Jeff Taylor offers luxurious overnight accommodations that are so unique that there are only three other places in the world that have them: Hotel rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that look directly into the enclosures where he keeps his lions and tigers.
“They’ll come right up to the window,” said Taylor, 45, who has one of the largest private collections of “big cats” in the U.S.
The lions and tigers are only part of his “big cat” collection, which includes jaguars, cheetahs, mountain lions and snow leopards. They complement the hundreds of other African animals that Taylor has amassed at Haven of the Wild, his private zoo in Chittenango, N.Y.
As one might expect, the Big Cat Bungalows at Haven of the Wild don’t come cheap. They rent for $499 a night during the week and $599 a night on weekends. Yet they have been so popular that Taylor is expanding his business to include luxurious, African-style glamping tents made by Irene, South Africa-based Bushtec Safari, which will open April 26.
The glamping tents are being set up in an elevated area of Haven of the Wild that includes views of open savanna, where giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and other African wildlife roam just beyond each guest’s private deck.
“Enjoy your morning coffee as the giraffes graze nearby or unwind by the fire on your private patio as the sun sets over the savanna,” Haven of the Wild states on its website. “Designed for both relaxation and wonder, our safari tents blend modern amenities with the serenity of nature, creating a stay that feels worlds away — yet right here in Central New York.”
Taylor told Woodall’s Campground Magazine he is starting with “eight to ten” African-style glamping tents, but he has plans to add another 11 after that, based on demand. That’s not all.
Sometime later this year or early next year, Taylor plans to add 100 full-hookup RV sites, pickleball courts and other amenities for RV enthusiasts who would like to enjoy a safari-like experience. Plans are also in the works for an indoor reptile center with a tropical forest.
Taylor admits that all of this is beyond his wildest dreams, and he had pretty wild dreams to begin with. Growing up on a farm in New York, Taylor dreamed of having his own zoo by the time he was 14.
He started amassing funds — and work experience — early, eventually starting his own landscaping business by the time he was 21. At 25, he started a traveling petting zoo and would travel around New York with his animals in tow, visiting fairs and festivals, while also running his landscaping business.
In those days, Taylor would set up 20-by-40-foot tent enclosures for his animals and sleep inside the livestock trailer he used to transport his animals.
“I’d shake out a bail of straw and put my sleeping bag on it,” he said.
His traveling petting zoo includes camels, goats, sheep, donkeys, zebras, mini cattle and black bear cubs.
By his late 20s, Taylor purchased an abandoned farm and used that as the site to create his private zoo.
“My parents were against the idea,” he said. “They thought I was going to lose everything.”
But Taylor proved them wrong.
“My original plan was to do a fall festival and be open for six weeks in the fall,” he said. But interest in his animals was so strong, he eventually transitioned out of his landscaping business and worked on his private zoo full-time. He called it The Wild Animal Park.
Everything was going well until the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The zoo was closed for a year and a half, and I had 400 or 500 animals to feed,” Taylor said.
To survive the pandemic, Taylor put 1.5 miles of road through a portion of his zoo and created a drive-through safari as a separate business called Taylor’s Wilderness Safari. His idea was an instant hit.
“We were swamped with people because during the pandemic, there was nothing else to do,” he said.
In 2021, Taylor purchased a nearby dairy farm and converted the initial 117-acre property into the site into Haven of the Wild. He acquired additional property, boosting the park to 167 acres. But instead of simply offering another private zoo, Taylor built this new business into a luxurious African-style wild animal destination, complete with his unique Big Cat Bungalows, which opened in August of 2024.
Haven of the Wild also has a 14,000-square-foot event center, which can be used for everything from weddings to concerts. Ashley Cooke and Tyler Farr, Nashville country artists, have recently performed there.
Haven of the Wild has become so popular that it has over 250,000 followers on Taylor’s Facebook and Instagram social media channels.
Taylor runs his businesses with help from consulting veterinarians and his two sons, including Holden, 19, who helps run the zoo, and Brody, 17, who helps with caring for the animals.
Taylor’s plan is to keep building his business, adding new amenities and attractions to create a one-of-a-kind experience for his guests.
“We’re known for our cleanliness,” he said, adding, “I’ve won three national exhibit awards from the Zoological Association of America.”
More unique glamping accommodations are coming, too.
“We plan to open six wolf cottages in June or July of this year, which will look over a whole pack of wolves,” Taylor said. “I’m also building eight more tiger rooms because they’ve been so popular.”
Taylor also plans to eventually build a wellness center with a full-service spa and facial services.
“I’m treating this like a cruise ship with add-ons and unique experiences,” he said. “I want to make this into a destination.”
