Today we’d like to introduce you to Cory Lagusker.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cory. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My wife, Jennifer, started the business in 2008 out of her bedroom and living, collecting reptiles, frogs, and bugs for strictly personal use. She was invited to a birthday party at her cousin’s house, and was asked to bring some of her crazy pets to show off, and she gladly did, and gave them an entertaining and educational presentation about them and her cousin tipped her $100 to do it. She was studying at UCLA for Zoology, and afterwards she decided to form her own company, and do educational animal presentations at other homes, schools, and fun events. Her animal collection grew out of her bedroom and into the backyard when she got pigs, mini horses, and farm animals. Then she grew even more and decided to rent a 1.5-acre mini ranch in Sun Valley, where she exploded to over 300 animals. She met me, and I helped to supply her with Tortoises. I was breeding various species at the time. I left for 2 years for US Army Helicopter Flight school in Alabama, and she took in my female Tortoises, and her male Tortoise really enjoyed that. We found lots of babies coming out of the ground one day. We got married in 2014, and together bought a 15-acre ranch in Sylmar, where we have over 500 animals, including a camel, zebra, and a 200-lb. tortoise.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Animal licensing, permits, inspections, customers, taking care of the animals daily, being in the office, working events, and not having any family life at all for years.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Reptacular Animals story. Tell us more about the business.
Zoo to you or you can visit us. We can bring our fun and friendly animals to your house, park, and movie studio for all your animal needs, or take a tour of our 15-acre ranch, or have a wedding or birthday at our ranch.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck is opportunity with experience — this is America, and a female, Hispanic, from immigrant parents, invested her time and passion and love for animals, to create a huge empire in the party world of Los Angeles… during the recession.
Pricing:
- Wedding at the ranch – $2895
- Basic Birthday Package at your house – $250
- Basic Birthday Package at our ranch – $450
- Tour of our facility, that is hands on, and can meet and greet all the animals – $150 per hour, just your family, not one else.
- Pony Rides – $450 and up
Contact Info:
- Address: Ranch Address:
8828 Gold Creek Road
Sylmar, CA 91342Mailing Address:
8309 Laurel Cyn Blvd
#316
Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Website: www.reptacularanimals.com
- Phone: 818-727-1594
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: reptacularanimals
- Facebook: facebook.com/reptacularanimals
- Twitter: reptacular
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/reptacular-animals-sun-valley
