The Little Ponderosa Zoo relies on its annual fundraiser festival to survive. Years ago, Jack and Judy Freeman, along with their daughter Charlie, started the zoo after rescuing animals in their own home. With their reliable zookeeper, Mr. Baker, the zoo has always been popular in town. However, when the local bank owner finds old documents revealing the zoo sits on a gold mine, he and the town Mayor, along with the Mayor's inept nephew, plot to steal the gold. They plan to exploit the annual festival to shut down the zoo and seize the treasure.