Alligators? In Pittston?

The word is out: alligators have invaded Pittston City.

But they’re only part of the amazing new exhibit the folks at The Pet Zone recently opened at 20 West Oak Street . “The Cave” is an all-inclusive reptile zoo and education center that is already packing in more than 50 people a weekend. With this year being the 25th anniversary of The Pet Zone’s opening, there’s a lot for the Pambianco family, who run one of the most fascinating businesses in town, to celebrate.

In August of 1985, William Pambianco Sr. opened the original Pet Zone store on Main Street, and specialized in fish and birds. His son, Will Jr., is now an integral part of the Pet Zone and it’s Will Jr. that brought reptiles into the picture.

“It started with bearded dragons when I was seven years old and it’s grown from there,” Will said.

Young William not only began taking care of reptiles, but he began studying them in great detail. “I’ve read every book on reptiles,” he says and produces a behemoth book on the latest techniques in reptile surgery. “I just finished that.”

He’s become so knowledgeable and so well known in the field that it’s not uncommon for veterinarians from such diverse places as Louisiana, California, and Florida to call and ask him for advice on how to treat reptiles brought to them.

It was a friendship struck between William and Jason Bartoli in 2005 that produced the idea of starting a reptile zoo in downtown Pittston.

“His fascination with my knowledge was the real spark of the idea,” Will explains, “and with my dad’s backing, it took off.”

Once partnered with Jason, the two reptile enthusiasts (along with fellow Pet Zone employee Megan Marsh) began to construct “The Cave” in the lower level of the pet store.

Before construction, research had to be conducted. The walls of the exhibit were all made by hand using cement, and creatively finished to give the look of stone. The team had to wrestle with the problems of keeping the humidity comfortable for the alligators without fogging the windows of their enclosure, which was also specially built for “The Cave.” Most importantly, each enclosure was made to look and feel as close to a natural habitat for the creatures inside as possible, allowing the animals to behave naturally and live comfortably.

It’s been 15 months since their construction began, and the impressive exhibit that is now open is only phase one of the entire project. In another 8 months, the second phase will open with even more animals, and a third and final part of the exhibit will be opened sometime after that. By construction’s end, you will be able to see more reptiles at The Pet Zone than you will at The Philadelphia Zoo, Will Jr. said.

But seeing the reptiles is only a small part of the experience. For Will, the real importance of “The Cave” is in education.

“We want to make it ‘hands on’ so you can see them, touch them, and learn about them,” said Pambianco. “It’s about providing more interaction and more entertainment than you could ever get at a zoo.”

A reptile show with Will, Jason, and Megan is engaging, insightful, and a lot of fun. Children are wide-eyed and wildly enthusiastic about all that is happening around them as a great variety of lizards and snakes are brought out for them to touch and hold. And inevitably, the adults in the room end up being just as excited as the kids.

All this personal interaction allows for a much more in-depth experience than a short glance at reptiles would provide in a major zoo. What really makes a reptile show at “The Cave” stand out is how knowledgeable these young experts really are. Both kids and adults ask lots of questions, and the staff can answer them all. So a visitor not only gets to see, feel, and hold reptiles, but they also learn a great deal about how they live, their adaptations to their environments, and their role in various ecosystems.

The exhibit is home to many interesting reptiles, and the finished setup promises to display more than 100. The stars of the show right now are undoubtedly the two half-grown American alligators. When they are fully-grown in a few years time, they could reach anywhere from 9 to 12 feet long.

“There are only two species of venomous lizards in the world and we have both,” Will says. He’s referring to Gila Monsters and Bearded Lizards, which are also part of the growing reptile family at the Pet Zone.

A number of snakes are also making their way to the lower level of the pet store, including a rhinoceros viper, the only snake to produce both neurotoxins and hemotoxins in its venom. Luckily, this is one scaly friend who stays in her cage during the reptile shows.

“The Cave” is also home to an enormous black-throated monitor, who basks with an almost prehistoric-like aura in his enclosure, conserving energy for his next feeding.

For the team of friends at the Pet Zone, the success of their new venture is extremely exciting. “I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” said Will. “I can’t sit behind a desk. This is such a rewarding experience because every day is completely different.”

While continuing his tradition of giving reptile shows to the public at fairs and trade shows, Will is inviting many area groups to consider bringing their members to “The Cave” for some hands-on learning in a brand new setting. “This is a great venue for education so we want to reach out to schools, any public groups, boy scouts and girl scouts organizations, and anyone interested in having a different kind of birthday party,” said Pambianco. “It’s about the atmosphere, not just some cages; this is an experience.”

If you want to experience the new Reptile Zoo and Education Center, “The Cave” is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with a Reptile Show at 5 p.m.); Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with a Reptile Show at 2:30 p.m. and an Alligator Feeding and Reptile Show at 5 p.m.); and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (with a Reptile Show at 12 p.m.).

Admission to “The Cave” is $5 and the space is open for large groups and parties by appointment by calling 655-3260.