Reptilandia-Reptile Lagoon – Largest and most diverse presentation of reptiles and amphibians in the Hill Country

By Texas Hill Country | February 23, 2025

 

By J Carol Richards

As a young boy growing up in New York, Quetzal Dwyer kept animals as a hobby. He wanted to do something with them and something for them. For some unknown reason, his passion was reptiles. When Quetzal attended a conference on reptiles, he met a man who had a zoo in the Canary Islands. Before he had time to think, he asked, “Do you need help”? The response was yes in a few months. The zoo in the Canary Islands opened his eyes to the possibilities for similar zoos in other parts of the world and led Quetzal to the conclusion that “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

When his employment ended in the Canary Islands, Quetzal decided to visit Costa Rica, where he made some friends, purchased a piece of land, and began building his dream, a place where he could exhibit, study, and breed reptiles and educate people on the incredible and diverse kingdom waiting to be explored. The zoo was very successful. However, laws changed regarding breeding, and Quetzal, who was committed to his original mission of doing what was best for the animals, sensed a possible collision with government restrictions, so he sold the zoo and moved back to the United States.

Johnson City, Texas, is now home to Reptilandia-Reptile Lagoon where Quetzal Dwyer has created the largest and most diverse presentation of reptiles and amphibians in the Hill Country. The diversity of reptiles exists in about 10,000 species, all with different characteristics, from the largest crocodile to the smallest chameleon from Madagascar that measures only .86 inches from top to tail. Quetzal quotes the legendary naturalist Sir David Attenborough on his website, “An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” For Quetzal, fulfillment comes from his research on Reptilandia’s reptile and amphibian population; this helped him understand their management and biology, resulting in a better understanding of how to conserve them in the wild. The zoo has eight distinct biomes, which are parts of a geographic region with distinct climates, vegetation, and animal life, and each is carefully designed to showcase the animals in naturalistic enclosures. The temperate building consists of twenty-one large, themed exhibits with uniquely designed two-story enclosures that allow observation from the bottom river level and another from what would be a tree-top level. The exhibits are zoned by different areas, like the Amazon River or an African forest. Quetzal has published thirty scientific articles and continues to explore ways to manage and protect the animals. In addition, the ethnographic museum displays historical, scientific, artistic, and cultural items that paint a picture of various cultures.

Zoo tickets may be purchased at the door or online. All the exhibits are indoors in climate-controlled buildings with wheelchair access.

Ask about individual tours of Reptilandia by special zoo ambassadors or group field trips that will include supervised sensory experiences and educational information. In addition, the zoo is planning to offer overnight kids camps soon.

Reptilandia-Reptile Lagoon, 1859 N US Hwy 281 Johnson City, Texas 737-217-4058