Plan Your Zoo Adventure

Plan Your Visit to Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary

Ready for an unforgettable wildlife adventure? Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary LLC in West Bend, WI, is your ticket to an extraordinary day out. We've got everything you need to make your visit a roaring success. Please read the valuable information below and then contact us if you have any questions.

Payment

We accept all forms of payment, including cash, checks, credit cards, and debit cards.

Parking

Parking is free.

Days Open

We are open every day, including holidays, rain or shine. Once you enter the zoo, there are no refunds. Sorry, no rain checks.

Pet and Service Animal Policy

Pets and/or service animals are not permitted into the zoo. Dogs frighten many of our zoo animals. It's a natural predator-prey behavior issue. ​Zoos are exempt from ADA regulation due to this issue.

Bicycle Policy

Bicycles are not allowed due to the fact that they also frighten the wildlife.

Privately Owned ATV, UTV, and Golf Cart Policy

Privately owned ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts are not allowed due to insurance policy restrictions.

How to Tour the Zoo

From April 13th to November 7th, touring the zoo can be done by walking, using electric wheelchairs, with large wheeled strollers, with pull wagons, or by renting a golf cart. Push wheelchairs and small tire strollers are not recommended due to the distance on our gravel roads.

What to Wear

Good hiking shoes are recommended, along with a hat, sun protection such as sunscreen, and dressing for the weather, including rain gear or an umbrella.

Insects

Mosquitoes are usually not a problem, but you may want to consider insect repellent and a hat.

Time It Takes to Tour the Zoo

The average time to enjoy the zoo is about 3-4 hours. Some visitors are here all day. The fastest it can be walked is 1.5 hours. If taking a golf cart, the fastest it can be driven is one hour, but the 3-hour rental fee applies. If walking, there are over 100 tables and benches to rest on along the way. There are also two playground areas for the children to play.

Food and Nourishment

Bring a beverage and snack to keep hydrated and your energy level up. Carry-ins are allowed.

Grizzly Grill

The Grizzly Grill is open weekends from opening day through Memorial Day and 7 days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Get a taste of some good ol' Wisconsin's favorites when the grill is open. Try a Johnsonville brat with sauerkraut, a Hickory View Farm's hamburger on a Sheboygan hard roll, or an all-beef hot dog. Chips and refreshments are available in the grill and gift shop.

Plenty of outdoor seating by the Grizzly Grill and throughout the zoo. If eating at the zoo, put trash in trash cans. Please do not litter.

Golf Cart Rentals

Golf cart rentals are optional for persons who cannot or do not want to walk 4 miles. Rentals are available from April 18th - November 20th weather permitting. All golf carts are 4-adult passenger vehicles. If you have small children, up to six people can ride on the cart. Children can sit on an adult's lap. A 3-hour rental for a cart is $45.00. If you want to rent the cart for more than the 3-hour minimum, additional time can be purchased for $15.00 per hour, but it must be paid at check-in to prevent a late fee. The late fee is $10.00 for every 15 minutes late. Visitors must have a valid driver's license to drive a cart. Golf cart reservations are not accepted. We have over 50 golf carts. If we are super busy, there may be a short waiting time of a few minutes. Golf carts are always coming back throughout the day. Everyone who wants a golf cart will get one.

Animal Feeding

You can purchase approved animal feed when you check in at the admission area. In admissions, you will be trained to be a "Certified Attendant." The certification takes one minute and teaches you what animals can be fed, what type of food to feed them, and how to feed them. No carry-in food items to feed animals is allowed unless the food item(s) have been inspected by a staff member. Throughout the zoo are "Please Feed Me" signs. These signs will inform you which animals can be fed. Using the provided food scoop, place feed in the scoop, and then offer it to the animal. Horses and donkeys can only be fed carrots and apples. Brown bears can be fed by tossing apples, oranges, and celery over the fence. All other animals that are allowed to be fed will eat grain. For your safety and the safety of the animals, never place your hand or any part of your body through the fence, and never step over, climb over, or go around a barrier fence. All visitors and staff are on high alert for violators and are dedicated to reporting such incidents.

Drive Through in Your Own Vehicle

If you are coming during the winter months when a drive-thru in your own vehicle is offered, you can plan approximately 1 1/2- 2 hours for your drive-thru experience. Vehicles move along at a creeping speed and occasionally stop to enjoy the wildlife viewing and read the drive-by signage. We always ask drivers not to cause a traffic jam or a bottleneck in the traffic flow. There are a few pull-over areas to allow drivers to pass. If doing the drive-thru, you may go through twice on the same day without leaving.

Zoo Souvenirs

In the gift shop, you will find plenty of zoo souvenirs.

Free Ice Cream

After your tour through the zoo, get a 3-ounce Cedar Crest ice cream with every paid admission! (Ice cream is available April 13th through November 1st.)