
Wildlife Scary Park 2022
October 20-23 & October 27-30
Ticket Prices
-
Members Ages 3 & Up $8 per Guest
-
Non-Members Ages 3 & Up $10 per Guest
Join us for entertainment, food and drink, Trick-or-Treating, and spooky fun! Ages 2 & under are FREE. Online purchases only (no exceptions). Once tickets are purchased, your ticket times cannot be exchanged. Parking is FREE in the Train Depot parking lot. Please arrive early, trains are first come first served. Scary Train rides start at 6pm, all earlier trains are Not So Scary.
Please Note
Your email receipt serves as your entry ticket to Scary Park, please show it to the ticket gate staff when you arrive. Your ticket is valid for the date of purchase only.
Scary Park is a rain or shine event as long as the trains can run safely. If the Park cancels any date the rain date will be Monday, October 31, 2022.
There is no room for strollers on the train unless they fit in the seat with you. There will be a stroller parking area available in the Train Depot, umbrella strollers work best.
Dress warmly, bring flashlights, and blankets if desired.
Theme Nights
Weekend #1
Harvest Moon
Thursday, October 20 | 6 to 10 pm
Come dressed however your autumn heart sees fit. There will be 6 train ride times and Scary Park will commence. The Headless Horseman will appear from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be a DJ, fun outdoor games, a live band on the bricks, and a magician to mystify. Trick-Or-Treating is back, the good old fashioned way with 10 different doors to knock on. Enjoy some tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, cotton candy, pizza, and warm hot chocolate.
Pumpkin Night
Friday, October 21 | 4 to 10 pm
Come dressed as an honorable scarecrow or farmer. There will be 10 train times to choose from. The Headless Horseman will gallop into the Park from 4 to 7 pm. There will be face painting available for all ages from 5 to 7 pm, as well as a spooky storyteller from 4 to 9 pm around the fire pits at the Visitors Center. Live music on the bricks and a magician will be there, as well as a DJ and outdoor games to entertain you in between Trick-Or-Treating and the train. Don’t forget to go through the hay bale maze before it closes at 6 pm! Enjoy tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, cotton candy, pizza, and warm hot chocolate.
Monsters
Saturday, October 22 | 2 to 10 pm
Come dressed as your favorite monster, classical or scary. There will be 13 train ride times to choose from. The Headless Horseman makes his appearance between 5 pm and 8 pm. The Central IL Ghostbusters are coming to rid our Park of ghosts from 4 to 10 pm. All day entertainment includes a magician, outdoor games, a DJ, and live music. Mike Anderson will be back to tell spooky stories around the fire pits from 3 to 9 pm. Don’t forget to go through the hay bale maze before its closes at 6 pm! Enjoy some tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, pizza, cotton candy, soft pretzels, and hot chocolate.
Scary Tales
Sunday, October 23 | 2 to 8 pm
Come dressed as your favorite childhood folktale character, and maybe find the Big Bad Wolf. There will be 6 train ride times to choose from. The Headless Horseman arrives at 4 pm and leaves by 7 pm. There will be live music on the bricks from 5 to 8 pm. The magician will be around for tricks, while Trick-Or-Treating continues throughout the 10 designated doors. A face painter will be available from 2 to 5 pm, as well as the DJ and outdoor games all night long. Don’t forget to go through the hay bale maze before it closes at 6 pm! Enjoy some tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, pizza, cotton candy, and hot chocolate.
Weekend #2
Ghouls
Thursday, October 27 | 6 to 10 pm
Come dressed as what can only be seen in the dark, and encounter some ghouls yourself! There will be 6 train ride times and Scary Park will commence. The Headless Horseman will appear from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be a DJ, fun outdoor games, a live band on the bricks, and a magician for entertainment. Trick-or-Treating continues. Enjoy some tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, cotton candy, pizza, and warm hot chocolate.
Alien Invasion
Friday, October 28 | 4 to 10 pm
Come dressed out of this world and spot the alien transporter. There will be 10 train times to choose from. The Headless Horseman will gallop into the Park from 4 to 7 pm. There will be face painting available for all ages from 5 to 7 pm. Live music on the bricks and a magician will be there, as well as a DJ and outdoor games. Don’t forget to go through the hay bale maze before it closes at 6 pm! Enjoy tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, cotton candy, pizza, and warm hot chocolate.
Spells & Tricks
Saturday, October 29 | 2 to 10 pm
Come dressed as one who cackles and is one with the spell books. There will be 13 train ride times to choose from. The Headless Horseman makes his appearance between 5 pm and 8 pm. A face painter will be available from 4 to 7 pm. All day entertainment includes a magician, outdoor games, a DJ, and live music. Don’t forget to go through the hay bale maze before its closes at 6 pm! Enjoy some tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, pizza, cotton candy, soft pretzels, BBQ, and warm hot chocolate.
All Hallows Eve
Sunday, October 30 | 2 to 8 pm
Come dressed as your Halloween costume of the year. There will be 6 train ride times to choose from. The last sight of the Headless Horseman is between 4 pm and 7 pm. There will be live music on the bricks from 5 to 8 pm. The magician will be around for tricks, while Trick-Or-Treating comes to its last day. A face painter will be available from 2 to 5 pm, as well as the DJ and outdoor games. Don’t forget to go through the hay bale maze before it closes at 6 pm! Enjoy some tasty cinnamon sugar mini donuts, pizza, BBQ, cotton candy, and hot chocolate.
Musical Entertainment
Weekend #1
Oct 20: Still Shine
Oct 21: The Bayou Prowlers
Oct 22: Emilele
Oct 23: Joe and Jerry
Weekend #2
Oct 27: DeadHorse Trio
Oct 28: Dave and Daughter
Oct 29: Hollow Down
Oct 30: Unemployed Architect
Don't Miss These Fun Activities!
Train Depot
Enjoy a variety of food and drink vendors and entertainment outside of the train depot while waiting to board your train ride. Trains leave about every 35 minutes from the depot and are first come first served. We recommend you ride the train first, but you can ride anytime!
Trick-or-Treat!
Grab the map at the Ticket Gate when you enter and visit all 10 doors for some old-fashioned fun trick-or-treating!
Pioneer Area
Walk through the Spooky Pioneer area where you can play family fun games and visit the animals.
Merrill Woods
Spot the animals at night as you walk the half-mile loop through the lighted trail. Our trail guides will be out to share facts and spooky tales!
Visitor’s Center
Take the spooky black light walk through the museum. Warm up beside a fire pit and be sure to grab something warm to eat and drink from one of our many vendors. Grab your glow light accessories in the Adventure Store and alcohol will be available for purchase under the Tee Pee Shelter.
Haunted Hay Rack
Board our open-air tractor at the Visitor’s Center to ride back to the Train Depot Parking Lot.
If you have trouble and need assistance from a staff member, email ecommerce@wildlifeprairie.org and allow at least 24 hours for a reply.

Spooky 5K Fun Run
October 29 | 9 am to 3 pm
ADULTS $35 | YOUTH $25
Registration – 8 am | 5K Trail Run – 9 am | Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run – 10 am | Registration is $10 more on race day
We Need Volunteers!
Wildlife Scary Park accepts volunteers of all ages, and it’s a great opportunity for families to volunteer together. School groups are also welcome. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Sign up below or email questions to volunteer@wildlifeprairie.org.

Upcoming Events
march
04mar11:00 am12:00 pmWinter Wellness – YogaYoga with Soulside Healing Arts

Event Details
Be guided in mindful movement with attention to breath. This class moves through postures at a refreshing pace to increase strength, mobility, and balance. Meditation and breath work
Event Details
Be guided in mindful movement with attention to breath. This class moves through postures at a refreshing pace to increase strength, mobility, and balance. Meditation and breath work are interspersed throughout. All levels welcome; this class is adaptable to the abilities of its participants.
This class will be held at Wildlife Prairie Park, Hespell Deck:
3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City
Please bring a mat.
SIGN UP
more
Time
(Saturday) 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
04mar2:00 pm3:00 pmCritters & CoffeeThe Biggest Threat to Amphibian Conservation

Event Details
Join us in Forest Hall A for an informative discussion on The Biggest Threat to Amphibian Conservation. This 45-minute program is geared towards adults. FREE for Members |
Event Details
Join us in Forest Hall A for an informative discussion on The Biggest Threat to Amphibian Conservation. This 45-minute program is geared towards adults. FREE for Members | $5 for Non-Members. Regular park admission fee still applies.
SIGN UP
Time
(Saturday) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
11mar11:00 am12:00 pmWinter Wellness – YogaYoga with Soulside Healing Arts

Event Details
Be guided in mindful movement with attention to breath. This class moves through postures at a refreshing pace to increase strength, mobility, and balance. Meditation and breath work
Event Details
Be guided in mindful movement with attention to breath. This class moves through postures at a refreshing pace to increase strength, mobility, and balance. Meditation and breath work are interspersed throughout. All levels welcome; this class is adaptable to the abilities of its participants.
This class will be held at Wildlife Prairie Park, Hespell Deck:
3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City
Please bring a mat.
SIGN UP
more
Time
(Saturday) 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
april
01apr9:00 am12:00 pmVolunteer WorkdayTrain Depot

Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean
Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean up an area of our 1,800 acre Park. In April we are focusing on the Train Depot and the surrounding area.
No experience necessary! Volunteer Workdays do not require regular commitments. Just sign up for as many Volunteer Workdays as you want. We welcome individuals 18 years and older and minors with a parent or guardian to sign up for Volunteer Workdays.
-Volunteers should plan to arrive 15 minutes before the Volunteer Workday begins.
-Enter the Park through the Ticket Gate and meet at the Train Depot.
-Dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required & long pants are recommended all year-round.
-Sun protectant (hats, sun glasses, etc.), sunscreen, and insect repellant are also recommended.
-Bring water to stay hydrated.
-Bring your own work gloves.
-If possible, bring rakes and shovels.
If you have any questions or have a group interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@wildlifeprairie.org.
Interested in volunteering more at the Park? Available 2023 Volunteer Opportunities
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
01apr9:15 amSpring BashDisc Golf Tournament

Event Details
This is a PDGA sanctioned C tier singles tournament. We will be doing shotgun start for both rounds. There will be no player’s meeting as all information will
Event Details
This is a PDGA sanctioned C tier singles tournament. We will be doing shotgun start for both rounds. There will be no player’s meeting as all information will be emailed to competitors beforehand. We will plan on starting the first round at 9:15 a.m. The PDGA scoring app will be used for both rounds.
NOTE: There will be no walk-ups for this event.
Time
(Saturday) 9:15 am
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
01apr2:00 pm3:00 pmCritters & CoffeeThe History of Bison Conservation in the US

Event Details
Join us in Forest Hall A for an informative discussion on The History of Bison Conservation in the US. This 45-minute program is geared towards adults. FREE for
Event Details
Join us in Forest Hall A for an informative discussion on The History of Bison Conservation in the US. This 45-minute program is geared towards adults. FREE for Members | $5 for Non-Members. Regular park admission fee still applies.
SIGN UP
Time
(Saturday) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
may
06may9:00 am12:00 pmVolunteer WorkdayMain Bricks

Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean
Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean up an area of our 1,800 acre Park. In May we are focusing on the Main Bricks and the surrounding area.
No experience necessary! Volunteer Workdays do not require regular commitments. Just sign up for as many Volunteer Workdays as you want. We welcome individuals 18 years and older and minors with a parent or guardian to sign up for Volunteer Workdays.
-Volunteers should plan to arrive 15 minutes before the Volunteer Workday begins.
-Enter the Park through the Ticket Gate and meet on the Main Bricks.
-Dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required & long pants are recommended all year-round.
-Sun protectant (hats, sun glasses, etc.), sunscreen, and insect repellant are also recommended.
-Bring water to stay hydrated.
-Bring your own work gloves.
-If possible, bring rakes and shovels.
If you have any questions or have a group interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@wildlifeprairie.org.
Interested in volunteering more at the Park? Available 2023 Volunteer Opportunities
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
20may9:00 am3:00 pmSeeing through the LensMike Boatman Photography Class

Event Details
Looking through the lens and seen through the lens are two different things. Seen through the lens is the first step to learning how to pre-visualize your images.
Event Details
Looking through the lens and seen through the lens are two different things. Seen through the lens is the first step to learning how to pre-visualize your images.
When we first picked up the camera our journey started with simply taking pic. Then we started looking for photographic opportunities to take better pictures. At some point in our journey, we started looking for opportunities to create imagery. This was the beginning of previsualization of your imagery but, the images that we captured seem to have fallen short of what we visualized. This workshop lays the foundation for capturing fully, our previsualization.
- Maximum Participants: 30
- Meeting Location: Log Room
- Special Photography Shoot of both the new wolf pack in the animal keeper area just outside their enclosure and the Bison and Elk while riding a hayrack through the pasture with the opportunity to potentially photograph bison calves.
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
june
03jun9:00 amIllinois Wilds Triathlon

Event Details
It’s time to get WILD! Illinois Wilds Triathlon is an OFF ROAD triathlon and duathlon aka a “cross triathlon”. Explorer Triathlon Race is a 200m
Event Details
It’s time to get WILD! Illinois Wilds Triathlon is an OFF ROAD triathlon and duathlon aka a “cross triathlon”.
Explorer Triathlon Race is a 200m swim, 3 mile off-road bike, and a 1 mile run.
Adventurer Triathlon Race is a 400m swim, 6 mile off-road bike, and a 2 mile run.
Traveler Land Lovers Race is a 6 mile off-road bike and a 2 mile run.
Registrations includes:
-email invites to coordinated group swims, rides, and runs of the course leading up to the race
-race T-shirt
-post race refreshments
*Shirts are only guaranteed to the who register before May 1st.
*Also included is admission to the Park Saturday OR Sunday the weekend of the race for the participant. (Bib number will be marked as your entry ticket to the park.)
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
10jun9:00 am12:00 pmVolunteer WorkdayLakes

Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean
Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean up an area of our 1,800 acre Park. In June we are focusing on our lakes and the surrounding area.
No experience necessary! Volunteer Workdays do not require regular commitments. Just sign up for as many Volunteer Workdays as you want. We welcome individuals 18 years and older and minors with a parent or guardian to sign up for Volunteer Workdays.
-Volunteers should plan to arrive 15 minutes before the Volunteer Workday begins.
-Enter the Park through the Ticket Gate and meet at the determined location.
-Dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required & long pants are recommended all year-round.
-Sun protectant (hats, sun glasses, etc.), sunscreen, and insect repellant are also recommended.
-Bring water to stay hydrated.
-Bring your own work gloves.
-If possible, bring rakes and shovels.
If you have any questions or have a group interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@wildlifeprairie.org.
Interested in volunteering more at the Park? Available 2023 Volunteer Opportunities
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
10jun10:00 am1:00 pmBushcraft Fire Skills Survival Class

Event Details
Fire is essential for surviving in the wilderness. It provides warmth, a source of light, allows you to cook food, and make drinkable water. Learn fire craft safety,
Event Details
Fire is essential for surviving in the wilderness. It provides warmth, a source of light, allows you to cook food, and make drinkable water. Learn fire craft safety, what you need to create and maintain a fire and numerous ways to start a campfire.
Location: TBD. Depends on where the class be collecting fire supplies
Participants Can Bring: Belt knife and Magnifying Glass
more
Time
(Saturday) 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
july
01jul9:00 am12:00 pmVolunteer Workday

Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean
Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean up an area of our 1,800 acre Park.
No experience necessary! Volunteer Workdays do not require regular commitments. Just sign up for as many Volunteer Workdays as you want. We welcome individuals 18 years and older and minors with a parent or guardian to sign up for Volunteer Workdays.
-Volunteers should plan to arrive 15 minutes before the Volunteer Workday begins.
-Enter the Park through the Ticket Gate and meet at the determined location.
-Dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required & long pants are recommended all year-round.
-Sun protectant (hats, sun glasses, etc.), sunscreen, and insect repellant are also recommended.
-Bring water to stay hydrated.
-Bring your own work gloves.
-If possible, bring rakes and shovels.
If you have any questions or have a group interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@wildlifeprairie.org.
Interested in volunteering more at the Park? Available 2023 Volunteer Opportunities
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
15jul9:00 am3:00 pmRefining composition in the lensMike Boatman Photography Class

Event Details
It has always been my philosophy to shoot perfect. The goal is to create a perfectly composed image that needs no cropping for enhancement. Shooting Perfectly composed images
Event Details
It has always been my philosophy to shoot perfect. The goal is to create a perfectly composed image that needs no cropping for enhancement. Shooting Perfectly composed images requires refinement as you adjust to make the in-camera image match your pre-visualization.
Quite often as you are refining the in-camera image you will create options or even stronger impacting images than your initial previsualization. This workshop will lay out the practical foundation for how to recognizing the strength and power of an image as you are composing it in-camera……. Practical steps for shooting perfect.
- Maximum Participants: 40
- Meeting Location: Log Room
- Special Photography Shoot of WPP Animal Ambassadors with a natural background. Participating Animal Ambassadors may include birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians depending on the discretion on the Animal Keeper.
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road
august
19aug9:00 am12:00 pmVolunteer Workday

Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean
Event Details
Grab your work gloves and help spruce up the Park you love! At least once a month during our busy season, we need volunteers to help us clean up an area of our 1,800 acre Park.
No experience necessary! Volunteer Workdays do not require regular commitments. Just sign up for as many Volunteer Workdays as you want. We welcome individuals 18 years and older and minors with a parent or guardian to sign up for Volunteer Workdays.
-Volunteers should plan to arrive 15 minutes before the Volunteer Workday begins.
-Enter the Park through the Ticket Gate and meet at the determined location.
-Dress for the weather. Closed-toe shoes are required & long pants are recommended all year-round.
-Sun protectant (hats, sun glasses, etc.), sunscreen, and insect repellant are also recommended.
-Bring water to stay hydrated.
-Bring your own work gloves.
-If possible, bring rakes and shovels.
If you have any questions or have a group interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@wildlifeprairie.org.
Interested in volunteering more at the Park? Available 2023 Volunteer Opportunities
more
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Wildlife Prairie Park
3826 N Taylor Road