It's about to get wild. The new year marks the centennial celebration of the WNC Nature Center, which opened as Recreation Park Zoo in 1925. Plus, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, the nonprofit that transformed the zoo into the education-focused facility we know today.

To mark this momentous occasion, let's take a look back at how the wildlife park has transformed over the last century.

A brief history of the zoo

Before the WNC Nature Center, there was the Recreation Park Zoo. On May 30, 1925, the zoo was added to the city park, and in the following years, it housed both native and non-native animals, like black bears, deer, and an elephant.

Fast forward to 1943, when the zoo was forced to sell its animals to other zoos and close due to WWII. The zoo reopened in 1959, but in 1973, the USDA recommended it close once again because of its poor conditions. That's where the Junior League of Asheville came in with a plan to reenvision the zoo.

The Junior League of Asheville created The Nature Society in 1975. Now known as The Friends of the WNC Nature Center, the nonprofit is dedicated to the education of Southern Appalachia's ecology. By May of 1977, the overhaul of the nature center was complete and was marked with a grand opening.

Eager to learn more about the zoo's past? Go wild — but there will be more where that came from. The center is currently constructing its Gateway to the Southern Appalachians project, which will include a 75-foot timeline on the barn wall detailing its 100 years of history.

What's next for the WNC Nature Center?

The center remains closed following the storm, but plans to reopen in the spring and show off its Gateway to the Southern Appalachians project in the summer. During the closure, the WNC Nature Center continues to host a number of small events and members-only walk-throughs.

To commemorate its milestones, the center plans to host several celebrations, activities, and initiatives, including a March gala honoring the Friends of the WNC Nature Center's anniversary. Stay tuned for the exciting updates.