Recently, wildlife biologist and TV host Forrest Galante reviewed this project on his channel, and it brought back a ton of memories for our team. You can watch his full breakdown here: Jurassic Jake's terrarium review on YouTube.
His kind words and deep dive into the details made us incredibly proud of what went into this build from start to finish. So today, we wanted to tell the full story behind this unforgettable project.
A Jurassic habitat for a hockey family
The project came to us through Brad Stuart, retired NHL defenceman and Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. Brad's son Jake was a huge fan of Scaled, and his favourite episode of ours was the Jurassic Park inspired build.
Jake also loved hockey, naturally, so we came up with a concept that fused prehistoric jungle energy with NHL history. And not just any hockey history, but Brad's own career.
Throughout the enclosure, we embedded team pucks from every NHL organization Brad played with, creating a hidden “career timeline” inside the habitat. And of course, we couldn't leave out the big one: a miniature Stanley Cup, proudly featured as part of the design, commemorating Brad's 2008 championship run with Detroit.
All of this was built around the real star of the show: an epic new home for a panther chameleon.
The build
- Client
- Brad Stuart and his son Jake
- Animal
- Panther chameleon (Stanley)
- Theme
- Jurassic Park meets Brad's NHL career
- Details
- Pucks from every NHL team Brad played for, a miniature Stanley Cup
- Delivered
- January 2019, driven from Alberta to California
The build, and a road trip we'll never forget
Due to the Christmas holidays, and my less-than-ideal planning, we ended up needing to drive the entire enclosure from Alberta down to California.
As luck would have it, our schedule lined up perfectly with the January 2019 Pomona Reptile Super Show, which meant the crew, the build, and a long stretch of highway all came together for one epic winter road trip.
Hand-picking the chameleon
While at the show, we were able to choose Jake's future chameleon directly from Kammerflage Kreations, one of the most respected panther chameleon breeders in the world. This is where Stanley, named for the Cup, joined the family.
Meeting fans and signing autographs
We ran a Cornel's World booth at the Super Show, meeting countless families who loved Scaled. Taking photos, signing merch, and hearing how the show inspired kids (and adults!) was a reminder of how much the show meant to people.
A chance rockstar meeting
Chris and Tyrone even managed to snag merch and photos with Kerry King, legendary guitarist from Slayer and a fellow reptile fanatic. Only on a road trip like this does something that random, and awesome, happen.
Catching up with our producer
We also met up with Chris Kubek, our producer from Scaled. Catching up and reminiscing about past builds was the perfect addition to an already incredible trip.
Why this review means so much
For those who don't know him, Forrest Galante is a wildlife biologist, conservationist, and TV host best known for shows like Extinct or Alive. Having someone with his background take a deep look at Jurassic Jake's terrarium was a huge honour.
If you haven't watched his review yet, check it out here: Forrest Galante reviews Jurassic Jake's terrarium.
Behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo
One of the biggest bonuses of the trip was a full behind-the-scenes tour at the San Diego Zoo, thanks to a friend with connections to the animal care team. We were able to:
Go inside the Galápagos tortoise enclosure
Interact with the animals up close
Visit off-exhibit reptile areas
Learn from world-class keepers and conservation programs
The install
After the Super Show and zoo adventure, we arrived at the Stuarts' home to install the build. Seeing Jake's reaction, and Brad's, made every hour of driving worthwhile.
From the Jurassic theming to the NHL pucks to the Stanley Cup centrepiece, everything came together perfectly.
Las Vegas on the way home
As if the trip wasn't wild enough already, the drive home included a pit stop in Las Vegas. Even after days on the road, we squeezed in some unforgettable experiences:
Touring the famous Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM) facility, home of Animal Planet's Tanked, where we were shown around by The General
Exploring the Fremont Street Experience under the neon canopy
Getting tattoos on the Strip, because why not at that point?
By the end of it all, we had logged over 60 hours of driving. An epic road trip for the books, but definitely not one I'm eager to repeat anytime soon!
Why this build still stands out
Jurassic Jake's terrarium wasn't just a habitat. It was an adventure from the moment we accepted the project. It brought together:
A family who loved Scaled
A father's NHL legacy
A chameleon named after the Stanley Cup
A legendary road trip
A chance rockstar meeting
A private zoo tour
And the opportunity to create something truly meaningful
This build captured everything that makes Cornel's World what it is: creativity, craftsmanship, community, and a deep love for reptiles.
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