Rides & Attractions at BPZOO
Please be aware that the Black Bear Express and Wildlife Carousel are CLOSED until April 1st, reopening (weather permitting) during February vacation week.
All proceeds from the Black Bear Express and Wildlife Carousel support educational programming and family events funded by the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society.
For more information call 508.991.4556 x114
The Black Bear Express
All Aboard! The Black Bear Express sponsored by BayCoast Bank provides fun, entertainment for the entire family!
Train rides are $3 (1 token) per person. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available for purchase in the North Woods Gift Store. Children under 12 months ride for free.
Our train is ADA-certified, making it wheelchair accessible for children and adults.
Thank you to Ronald McDonald House Charities, MGN Family Foundation, Fred Smialek, Henry and Marion Wainer, Tim and Melissa Walsh, and MacLean Children’s Fund for their contributions to the Black Bear Express.
Wildlife Carousel
Take a spin on the Wildlife Carousel sponsored by Bristol County Savings Bank! The carousel features 18 beautifully handcrafted animals and a chariot for additional seating. The Wildlife Carousel is ADA certified, making it wheelchair accessible for children and adults.
Train rides are $3 (1 token) per person. Children under 42″ tall must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available for purchase in the North Woods Gift Store.
The Wildlife Carousel is ADA-certified, making it wheelchair accessible for children and adults.
Come Explore Charlie’s Nature Play Area!
This special area is dedicated to reconnecting children and families to nature through meaningful unstructured play.
Charlie’s Nature Play space is a rich environment that will stimulate a child’s natural curiosity and creativity through multi-sensory, hands-on activities. The Zoo has partnered with Nature Explore, a national research based company, to design this natural learning center using the best educational theories and practices.
The areas featured in Charlie’s Nature Play are: SPLASH, CREATE, BUILD, INVENT, PLAY, CLIMB, DIG, IMAGINE AND GROW.
Charlie’s Nature Play opened in 2018 and has been a welcome addition to our growing campus!
Thank you to the following donors for their support!
The new kids’ play area is awesome! My little one did not want to leave…great addition.
We went there today and had a great time! Thank you so much for building this.
Charlie’s Nature Play is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat
Charlie’s Nature Play is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation! Every habitat garden is a step toward replenishing resources for wildlife such as bees, butterflies, birds, and amphibians—both locally and along migratory corridors.
In light of the monarch butterfly recently being classified as endangered, we continue to plant milkweed around our campus. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of milkweed, the only host plant for this iconic butterfly species. As such, milkweed is critical for the survival of monarchs.
Anyone can create a welcoming haven for local wildlife, for more information click here.
