ALLENWOOD, Pa. — Thousands of visitors walk through the doors of Clyde Peeling's Reptiland each year, and summer is the zoo's busiest season. This is a special week for Peeling. He is celebrating 60 years in business.
"When we started, we were truly just a small roadside zoo, and we just kept putting profits back into the business, and after all these years, we've expanded," Clyde Peeling said.
Clyde Peeling's Reptiland opened on Route 15 near Allenwood on July 11, 1964. Peeling says many people told him the zoo would not last, but six decades later, it is still going strong.
In 1986, Reptiland became accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Over the years, it has expanded.
Peeling believes one of the reasons the zoo is so successful is because it is so specialized.
"We've tried to maintain only reptiles and amphibians, and, of course, now birds are considered to be reptiles, so that's where we put our efforts," Peeling said.
Peeling says he's proud to be in business for 60 years and has no plans to stop.
"Not too many small businesses, I guess, that make it that long, and my son Elliot is going to continue it after I'm out of the picture, so yeah, it's a great thing," Peeling said.
To celebrate the milestone, Clyde Peeling's Reptiland is offering $3 off admission prices on Thursday.