soon as possible! ps/Pokey is the absolute most amazing horse for my daughter, and Bailey loves to eat just like me! read more

The Wilds - on the trail - Parks Near Me - Cumberland, Ohio

We had a terrific visit though it was really cold sadly too cold for the giraffes. We saw so many animals and would highly recommend visiting. It really did remind me of being on safari in Kenya. read more