DENVER -- Taking the family to the zoo can be an expensive proposition, what with admissions, and food for you and for the animals. But in this Family Friday report Consumer Champ Bill Clarke heads to a zoo that's fun and free.

If you go to Fort Collins and visit farmer Bill Swet and his Swetsville Zoo, you'll notice that it's a zoo like none you've ever seen.

Most farms have a lawn ornament or two but in Swet's yard -- that's all there is.

Swet says he's never had a day of training on a welder, never had any art education, either. But when you look at some of the work you just have to wonder."))

He has turned junked auto parts and other scrap metals into almost-lifelike characters. '"There's about 170 them now," he said.

The Swetsville Zoo houses work that he's done over the past 20 years.

Some metal structure look pretty fearsome and some that look a whole lot more friendly. Some of them are fairly small nd some of them, well, big enough to shelter a picnic table

They've all got names and all of them have a story.

Swet's humor is evident all over the zoo from the parade of ants raiding a picnic cooler to the mining car for Works Neverdone inc.

"Sometimes it needs explaining. Sometimes people catch it," he said.

Fast facts on the Swetsville Zoo it's just east of Interstate 25 at Harmony Road in Fort Collins. It's open during daylight hours and admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.

Swet doesn't sell his work, doesn't generally exhibit his work elsewhere. But what he's done on his farm is nothing short of amazing. Bill swet will tell you he's just a farmer with a hobby... But after meeting him and seeing the work he's done with no formal training, Clarke left with the feeling i'd met a real live, honest-to-goodness genius.

At the very least, you'll leave with smiles from ear to ear.