Wolf Park

Wolves have gotten a bad rap. That's the opinion of many animal experts who have researched and studied wolves and continue to do so. Wolf Park, just 12 miles from West Lafayette, Indiana, exists for the purpose of educating the public about wolves, encouraging the study and research of wolves, preserving the wolf species, and raising awareness of wolves' contributions to our environment.

Parking and Public Transportation at Wolf Park
Public transportation in the Lafayette area does not serve the Wolf Park, so your best bet is to drive there, or rent a car if you fly in to one of the regional airports. The closest airport is Indianapolis International, which is about a 90-minute drive. Chicago's O'Hare airport is about two hours and thirty minutes away.

Admission to Wolf Park
Children ages 5 and under get into the Wolf Park free of charge. Everyone else pays an admission fee that ranges from $6 to $10.

Must See and Do at Wolf Park
Take the whole family, especially the kids, to one of the scheduled Howl Nights. They are held year-round, even after the park is closed for the season from December 1 through April 30. During these off-season months, Howl Nights are only on Saturday nights. During the park's regular season from May 1 through Nov. 30, Howl Nights are hosted both Friday and Saturday nights. Gates open at 7:15 p.m. and guests are allowed to howl at the moon with the wolves when directed to do so.

Take a guided tour of the Wolf Park, which are conducted about four times a day and last 45 minutes.
Ask about conducting research on wolves, filming them and photographing the Wolf Park's wolves.

Other Places to Visit near Wolf Park

• Visit the campus of nearby Purdue University
• Visit Prophetstown State Park and enjoy its waterpark, hiking and biking trails, camping, bird watching and more
• Take a boat ride on the Wabash and Erie Canal and see the museum there.

Insider Tip for Visitors to Wolf Park
The Wolf Park also has foxes, coyotes and bison so you can learn about those and wolves, too.

Author's bio: Susan Hoskins Miller is a writer who lives in metropolitan Indianapolis and works in a university library. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family and exploring places in the Midwest.