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HISTORY OF HOLLYWILD
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The history of Hollywild harkens back to the 1940’s when the Meeks family lived in a rural area of Spartanburg County. They regularly tended to farm animals and found a lot of enjoyment in doing so. They had goats and cows, chickens and horses. Their interest in animals soon led them to expand their assortment of wildlife, so squirrels, opossums, foxes and species indigenous to South Carolina entered the picture in the Meeks’ household.
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The youngest son of four children, David, had a great affinity for animals and a God-given talent to handle them and understand their individual languages and behaviors. He spent much of his time enjoying their company. The more he learned, the more he was eager to learn. By happenstance, when he went off to college, a student in his dorm had a pet monkey that was totally out of control. (Not to mention, not allowed to be in college!) He had trashed the dorm room. David agreed to clean up the chaotic room in exchange for the monkey. “Hubert” came to represent the beginning of David’s unspoken childhood dream of one day owning a zoo, and this latest addition fuelled the expansion of his wild backyard. Soon he had an ocelot, and then he welcomed a cougar kitten. Wolves entered the picture shortly thereafter. Species by species, their backyard menagerie continued to expand. Before long, total strangers drove up to the Meeks’ back yard, curious to see what new animals may have arrived. The Meeks family began spending a lot of their working hours entertaining strangers so they thought they would charge admission to discourage people from visiting every weekend. However, the plan didn’t work out as intended. They interpreted the fee of admission not as a deterrent but rather an invitation.
Father and son quickly realized they needed to find a more structured way to share their love of animals with others. In 1970, they opened their zoo and called it “M&M Zoo.” Deer, swans, monkeys, capybaras, tigers, pheasants, lions, ducks, bears and otters covered the grounds in some disarray. Even Donna, an Asian elephant, found a special place in the heart of the small rural, rustic zoo. However, there was always a greater vision for this wild back yard. David and his wife bought his father’s portion of the animal menagerie and property and set their sights on higher goals. In 1985, bulldozers moved in and began the process of essentially starting over. A lot of changes were needed! Endless construction began with the goal of achieving a balance between animal care and safe access for the public to enjoy the animals in residence.
David and his talent in working with wild animals were soon discovered by Hollywood. Cinema Animal Talent was founded to meet the calls asking for him to provide animals for the movies. To date, more than 65 feature films have called on David Meeks to provide such talent. Countless commercials, photographs, brochures, art exhibits, special events, conferences, private parties and Nativities have all benefited from hand-reared animals that easily adjust to changing environments. “Lights, camera, action” is a call they know well. Best known became the Lincoln Mercury Lynx and Cougar commercials of the 1970s, which aired across the nation and propelled this venture into a great deal of success. The talent agency provided the financial backbone to carry on David’s dream of building a zoo. A new name was formulated to recognize all the wild animals that found their way into the spotlights of Hollywood: “Hollywild.”
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In 1999, the operation of Hollywild became a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization in order for the park to meet new challenges and opportunities. Many programs were added and the park was greatly expanded. At its peak, the park welcomed 150,000 visitors per year and employed dozens of people, many of whom went on to become veterinarians or to further pursue animal related careers.
David Meeks retired in 2015. Shortly thereafter, David and his wife decided to refocus all their energies and time on enjoying and caring for the animals full time, with the assistance of a small staff. They began operating their facility as an animal Preserve with limited public access.
The Magic of Lights, (formerly the Holiday Lights Safari) Benefit, which for three decades has been a local family tradition, still serves as their annual fundraiser. This event is indispensable to ensure the well-being of the 350+ animals still in residence.
Periodically, the Meek’s grant access to the public through highly personalized animal experiences and by opening the preserve as a drive-through, while still maintaining their focus on animal care and enrichment, relishing the enjoyment of doing just that.
CINEMA ANIMAL TALENT – ANIMAL MOVIE STARS
Cinema Animal Talent is an agency specifically dedicated to providing rare and unusual animals for film productions, commercials and special events. Over 65 movie credits, countless commercials, and hundreds of special events have featured some of the animals who currently live at Hollywild Animal Preserve, or have lived here during the preserve’s history. David Meeks, founder of both Hollywild and Cinema Animal Talent, has met the needs of untold projects for over forty-five years, having even been called to serve as a "stunt double" appearing alongside some very special animals.
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“TANK” – WHITE RHINOCEROS
FEATURED IN:
Blue Cross / Blue Shield – commercials
Land Rover – national ad campaign
ZICAM – National TV Commercial campaign
Rhino Equipment - ad campaign
Valerie Schiff Photographer – Gallery show
The Black Panther Marvel Comics movie – model for ‘CGI” (computer generated images)
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ADDAX
FEATURED IN:
Geico “Night Vision Goggle” commercial
CAPUCHIN MONKEYS
(not currently in our collection)
FEATURED IN:
Order of the Black Eagle – movie
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking – movie
Monkey Shines – movie
Date with an Angel – movie
The Guyana Tragedy – movie
Moving Wars – TV series
NOTE: Hollywild provided the First Capuchin monkey used in the national Helping Hands program for paraplegics.
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ZEBRAS
FEATURED IN:
Legg’s Panty Hose – national print ad campaign
B-52’s Music Video – rock ‘n roll music video for MTV,
VH-1, etc.
Land Rover – national T.V. ad campaign
Chevrolet – national car commercial
Mazda Dealership – commercial
Valerie Shaff Photography – gallery portraits
The Jack and Kimberly Show - TV program
CHIMPANZEES
(not currently in our collection)
FEATURED IN:
Bankers Trust – T.V. commercial
WSPA TV’s Kidsizzle – locally produced children’s program Silver Fox – T.V. commercial
Louisiana Power and Light – T.V. commercial
Radio Station T.V. commercials – regional campaign promoting the morning jocks
Political TV campaigns
Radio station TV commercials – regional campaign promoting the morning jocks
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MACCAWS
FEATURED IN:
Samsonite Luggage – national T.V. ad campaign
Kemdura Paper – national print ad campaign
Order of the Black Eagle – movie
Date with and Angel – movie
The Jack and Kimberly Show – TV program
LYNX (Siberian, European, Caracal)
(Not currently in our collection)
FEATURED IN:
Mercury Lynx and LN7 – national T.V. ad campaigns
Great Cats Calendar
Minolta – print ad campaign
SIBERIAN TIGERS
FEATURED IN:
Man Hunter – movie
Betsy’s Wedding – movie
Reversal of Fortune – movie
Prince of Tides – movie
The Real McCoy – movie
Land Rover – national T.V. ad campaign
Valerie Shaff Photography – gallery portraits
WHITE TIGERS
FEATURED IN:
Akon – Cribs - TV program
Akon- special event
Lil Wayne – music video production
Special Events – live appearances
EUROPEAN BROWN BEARS
FEATURED IN:
A Breed Apart – movie
Date With An Angel – movie
Chevrolet Trucks – national ad campaign
North Carolina Lottery – commercial
AFRICAN LIONS
FEATURED IN:
Great Cats Calendar
Fidelity National Bank – commercial
Food Lion – commercial
Sharp TV – commercial
Konica Copiers – commercial
Konica Fax Machines – commercial
David Copperfield – special illusions
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NOTE: Chewy, a male lion born at Hollywild in 1991, was used by the Walt Disney artists as a model to help animate "Scar" a protagonist in “The Lion King” animated film.
LEOPARDS
FEATURED IN:
Great Cats Calendar
Kemdura Paper – print ad campaign
Leslie Advertising – promotional audiovisual
NFL Carolina Panthers – scoreboard and promotions
CAESAR – a gorgeous Black Panther (leopard) appeared in many NFL Carolina Panthers events.
COUGARS
FEATURED IN:
Lincoln – Mercury commercials – national as campaigns 1983 -1991
Date With An Angel – movie
Rescue 911 – T.V. program
Reversal of Fortune – movie
Last of the Mohicans – movie
Miracle on the Mountain – movie
Coca-Cola – commercial
HAMADRYAS BABOONS
FEATURED IN:
Numerous local promotions
The Masked Man and The Devil’s Gold – movie
Order of the Black Eagle – movie
“ALFONSO” – LEOPARD APPALOOSA HORSE
FEATURED IN:
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking – movie
Numerous promotional events
JAGUARS
FEATURED IN:
Marty Stouffer’s Wild America – T.V. Series on PBS
"PONGO” – ORANGUTAN
FEATURED IN:
Fisher Mazda – commercial
Jeff Foxworthy – CD cover
CAMELS
FEATURED IN:
Evangel Cathedral – Christmas play
Dixie Stampede – Christmas production in Myrtle Beach
Jerry Fallwell Ministries – Living Christmas Tree
A Return to Bethlehem – Spartanburg Methodist Church
Evangel Cathedral – Christmas play
Holston Creek Baptist Church – Bethlehem Walk
“Your Carolina” – local TV program
Mazda – TV commercials (Hendersonville, Columbia, Greenville)
The Jack and Kimberly Show – TV program
“DONNA” – ASIAN ELEPHANT
FEATURED IN:
Ryder Trucks – T.V. commercial
Blue Cross / Blue Shield – print ad campaign
Governor Carroll Campbell’s 1987 Inaugural parade
Land Rover – national T.V. ad campaign
Fatz Café – T.V. campaign
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DEER
NASCAR Hall of Fame – commercial
Gander Mountain Camouflage – commercial
Happy Campers – movie
The Stand – TV mini-series
Date with and Angel – movie
Verizon Wireless – TV commercial
Duke Power – commercial
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FILM CREDITS
A Breed Apart
Betsy’s Wedding
Blood Savage
Boy’s Life
Date with an Angel
Days of Thunder
Elvis has left the building
Everybody Wins
Flight of the Tigers
Golden Years
Happy Campers
Heavy Weights
Help at home live
Last of the Mohicans
Leader of the Band
Man Hunter
Maniacts
Monkey Shines
Never Say Goodbye
New York Undercover
Order of the Black Eagle
Paradise
Paris Trout
Prancer
Prince of Tides
Reuben, Reuben
Reversal of Fortune
Ripe
Rottweilers
The Big Chill
The Black Panther
The Masked Man and the Devil’s Gold
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
The Real McCoy
The Stand
They
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Contact Information:
Director David Meeks can be reached at
864-472-2039 (office)
or 864-316-9572 (cell)
should you have a need for animal talent.
2325 Hampton Road | Wellford, South Carolina 29385
© 2023 Hollywild Animal Preserve
Hollywild Animal Preserve is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.