Here at the Zoology Zone Science Center, our mission is to inspire wildlife and environmental conservation through hands-on immersive education! The Zoology Zone Science Center is poised to become the leading educational destination in the region, easily accessible to local visitors. Parents no longer need to pack for an overnight trip and drive for hours to find engaging activities for their children. Our affordable ticket and membership pricing and emphasis on community outreach make this an initiative that is accessible to all.
Our mission began in a storage closet in the back of our CEO's middle school science classroom in 2019; there, the Herpetology program was born! In 2020, due to the increasing calls to for sick, neglected, and unwanted reptiles & amphibians, the decision was made to open Mountain State Reptile Rescue, WV's only 501(c)(3) dedicated reptile and amphibian rescue and no-kill shelter! Over the next couple of years, the public started to become more interested in the work that was being done and the organization was rapidly growing. In 2022, Mountain State Reptile Rescue had the opportunity to move into a former women's clothing store in WV's largest shopping mall to increase public awareness of our animals and to launch our region's very first "rescue zoo" with over 80 rehabilitated reptiles and amphibians on exhibit and used as educational ambassadors. We re-branded into The Reptile House & Rescue and continued to expand our rescue operations while also launching and expanding our educational and conservation outreach programs.
In 2023, The Reptile House & Rescue received the opportunity of a lifetime and moved to Hurricane, WV into the former Commons Marketplace here in Valley Park - right in the heart of Putnam County! With the ability to expand our educational and conservation outreach even more - we made the decision to re-brand (for the last time) to the Zoology Zone Science Center! The Zoology Zone has allowed guests to embark on a journey throughout the world learning, viewing, and go hands-on with reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitats. Our new location has already allowed us to expand our educational outreach, provide a larger exhibit area for our animals, and promote wildlife and environmental conservation on a much larger scale, but we're just getting started! Join us on this amazing journey to grow even more in science, education, conservation, and community!
