| City/Town: • Kissimmee |
| Location Class: • Recreational |
| Built: • 1970s | Abandoned: • 2002 |
| Status: • Under Renovation |
| Photojournalist: • David Bulit |
Alligator Safari Zoo
Jungleland Zoo originally opened in the early 1970s as Alligator Safari Zoo, which was strategically located along the Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee, Florida, the area’s main tourism corridor known for its dense collection of hotels, restaurants, and gift shops. Its prime location placed it just minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios. At the time of its opening, the zoo boasted an impressive collection of over 1,600 animals and birds.
Beyond its live inhabitants, the attraction was famous for housing the world’s second-largest alligator display: a 126-foot-long statue. This colossal landmark was surpassed in size only by “Swampy,” a 200-foot alligator statue located at Jungle Adventures in Christmas, Florida. In 1982, Gatorland Zoo filed suit against Alligatorland for attempting to build a strikingly similar entryway to theirs that resembled a gator’s open jaws, which Gatorland had since the 1960s.
In response to concerns over animal welfare, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) began advocating for stronger regulations of zoos throughout Florida. The organization argued that state standards at the time were inadequate, leading to unnecessary suffering for animals kept in private attractions. Houser’s Zoo in West Melbourne was one such example.
Known as the Brevard Zoological Park after it was acquired by the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida in February 1985, the zoo met all state standards, but according to Jeanne Roush of the HSUS, the animals there were still suffering “psychologically if not physically.” After further inspections in March and October of 1985, Roush deemed the zoo “one of the worst in the country.” “Zoos are supposed to educate the public about animals, but I believe it’s actually miseducation for the public to see a demented monkey throwing itself around its cage,” she said in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.
In 1990, Alligatorland Safari Zoo came under fire after they received a surprise inspection from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The owner, Darren Browning, was cited for keeping inaccurate records, poor sanitation in cages, structural issues, and having poor veterinary care provided for its animals. Gerald Dienhart, a veterinarian who was part of the surprise inspection, cited them after finding unsanitary amounts of decaying dung in a rhesus monkey cage and balding, pop-bellied pigs.
In addition to the citations for poor care, the USDA recommended the installation of an eight-foot-tall security fence around the perimeter to prevent wild animals from escaping. Richard Overton, a USDA inspectorinvolved in the sinspectionn told the press, “In the middle of the Okefenokee Swamp, if they didn’t have any dangerous animals or a lot of people around, then they wouldn’t need an 8-foot fence. If one of those got loose you wouldn’t want to have any children close by.“
Having been given a $2000 fine for what USDA inspectors deemed “minor” infractions, Browning refused to acknowledge the USDA’s authority to regulate his business and challenged it. In November 1992, Browning represented himself due to cost-prohibitive reasons, as well as claiming he was just as well-versed in exotic animal care as any USDA inspector. He characterized the fine as nothing more than a ploy by the USDA to punish them for refusing to erect the 8-foot-tall security fence, which would have cost him over $20,000.
Having lost the case, the judge ordered Browning to pay the fine as well as to close the zoo for thirty days. Delores Browning, Alligator’s bookkeeper, estimated that the closure cost the Brownings over $60,000—that’s $2000 a day. Browning vowed to continue fighting strictly on principle, but despite hiring an attorney, the Brownings lost all subsequent court battles. The financial losses incurred forced Browning to sell the property in 1995.
Jungleland Zoo
When the attraction reopened as Jungleland Zoo in 1995, it saw a significant reduction in its animal population, housing just over 300 exotic residents compared to the 1,600 animals featured during its era as Alligatorland. Despite the smaller scale, the zoo gained popularity for its big cat shows, which offered visitors a chance to see a diverse range of feline species. These performances showcased everything from smaller North American predators like bobcats and lynxes to majestic Bengal and Siberian tigers.
The 126-foot-long statue outside was also updated to feature the alligator devouring a Jeep while a tour guide dangled from a rope.
Nala, the “World Famous Lioness”
The winter of 1997 brought torrential rains that flooded the surrounding swamplands, creating a perilous environment for the animals at Jungleland Zoo. The crisis escalated on December 15th when handlers attempted to lift the enclosure of a 450-pound lioness named Nala to clear the rising waters; during the maneuver, the lioness managed to escape into the marsh.
A massive search operation was launched along Highway 192, involving more than 20 agents armed with rifles and tranquilizer guns, as well as a helicopter equipped with infrared sensors. Despite this technology, the dense tropical canopy and four-foot-deep floodwaters made tracking Nala nearly impossible. While local residents and tourists were placed on high alert, zoo officials attempted to calm the public by emphasizing that the lioness was declawed, hand-raised, and possessed a sociable temperament.
The search concluded two days later when Nala was discovered hiding in the brush, only a few hundred yards from her original cage. When approached by veterinarian Dr. James Barnett, the lioness hissed and attempted to retreat further into the vegetation. Dr. Barnett fired two tranquilizer darts, successfully hitting her with the second shot. It took approximately five minutes for the sedation to take full effect, at which point Nala was safely secured and administered additional tranquilizers to ensure a controlled return to the facility.
The Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission billed the zoo more than $8,300 for use of its helicopter and other expenses. To cash in on her newfound notoriety, Jungleland Zoo moved Nala’s cage by the entrance so she was the first animal to greet visitors. Promotional pamphlets were also distributed to hotels and other businesses with her face on the front with the words, “Nala, World Famous Lioness.”
Closure
By late 2002, Jungleland Zoo began winding down its operations, removing animals from public view and slashing gift shop prices by 50%. While the owners attributed the closure to the economic downturn following the September 11th attacks, local investigative reporting from Channel 6 News suggested a far different reason.
The facility was reportedly under investigation by both the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the USDA for potential violations of the Animal Welfare Act. A surprise state inspection conducted that June highlighted significant infrastructure failures, including rotted cages, a sagging perimeter fence, and severe drainage issues, though inspectors did note that the animals themselves appeared to be in good health at the time.
Taped to the window of the gift shop by the owners was a letter, which read in part, “This treatment by Channel 6 smacks of an old-time lynching.” “Animals do not breed in places they are not comfortable in, and all our breeding pairs produce here at Jungleland.” The letter also claimed that a copy was sent to then-President George W. Bush. Dr. James Barnett, the veterinarian who tranquilized Nala when she escaped, sided with the owners. In an interview, Barnett said, “The allegations of a lack of access of medical treatment for the animals are false. The owners have never denied me the ability to treat the animals. If an animal is sick, they immediately call me.”
In October 2014, the 126-foot alligator that stood outside Jungleland Zoo since it originally opened in the 1970s was demolished.
Following the closure, the property was acquired by Patrick Clancy, the founder and owner of Jungle Habitat Preserve. As an exotic animal sanctuary, the organization specialized in caring for animals that had been displaced due to a lack of funding or other specialized needs. However, the mission faced significant hurdles as the site required substantial capital for repairs and modernization to meet current standards. These financial challenges ultimately led to the property being foreclosed on in 2017. Ownership shifted again at the end of 2018 when the site was sold to Jungleland Zoo Partners, LLC.
Krush Brau Park
In September 2020, Krush Acquisitions, a veteran-owned company by Waylon and Katie Krush, purchased the property with plans to revitalize the former Jungleland Zoo to be a vibrant German-inspired biergarten (beer garden) and park.
According to their website, Waylon Krush, a veteran of the US Army, was stationed at Bad Aibling, Germany, for three years. He traveled throughout all of Germany during his service and fell in love with the different beers, bakery goods, and festivals each state had to offer, especially attending Oktoberfest every year for the years he was stationed there. Ever since, it had been a dream of his to build a German-inspired beer garden to share with the American people.
Krush Brau Park, open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, features the Portal Immersion Center, a multi-use space where we host immersive dining and entertainment experiences, special events, and private events; the World Event Center, an outdoor festival tent that hosts various international festivals like Oktoberfest, Holidays Around the World, Silvesterfest, Mardi Gras, SummerFest, and more; the Biergarten, a German-themed beer garden and restaurant; and World Adventure, a 13-country world adventure comprising container bars, eateries, children’s play area, petting zoo, and animatronic animals.
Photo Gallery
