ZOOMARS has been featured in the February
issue of South County Magazine
"Family Fun"
ZOOMARS Petting Zoo offers inexpensive adventure and the perfect
outing for families with young children
It’s no wonder Carolyn Franks is always smiling … as the owner
and operator of ZOOMARS Petting Zoo, her days are defined by pony rides,
hundreds of fluffy bunny rabbits and guinea pigs, creatures big and small and
unforgettable children’s excursions punctuated by squeals of delight.Located in
the heart of San Juan Capistrano’s historic district, ZOOMARS Petting Zoo opened
in the early 1980s as a “backyard barnyard” called the Jones Family Mini Farm.
Its buildings date back to the 1800s and the property is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
All of its historic charm and innocent, affordable family entertainment
opportunities weren’t lost on Carolyn when she literally “stumbled” upon the
property as she and her former business partner (Carolyn had been working for
over a decade in the pet industry and she and her partner owned several Orange
County-based pet shops) were investigating real estate options online one
fateful night in 2005.
“We had been searching for a place to do some breeding of exotic
birds,” says Carolyn. “I remember being so excited by pictures of the animals,
the kiddie train and all the old buildings that we jumped in the car and drove
to San Juan. It was almost midnight and here I was walking around this little
farm in my Ugg boots with a flashlight. The geese were honking so loudly and
even though I was stumbling around the dark, I could envision so clearly what
the place could be like. I knew there was nothing like it around and knew I had
found a diamond in the rough.”
That year, the property’s owners Gil and Millie Jones decided to
retire and sold the business to Carolyn and her partner. Since that time
Carolyn expanded the local landmark, bought her business partner out and
continues to grow its offerings – both in animal attractions and unique
activities.
Today, ZOOMARS is home to many different kinds of animals,
including goats, sheep, llamas, Zonkies (a hybrid zebra and donkey mix), a
friendly cow, a giant tortoise and hundreds of bunnies and guinea pigs to feed,
cuddle and love.
ZOOMARS is an inexpensive adventure and the perfect outing for
families with young children. Admission is $7 for adults and $6 for kids.** There
are package deals too. You can purchase a ZAP PASS punch card for $75 which
covers 20 admissions at just $3.75/visit or a Golden Ticket for $22 that
includes a kid’s admission with feed basket, plus everything else the zoo
offers like pony rides, train rides and gemstone mining.
From the minute you arrive at the ticket counter, you are
greeted with smiles and happiness that is found throughout the zoo. If you need
a quick lesson to hold a guinea pig, an extra pair of hands to set up a party,
or a fun-loving miner to help your little guy strike gold, there is sure to be
a caring zookeeper at every turn.
“The things I hear every day from people who have been coming to
this petting zoo for years are just inspiring beyond words,” says Carolyn.
“Especially when I hear things like, ‘I used to take my kids here and now I
take my grandkids here.’ Wow, that’s so amazing to me. Sometimes when I’m
feeling overwhelmed or had a challenging day, I just GOOGLE ZOOMARS and watch
the stream of endless pictures, blogs and videos from moms and dads who have
posted their child’s first pony ride or a story about the wonderful time
everyone had at their 4-year- old’s birthday party. Then I sit back in my
swivel chair and say, Yep, this what I do. How blessed am I that I can create
these milestone memories for people? That feeling makes it all worth it.”
Connect
with Carolyn by visiting ZOOMARS at 31791 Los Rios Street in San Juan
Capistrano, by calling (949) 831-6550 or visit www.zoomars.com
**Please note, admission price incorrect; adults $8 & kids $7
