| Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo  Just south of Thurmont is the 35+acre Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, where, for nine months out of the year, visitors can experience more than 400 animals. The Zoo features hundreds of exotic animals – bears to boas, macaws to monkeys – on 26 naturally wooded acres. Unique events include interactive animal shows, special feeding encounters, and availability for birthday parties. The Catoctin wildlife Preserve and Zoo is open
From bears to boas, lions to lemurs, macaws to monkeys, panthers to pythons, you'll meet
over 450 exotic animals on your Zoo adventure. Wonderful adventures and exciting new animal friends await you in the newly enlarged park - now over 50 acres. Up-close exhibits and personal information make you feel like one of the family. Get stalked by a tiger, jaguar or cougar and live to tell the tale. Feel the breath of a bear, follow a fallow deer, or tickle a tortoise. Hand-feed goats, sheep, donkeys, llamas, ducks and other curious creatures in the petting area. The Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo is open from April through November. This unique business began as a roadside attraction in the 1930's as Gordon Gaver's "Jungleland Sepentarium." The Hahn family purchased "Jungleland" in 1966 and built the attraction into an accredited preserve and one of the finest zoos in the state. Located approximately two miles south of Thurmont on US Route 15, Jungleland Snake Farm took its place as one of the finest tourist attractions of its kind in this area. The history of Jungleland dates back to 1910 when Gaver was a young lad only six years old.  Born on February 22, 1904, the son of the late Dr. William E. and Laura E. Gaver of Mt. Airy, Maryland, young Gaver became interested in reptiles when he was very young and collected all kinds of snakes and frogs which he kept in his father's stable where he would display them to his many friends. His father died when he was only six years old and the family then moved to Frederick, where young Gaver completed his schooling.
In 1924 he accepted his first job as a technician's helper in the experimental laboratory of the Gulf Refining Company at Port Arthur, Texas. Two years later Mr. Gaver went to New York City where he landed a job with the Munson Steamship Lines as a claim agent, a job which he held for almost five years. During the last few months with Munson he was given an assignment aboard a passenger ship and made a trip to South America. In 1930 he entered the real estate business in Elizabeth, New Jersey, a job which he enjoyed very much. All the while his interest in reptiles never ceased for he collected them whenever and wherever possible. Finally this interest became so great that he decided to do something about it. He tried to seek employment at the Washington Zoo and even made a trip to the Museum of Natural History in New York City, but met with no success. After serious consideration he decided to go into business for himself.  In 1933 Gaver rented an old frame school building on US Route 15, and opened his exhibition of reptiles to the public on March 15, 1933. The public was attracted to this unusual exhibit and it soon became very popular with the passing tourists.
In the fall of 1936 he purchased a ten-acre tract of land about two miles south of Thurmont and constructed a large exhibition building to house his ever-increasing collection of reptiles. In the spring of the following year he opened the season at this new location under the name of "Jungleland Snake Farm" — a name which Gaver himself originated. | 
