Action Wildlife Foundation

Action Wildlife grew out of the private collection of Wesley Hine, a Connecticut businessman who spent years gathering exotic hoofed animals on his Goshen land. What started as a personal passion for large grazers eventually opened to the public and was organized as a nonprofit foundation, with a mission centered on education and on giving visitors a rare chance to stand close to animals from several continents.

The result is unusual for New England: a hillside where North American elk and bison share the horizon with African and Asian species like watusi cattle and zebra. Because the foundation runs on admissions, feed sales, and the work of a small crew, it keeps the plainspoken character of a family farm rather than a polished commercial attraction.

The signature experience is the pasture loop. You drive your own vehicle at a crawl through fenced ranges where the animals roam, and if you have bought feed, they will come right to the car. Elk, fallow deer, bison, and the dramatically horned ankole-watusi are among the grazers you are likely to meet along the way.

After the drive, a lower walk-through area lets you get out and meet smaller and gentler animals, the goats, sheep, alpaca, and barnyard residents that make it a hit with young children. The pace is entirely yours, and lingering is encouraged.

Set on rising ground, the park also gives you long views out over the Litchfield Hills, so even the drive between pastures comes with scenery.

Beyond the living animals, the property holds a natural history museum filled with mounted specimens and trophies gathered from around the world. It is an old-school cabinet of wonders sort of collection, the kind that lets you see the scale and detail of animals you would never encounter in New England.

For families, pairing the museum with the pastures makes for a fuller half day: the live animals up close outside, and a chance to study horns, hides, and full mounts under one roof.

Come with time to spare and a slow mindset. The animals reward patience, and the whole appeal is the unhurried, up-close contact you rarely get at a larger zoo. Buying feed is the single best way to turn a quiet drive into a memorable one.

Because Action Wildlife is seasonal and weather dependent, it is worth confirming the day's hours before making the trip out to Goshen. A clear, mild afternoon in spring or fall, when the hills are green or turning, is an ideal time to go.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Action Wildlife Foundation, in Goshen in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, is a wildlife park and educational foundation home to a variety of exotic and native animals, offering a fun and unusual chance to see wildlife up close in the scenic countryside. The park features animals including bison, deer, elk, zebras, camels, watusi cattle, and other exotic and native species in large enclosures across the hilltop grounds, which visitors can view by driving through or walking, along with a petting area and a small museum. Its exotic animals and country setting make it a delightful family destination. A fun and family-friendly wildlife park, it charms visitors. With its animals, the Action Wildlife Foundation offers a compelling destination in Connecticut.

You can see a variety of exotic and native animals, including bison, deer, elk, zebras, camels, watusi cattle, and other species, in large enclosures across the scenic hilltop grounds, along with a petting area with smaller animals. The exotic animals, the native wildlife, the drive-through or walking viewing, and the petting area are the draws, making it a fun and memorable visit. The unusual exotic animals in the Connecticut countryside are highlights. With its animals, the Action Wildlife Foundation offers a rewarding experience in Goshen, Connecticut.

Yes, the Action Wildlife Foundation is a fun family destination, with exotic and native animals to see, a petting area, and the novelty of viewing wildlife by driving through or walking the scenic grounds that delight children and adults alike. The exotic animals and the petting area especially engage kids, making it a charming family outing in the Litchfield Hills. Its country setting adds to the appeal. Its family appeal makes the Action Wildlife Foundation a delightful destination in Connecticut.

The Action Wildlife Foundation generally operates seasonally, with the warm months of late spring through early fall its main season, so that is the time to visit, when the animals are active and the outdoor grounds pleasant. Because it is seasonal, checking the current schedule before you go is wise. For active animals and open access, aim for the warm months at the Action Wildlife Foundation in Connecticut.

The Action Wildlife Foundation is in Goshen in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, within reach of the towns of the Litchfield Hills, the White Memorial Conservation Center near Litchfield, and the other attractions of the region. That makes the Action Wildlife Foundation a delightful stop to combine with the other attractions of the Litchfield Hills on a visit to Connecticut.