Your business or company can sponsor a day at the Carousel or rides for special events!


The Zoo offers a unique opportunity for your business to bring smiles to the faces of thousands of Zoo visitors. As a Train & Carousel Sponsor-$5,000 per day or event-your business receives recognition before, during and after your chosen day. You can pick almost any day that works for your business.

The Zoo Train and Conservation Carousel are popular attractions at Henry Vilas Zoo. On summer weekend days, our team of volunteers welcomes as many as 2,700 customers to enjoy these nostalgic amusement rides. While riding the Conservation Carousel, Zoo guests encounter 36 hand-carved carousel animals that are all endangered species. They also see amazing murals of animals of the world and scenes from the Madison area. While riding the Zoo Train, guests enjoy a sneak peak at the giraffes, rhinos, the Zoo Barn,and Children's Zoo exhibits including our red pandas and baby alpaca.

Carousel and Train Ride Sponsorships allow us to offer free rides to Zoo guests for the day. This is a great way to connect with zoo-goers of all ages, and provides a wonderful gift and special treat to families that wouldn't normally be able to enjoy the rides. Sponsorship also offers you a way to reach Friends of the Zoo with your message. Our 23,000+ Facebook fans and 7,000+ e-mail newsletter subscribers will hear about your contribution along with the thousands of Zoo visitors in the days leading up to your Sponsorship Day.

Benefits of the $5,000 sponsorship include:

• Company name and logo recognition in social media and in our e-mail newsletter leading up to the sponsorship day
• Signage at the train & carousel as well as Face of the Zoo information booths on the day of the event
• Recognition on our website, vilaszoo.org with a link to your website
• Recognition in our quarterly "Zoo News" newsletter and Annual Report
• 50 Train & Carousel tokens to share with your employees or customers for use on any day they choose.

For more information or to reserve your Train & Carousel Sponsorship opportunity, please contact Lynn Pawelski at lynn@vilaszoo.org or 258-9490 x12.

Please be sure to ask how your businesses can also purchase Carousel and Train tokens to distribute to customers at your location.