(HANNA CITY, ILLINOIS) — It’s not every day you wake up surrounded by nature.
For families like ours, it’s extremely important that when choosing a place to stay, the area has all kinds of family-friendly activities our kids (and we) can enjoy. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Wildlife Prairie Park in Hanna City, Illinois.
You might recall a few years ago we stayed in the Prairie Stables here. Now, we’re introducing you to the North House. A two-story home, secluded on the WPP property and surrounded by forests. Oh, and two hinnies! What are hinnies, you ask? They are a horse/donkey hybrid, and they were great neighbors for our overnight stay here. The kids LOVED them.
There are two bedrooms with queen-sized beds and one bathroom on the main floor, as well as a living room and full kitchen. Upstairs you’ll find a small, cozy lounging space with another bedroom that has two twin-sized beds.
You’re in walking distance to see many of the animals the park has to offer, as well as fishing ponds. It’s a great option for a group looking for their next getaway.
So, what else did we do at the park that weekend? If I’m going to promise the BEST guide, I better deliver. Well, here it is!
Watched the wolves wrestle under the sunset
Three playful and curious wolves can be found just behind the Visitor’s Center at WPP. Not only did they wrestle in the field, but one wolf came up to our area and would jump up at us to say “hello!” Please note the area is high up over the area, and you are protected by a barrier, but it was such a cool thing to see.
Fed mountain lions!
The last time we stayed overnight at Wildlife Prairie Park, we fed wolves! This time, it was mountain lions. Three beautiful Big Cats were loving the raw chicken and salmon we were feeding them, through secure fencing of course. Mattie was absolutely enamored with these beasts, and Bennett was so brave feeding them. These Animal Encounters are available online to set up.
We rode the Prairie Zephyr Train
One of our favorite things to do anytime we visit WPP is riding the train. It will take you throughout the park, and a recorded voice will teach you about the history of the park. Another great thing about it, is that you can hop on and off as you see fit. If your kid sees a playground they want to explore, hop off on the stop and go have fun! Which leads me to our next section…
Played on three separate playgrounds
Wildlife Prairie Park is home to multiple playgrounds, all unique and equally fun for kids. Bennett tried out the two-story Gollywhopper slide, which is quite fun! There’s also a fun train-themed playground by the Train Depot. WPP is currently fundraising to update three playgrounds at the Park, and you can learn more here. Here’s a current video of the three playgrounds as of May 2026.
Got coffee & treats at Best Brew
Best Brew has been a locally-owned and operated coffee shop that took over the Tropical Sno location in Peoria during the colder months of year. During the warmer months, they set up shop at the Wildlife Prairie Park Snack Shack from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. We got mini donuts, pretzel bites, an iced coffee and energy drink to give us that caffeine for our day. It’s right next to the Visitor’s Center.
Aside from all that, of course we had to take a stroll through the park to see the bears, bald eagle, wolves, owls and more. We visited the Education Center to see snapping turtles and snakes, and we stopped by a member’s invite Friday night where Mattie got up close and personal with an owl. This is another great reason to become a member at WPP! You can learn more here.
There’s much more to do at Wildlife Prairie Park, and I hope you get to experience it with your own eyes. I hope you enjoyed my article, and we’ll see you again soon!
Matt Sheehan Official 