Meet the Zoo Crew!

Dennis and his wife, Marilyn, bought the property in the early 90's in hopes of a peaceful retirement. Their love of animals quickly turned the retirement into an around-the-clock job. Today, he enjoys watching all of his hard work come to fruition with the help of his family and some very loyal team members. His guidance and perseverance play a huge role in our day-to-day operations!

Marilyn is probably the closest being to Snow White you'll find in real life. Her connection to animals is something truly remarkable. Marilyn especially loves taking in and caring for any little babies when they need special attention, this allows her to create an unbreakable bond. These days, she's most likely running the day-to-day errands, but on busy weekends, you'll still be charmed by her sweet character in the gift shop!

Donavan is the son of Dennis and Marilyn, the owners! He has dedicated the better half of his life to the park, having first started as a Ranch Hand in 2001. Consistently taking on more hats, Donavan has graduated to General Manager and Co-Owner as he takes on each aspect of the business in stride. His dedication to the animals, our patrons and the park's success is a huge factor in who we are today.

Kayli started giving Guided Tours back in 2012, as a mere 14-year-old. Working through summers, weekends and holidays, she graduated with a business degree from Sam Houston State University in the spring of 2020. This allowed her to come back to the park full-time and assist her family with all things ZOO! You'll find Kayli running anything from marketing and social media to mucking stalls or assisting with vet care. On busy holidays or weekend, you may even snag her as your tour guide. Buckle up for a wild ride with Kayli!

Logan is THE guy when it comes to any sort of maintenance or animal care. He can operate any sort of equipment or machinery to take on heavy projects, then turn around and be the most tedious and careful with the small jobs. He is dedicated to helping our park grow to the best it can be while providing amazing animal care and creating unique memories for visitors. We couldn't be prouder to have him as our lead Ranch Hand!

Logan became a Ranch Hand in the Fall of 2019. He is a true animal whisperer and thoroughly enjoys getting to work with such beautiful creatures. When he's not cuddling an animal, he's doing all the odds and ends that make this place run. Logan is the kindest person you'll ever meet, and we are thrilled to have him aboard! Having this old soul as a member of our team, makes all the hard work a little sweeter.

Nicole took on all things zoo back in 2016, in fact she is our longest reigning employee that is not bound by blood! Over the years, she's proven her dedication and knowledge by continuing to take on responsibility here at the park. Nicole has no problem going 90mph to make sure all projects are completed and all animals are attended to. We are so thankful for her and the asset she is to our team!

Tuesdey is one of the sweetest people to ever join our crew! She is known to receive rave reviews from our visitors thanks to her charming, outgoing and bubbly personality! Tuesdey is consistent and eager, and we are so thankful for her hard work and dedication. We also know that you'd love to take a tour with her as your guide. You'll enjoy a tour from Tuesdey on the weekends, as she is finishing up her degree and juggling her kiddos during the week!

Olivia is part of the family, and has been giving tours now for over a year! Having grown up at the park, she knows all the odds and ends of the Exotic Resort Zoo. She may be young, but Olivia definitely knows her stuff when it comes to these animals and how to have an incredible experience at the park. She is currently a freshman in college at CTC, tackling online school and full-time hours with ease. You won't regret jumping on tour with Olivia!

Becca is the most adventurous and animal-loving soul there is. She became a Tour Guide in the Spring of 2021, left for a few months to travel the States by renovated RV, and has since made her way home. Now, Becca lives on-site, and is always eager to lend a helpful hand. She’s kind and bubbly, so sure to charm you upon arrival. We are beyond blessed by her dedication to the park! 

Madysann joined the zoo crew in the Summer of 2023! She tackled giving tours with stride and is eager to grow her skills with the animals and customers alike. Mady attends Tarleton State University during the Fall & Spring semesters, however she'll be back over holiday weekends and the summer season. 

Amanda is one of the newest additions to our zoo crew! She joined our team in the Fall of 2023 and has proven an incredible asset to our team thus far. She's taken to the tours with stride and even joined our feeding rotation in the mornings!

Affectionately nicknamed "Dani", Daniela joined the team towards the end of our 2023 Summer season. Dani is likely the sweetest person you'll meet and takes incredible care of our guests and animals. Not to mention, she is super talented and speaks two languages! We are so please to have her with us. 

Brande is our one and only housekeepin’ queen! She is one of the most flexible team members, as our bookings are always random. Not only does she do an incredible job, but this chick accomplishes more than most in limited time. She shows up time and time again, always with a smile on her face! We are so thankful for her hard work and lucky to have such a thoughtful and thorough housekeeper on our team. 

Bill joined the team a few years ago and is truly a jack of all trades! What started out as a lawn maintenance assignment, turned into any and all jobs in between! Mr. Bill is known to be able to fix it all, and we are incredibly thankful for him!