A Total Loss: Fire Destroys Home of Luray Zoo Owners
LURAY, Va. — A Thursday afternoon fire destroyed the home of a local family known for operating a popular animal rescue facility.
According to the Luray Fire Department (LFD), the Page County Emergency Communications Center received a call shortly after 4 p.m. on December 11, 2025 reporting a structure fire in the 1500 block of Egypt Bend Road.
Crews arrived to find the residence heavily involved.
The LFD responded with approximately 15 firefighters, an engine and two tankers. The Stanley Volunteer Fire Department also assisted, providing an additional tanker.
The fire was brought under control in about one hour, and crews remained on scene for nearly six hours to ensure full containment and extinguishment.
No injuries were reported. The home, however, was deemed a total loss.
The residence belongs to Mark and Christine Kilby, who have owned and operated the Luray Zoo – A Rescue Zoo since 1996.
The facility houses more than 60 exhibits of reptiles, several exhibits of rescued birds and mammals, and a petting zoo.
According to its website, the zoo is home to retired zoo animal ambassadors, retired zoo animals from conservation programs, unwanted pets, abused animals and confiscations.
It’s a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
Late Thursday, the Kilbys took to Facebook to announce there would be a delay in Friday zoo operations because of the house fire. In the post, the couple noted that they lost not only their home, but everything within it.
After responses poured in from concerned community members asking how they could help, the family once again posted on Friday:
We want to thank everyone for their love and prayers during this difficult time for our family.
We want to thank the fire fighters and first responders that fought so hard to try to save our home last night and this morning.
Last night has not sunk in all the way and we are still is shock.
Seeing your home, your memories turned to a pile of ash and rubble … it just seems like a nightmare we can’t wake up from.
We are blessed and lucky to still have our family.
Our kids are grieving not only the loss of their home but of their pets.
Our youngest daughter Naja lost her bunnies and is completely devastated.
Our two daughters Nala and Amira lost their best friends, their bearded dragon Mr. Steve and their geckos Mr. Smiley and Voldemort.
If anyone has any clothes they can donate for our kids, it would be more than appreciated. Drop off would be at the Zoo.
Again we can not thank everyone enough for the love they have showed us during this terrible time. We are just going to take one day at a time.
Nala is 10 years old and wears a kids large 10/12
Amira is 7 years old and wears a girls medium/7
Naja is about to turn 6 on December 21 and wears a girls small/6
Little Edward is 3 years old and wears a 3T
Little Harry just turned 2 on December 6 and wears a 2T.
The Zoo is located at 1087 US-211, Luray, VA 22835. Monetary donations may be sent via check or via PayPal (lurayrescuezoo@outlook.com) or Venmo (@ChristineKilby).
Local scanner traffic indicated a rekindling of the fire on Friday morning. No additional information was provided by local emergency organizations.
The cause of the initial fire is believed to be accidental.