Primates, cougars, black bears and peacocks may bring images of far away places to people’s minds. However, all of these animals and more can be found right in Chippewa Falls at the Irvine Park and Zoo.

Freshman Chelsey Coleman, a native of Chippewa Falls, said she has been going to the zoo since she was a child and said she loves it.

“When I was young I was excited to see the bears and throw food at them,” she said, laughing.

Last summer the zoo celebrated its 100th anniversary, said Bill Fahrety, director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry in Chippewa Falls. The park started with basic camping and picnicking facilities, beginning with deer, and later building bear cages. In the 1950s, bobcat and cougar cages were also added.

William Irvine donated the majority of the land from his company, he said. It started out as a few acres and has become more than 300.

“A stipulation of the donation was that it had to be a free park,” Fahrety said. “He didn’t want to put a fence around it and charge people to come in.”

Because the zoo doesn’t charge an admission fee, tax payers pay for the operation of the park, he said. It also receives a lot of donations for animal upkeep and for new exhibits.

“The new bear exhibit cost $800,000, all of which was paid with donations,” Fahrety said.

The biggest attraction in the summer is the duck pond, he said. They also have a petting zoo, where local farmers donate livestock.

“If you like animals, there are a lot of different animals there,” Coleman said. “And the petting zoo is great.”

The park and zoo are open year-round, Fahrety said. All of the animals are kept outside, even during the winter, except for the primates.

“We try to have animals that go with our climate,” he said.

The zoo can be driven through or there are walking trails, Fahrety said. One of the main features in the winter is the Christmas Village.

“Everything is all lit up with lights and Christmas displays,” he said. “That is free as well.”

More than 75,000 lights will be turned on during Thanksgiving evening, Fahrety said. There will be a walk through – no cars. The lights will be on until Jan. 1.

In the winter there is a lot of open space that would be fun for snowball fights and building forts, Coleman said.
“The lights are on and they’re really pretty,” she said.

Fahrety said there are horse-drawn carriage rides as well, every Tuesday and Thursday in December, leaving from downtown Chippewa Falls. There is a cost, but the rides go through the decorated downtown and through the lit-up park and zoo.

“If you like getting away from all the hustle and bustle, most of the park is woods,” he said. “It’s free and it’s outdoors. Come out and go back to your childhood.”