FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia State Wildlife Center, a 338-acre modern zoological facility, is located in Upshur County. In 1923, the Game and Fish Commission purchased the land and established the French Creek Game Farm. The farm raised quail, pheasant, turkey, and deer to reintroduce wildlife across the state. Since 1978, French Creek Freddie, West Virginia’s official groundhog meteorologist, has made predictions from the center annually in February on Groundhog Day. In 2026, he saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of Winter. In its early years, the project offered recreation and education to residents. The farm began drawing many visitors to view the animals. By 1927, the number of visitors grew to 20,000, demonstrating the region’s interest in wildlife and conservation.
In 1971, a proclamation by the President and the Governor of West Virginia established National Hunting and Fishing Day, the Game Farm hosted the event in 1978. It moved to Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park in 1996. A mobile wildlife exhibit toured the state from 1974 to 1990, reaching nearly 250,000 residents. The original purpose of breeding wildlife had turned into a popular tourist destination.
A major modernization by the WVDNR in 1984, funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund of the U.S. Department of the Interior, assisted in the construction of new exhibits. In September 1986, a new facility was renamed the West Virginia State Wildlife Center, marking a shift from a farm-based approach to a modern, spacious wildlife center.
Today, over 50,000 visitors explore a 1.25-mile wheelchair-accessible self-guided trail through mature hardwood forests, viewing wildlife in an environment designed to reflect West Virginia’s ecosystems, naturalistic enclosures, and animal behavior. At the same time, signs provide insight into each species’ life history and biology.
The center features 30 species, including black bear, bald eagle, bison, and gray fox. bobcat, coyote, mountain lion, white-tailed deer, river otter, birds, and reptiles, to name a few. While remaining conservation-aware, a friendly recreation destination offers group tours by request with amenities including a nature center, a gift shop with refreshments, picnic areas with grills, and a well-stocked fishing pond with trout, bass, catfish, and bluegill. The budget-friendly admission is only $4 for adults, $2 for children (under 5 free). According to visitors, the exhibits are very close to the trail, and some of the animals come right up to the fence.
The gift shop is open April 1-October 31, daily, 9 a.m-5 p.m., and November 1-March 31, 9 a.m-3 p.m. Hours are subject to change due to weather conditions. The West Virginia State Wildlife Center is open year-round 7 days a week in Upshur County, north-central West Virginia, 12 miles south of Buckhannon on State Route 20.
For the most updated information, check the official WVDNR Wildlife Center page. The center remains a destination for education, conservation awareness, and an affordable outdoor family day trip.
