Waylon Krush returned from his three-year U.S. Army deployment to Germany with a newfound passion and vision. “I fell in love with Germany,” he admits. “I wanted to bring a real Oktoberfest here.” So Krush bought the 7 acres once occupied by Jungleland Zoo in Kissimmee and began to develop a family-friendly, German-themed entertainment complex.

Krush Brau Park will feature three areas. The outdoor tented area, or Festplatz, will host German festivals including Oktoberfest and a Christmas festival known as Weihnachten Fest—both of which had kickoffs in 2021—a New Year’s festival called Silvester Fest, a spring festival known as Frühlingsfest, and an autumn festival known as HerbstFest.

The second area will feature a biergarten restaurant featuring authentic German food, as well as homemade and imported German beer. But behind that, visitors will encounter food, games and even animals—animatronic ones, that is—from various countries.

“We’ll also celebrate those countries’ different events,” Krush says, describing the area as a meld between Boxi Park Lake Nona–with its shipping container buildings—and Epcot. Thirteen shipping-container venues are slated for opening.

“Everything will be themed, and you’ll be able to experience different countries all around the zoo,” says Krush, who co-owns Krush Acquisitions with his wife, Katie. The veteran says the complex is attracting the attention of the area’s large and varied community of European expats.

The animatronic animals will be “an ode to the old zoo” but with a new facade, he explains. “We’ve taken the zoo and put a Bavarian front on it. When you drive up to it, it will look as if you’re in Bavaria, Germany.” Families can also enjoy playgrounds and an outdoor theater.

Krush expects the first phase to open this spring. Meanwhile, the complex will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during festivals. When fully developed, the complex will be open seven days a week with no admission charge except for ticketed events such as concerts featuring popular bands, or activities such as gingerbread decorating events for kids.

“We decided we wanted to have something kids and their families would enjoy,” Krush says.