Henry Vilas Zoo to Debut New Train

June 20, 2008
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606 Jim Hubing, Henry Vilas Zoo (608) 266-4732
County Executive

First Calls of “All Aboard” Come this Weekend (Madison)…Dane County Executive Kathleen joined Henry Vilas Zoo Director Jim Hubing today to debut a new train that will start offering rides in the Children’s Zoo this weekend. The train will give its first rides during the zoo’s annual “Feast with the Beasts” Saturday. “This train literally has all the bells and whistles and is another wonderful attraction for families visiting our fabulous, free zoo,” Falk said. “It will certainly bring many smiles to happy little faces for years to come.” The new electric powered Mini-Express Train will pull four cars along a path through the Children’s Zoo. It’s manufactured by Wattman Trains and Trams and was purchased by the Henry Vilas Zoo through funding from the Zoological Society. Train rides are only $1 and will be offered from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. everyday. “Those both young in age and young at heart are going to fall in love with this train,” Zoo Director Jim Hubing said. “While the kids enjoy rides on the miniature train, the zoo benefits from a new source of revenue to help take care of all our wonderful animals.” The Henry Vilas Zoo is free and is funded through county tax levy and the generosity of individual and business donors. It is one of the most popular, medium sized zoos in the country; 130,000 visitors came to the zoo in May. The zoo was recently named by Brava Magazine as one of the top five places to take kids. Several new attractions and exhibits have opened at the zoo in the past couple of years including the new and improved Children’s Zoo and the North American Prairie exhibit which features a badger, prairie dogs, and bison. # # #