My Story:
Building a World of Small Wonders
My name is Barnaby Jones (and yes, that is my real name!). For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved zoos. Growing up, my family vacations were always road trips to zoos all over the Midwest. If there is one place on Earth I could spend every single day, it’s a zoo.
As a kid, my favorite stop was always the gift shop. It was the place where you got to take a little piece of the magic home with you. My family would buy me small toy animals, and the second we got back, I would transform my bedroom, the living room, and eventually a massive table in the basement into my own miniature wildlife park.
This passion wasn't just about play, though—it was about purpose. When I was just nine years old, I collected money at craft shows alongside my mom and grandma, raising funds specifically for wildlife conservation. That effort led to a moment I'll never forget: traveling to the Columbus Zoo to hand-deliver the check and meet a living legend of wildlife education, "Jungle" Jack Hanna.
That encounter solidified a dream: to one day build a highly detailed model zoo and take it on the road as a traveling exhibit, partnering with real zoos to donate half of the ticket sales back to conservation and animal care.
The Path to the Dream:
Life has taken me on some wild adventures, each one building the exact skill set I need to finally bring this lifelong dream to life. In high school, I threw myself into theater and business, which eventually led to a ten-year career as a professional wrestler traveling across Wisconsin. From there, I owned and operated a flea market, ran a commercial Halloween haunted house, and most recently, spent my time exploring deep woods and historic locations as a paranormal researcher and cryptozoologist
Whether I was speaking at libraries and conventions, touring the country (and hitting every zoo possible along the way), or building immersive environments, every single step taught me something invaluable about marketing, promotion, business, and craftsmanship.
Bringing the Zoo to Life:
The final piece of the puzzle was the rise of 3D printing technology. Suddenly, I didn't just have to imagine or loosely sketch my designs—I had the tools to actually build them with precision.
Now, the journey has officially begun!
I decided to start right at the beginning: the ticket booth and the main entrance gates, which are actually printing as I write this. While I don't know exactly how long it will take to design, fabricate, and mobilize the entire exhibit, I am incredibly excited to share the process.
The Evolution of Small Wonders
My zoo project has gone through several names over the years, starting with Barnaby’s Zoo and Habitat and later transitioning to the Barnaby Jones Wildlife Preserve. However, neither felt quite right for the massive scale of the current undertaking. To find the right direction, I teamed up with an AI to brainstorm potential names. After a bit of tweaking, I finally landed on one that fits perfectly: Small Wonders It is a double-meaning that works beautifully—reflecting both the incredible, overlooked wonders of the natural world and the intricate, miniature scale of the model zoo itself.
Crafting the Slogan
When it came to a slogan, I have always been fond of branding that sells itself. For example, when I ran Misery Haunted House, our tagline was simple: "Visit us, because misery loves company."I wanted that same clever, memorable spark for this project. A Google search threw out several options playing on the zoo's unique size, and one immediately caught my eye: “Every inch is a mile.” While it wasn't exactly what I wanted, a simple one-letter addition made all the difference.
Small Wonders Zoo & Aquarium – "Where every inch is a smile."
The Symbolism Behind the Logo
For the logo, I wanted something clean and classic that reflects family, wildlife, and traditional zoo branding. To make it truly personal, each animal featured in the design represents a meaningful member of my family: The Giant Anteater: Represents myself (and happens to be my favorite animal). The Rhino: Represents Uncle John. The Gorilla: Represents my Grandma. The Bear: Represents my mom. The Penguin: Represents Aunt Diane. These five animals don't just anchor our core logo; they are also featured in a dynamic "walking" variant that will be integrated across the model zoo, including a prominent placement right on the entrance pavilion.
My ultimate goal is to take this mobile exhibit on tour to zoos, festivals, and events across the United States and beyond. Because it's being built one habitat at a time, the project will never truly be "finished." There will always be a new detail to tweak or a new species to add, meaning every single time you see it, there will be something brand new to discover.
I want this to be a magical, captivating experience for all ages—a complete zoo experience that fits right in a driveway, "where every, inch is a smile."
Thank you for following along on this adventure!