Swetsville Zoo - Fort Collins, CO - a zoo without a single living animal

The Swetsville Zoo is located at 4801 East Harmony Road in Fort Collins, Colorado. The zoo is open from dawn until dusk each day and only a quarter of a mile to the east of exit 265 on Interstate 25. Admission to the zoo is free of charge although donations to the facility are always welcome. The facilities are at the home of the zoo's founder and the creator of the majority of its exhibits Bill Swets.

The zoo is not traditional with live animals instead it is a sculpture park There are over one hundred and fifty sculptures of dinosaurs, flowers, windmills and other animals either real or imagined. The sculptures are all made from scrap metal materials including parts from old machinery used for farming and cars. People of all ages enjoy the exhibits that include work from local artists guests should allow one hour minimum to view the sculptures in the park.

Bill Swets is a former farmer turned zookeeper. He built all of the animals now found in the Swetsville Zoo. In 1985 he began to build the metal animals that now occupy his zoo. He began with a bicycle body on a bird with a shovel beak. Then he started to put them in his yard for everyone to enjoy. In a few years he had grown his collection to include forty-three pieces. Today the collection has over one hundred and sixty pieces.

The entrance to the Swetsville Zoo has a drawbridge, white and yellow turrets around the home of the Swets. A winding path lined with woods is where the majority of exhibits at the zoo are arranged. The large exhibits have small imps standing by them. Some of the facilities exhibits have a current event or political tone. The majority of the structures were built from the years of 1985 to 1995.

During 1996 Sandy Swets became ill and Bill Swets slowed down his production of animals for the Swetsville Zoo. The fazade of the castle was built during 1997; during 1998 it burnt down and had to be rebuilt. The zoo even managed to survive a flood in the area. Friends of the Swets created the displays in the Bungled Jungle.

Getting to the Swetsville Zoo from Timnath is simple. Take Interstate 25 to the 265 exit south of Fort Collins. Travel down the Harmony Road heading east which is the right side of the highway until you reach the zoo. Swetsville Zoo is currently in danger of being overrun by local developments in the area.

Anyone with an interest in art and animals that doesn't want to see them in cages should make it a point to visit the Swetsville Zoo in Fort Collins, Colorado at least once in their lives. There is a guided tour of the facility to ensure that the guests have the ultimate experience during the visit. Additional information about the zoo's exhibits and the facilities at the zoo can be obtained by contacting the zoo directly.