Book your winter getaway at The Central Hotel & Conference Center in Harrisburg and discover year-round fun for the whole family in Hershey, just 15 miles down the road. Hersheypark stays open year-round, offering fun attractions like Hershey’s Chocolate World, The Hershey Story Museum, and ZooAmerica. Walk through the 11-acre zoo with your family this winter and see more than 200 animals from regions throughout North America. Purchase your zoo tickets and enjoy cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and active animals like wolves, snowy owls, and river otters!

See the Animals

Walk through the grounds and witness over 200 animals from regions throughout North America, like Southern Swamps, Great Southwest, Eastern Woodlands, Big Sky Country, and Northlands. 

  • Animals in the Northlands exhibit are used to extreme winter conditions and are very active during this time of year. See gray wolves, snowy owls, American Martens, Canadian lynx, porcupines, and eagles here. Watch the wolves run around the closure and see if you can spot the snowy owls perched in the trees!
  • Head to the Big Sky Country region and see the American Elks, Phoebe, and John Henry lying outside in the snow.
  • Explore the Eastern Woodlands region and see river otters and black bears. Since the bears here have year-round access to food, they do not hibernate, but they tend to sleep a lot. 

Programs & Events

ZooAmerica offers special programs and events throughout the year. Sign up for experiences like the Wild Winter Adventure in December and learn about the survival skills animals use to survive the cold winter months. 

Behind the Scenes Tours

Go behind the scenes before the zoo opens or after it closes and explore the grounds away from the crowds. The After Hours Tour will take you to the Animal Health Center and through animal buildings to feed the otters and bears. Grab your flashlight and see the animals after dark! Alternatively, the Early Bird Tour is held before the zoo opens and includes the same activities as the other tour, except you will feed the wolves instead. 

Book Your Harrisburg Winter Getaway Today

Admission to ZooAmerica is included in the price of your Hersheypark tickets. To get to the park, simply walk across the Hersheypark bridge. If you just want to visit the zoo, you can purchase tickets separately on the ZooAmerica website. Book with The Central Hotel & Conference Center and find the perfect winter lodging with our Harrisburg rooms and suites today!