WACO, Texas — Taking over operations of the Cameron Park Zoo is not Brendan Wiley's first rodeo overseeing dozens of animals, and it's a challenge he's ready to face head-on.
"This is a zoo that is beloved by the community. It moved here 30 years ago from its original location to here in Cameron Park and it has quite the reputation," said Wiley, the zoo's new director.
Cameron Park Zoo has a reputation for hosting events, parties and other festivities that Wiley hopes to take full advantage of for fundraising purposes.
"Zoos can do fundraising in a very unique and fun way," Wiley said. "We are blessed to be supported by the Cameron Park Zoological and Botanical Society as that fundraising arm."
It's a relationship Wiley hopes to continue to cultivate to enhance the guest experience by bringing in new animal exhibits and maintaining the health and well-being of the animals already at the zoo.
"We're always learning, we're always evolving, we're always looking to find new ways to connect with people who come here as guests," Wiley said.
Wiley hopes the events will help boost the zoo's operating budget and increase overall attendance for all ages.
"Zoos have really become places for people of all ages, with teen programs, with senior programs," Wiley said. "Zoos are not cheap to operate or to continue to enhance and develop so that fundraising component is an important part."
Wiley said he's looking forward to hosting events for families and visitors 21 and up, as he says 50 percent of people who come to zoos are adults.
"This zoo has quite the reputation for throwing great parties," Wiley said, adding that growing the relationships with business partners and providing a family-friendly experience will propel the zoo into the future.
"One of the things that drew me into this community is how nice the community is and how nice the people are," Wiley said. "The future is going to materialize opportunities that we haven't even dreamed of yet."
Wiley said in the summer, the zoo plans to open a new penguin exhibit in the Africa portion of the zoo and the zoo's master plan as it grows will be centered around the guest experience.
"The new master plan will look at the next 10, 20, 30 years on how this zoo will continue to develop and we're so excited about that," Wiley said.
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