Our special needs son, age 6, loves animals. We found this sanctuary online when looking for places to take him to. It quickly became our favorite place, we visit once a week. Every time we drive through those gates, it feels like stepping into a different rhythm -- slower, softer, and full of heart. There's a calm that settles over me the moment I arrive, like all the noise of everyday life fades into the background. For a few precious hours, time seems to stand still. We spend our visits surrounded by the most amazing animals, each with their own story and personality. The people who care for them are just as special -- kind, genuine, and truly devoted to every creature on the farm. They always greet us by name, take time to chat, and make our son feel like part of their family. He loves to feed the sheep, who are so patient and gentle with him. I love learning each animal's name and backstory -- it makes every visit feel personal and deeply grounding. If you ever feel weighed down by the world, this is the place to go. It's impossible to leave without feeling lighter, calmer, and a little more connected to what really matters. And as a bonus -- they grow the most delicious fruits and vegetables right there on the farm, fresh from the earth that gives this place so much life. If you are looking for a special place to take your family, I highly recommend it! read more

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This is the most special place I have ever been to, I've never been more happy. If you love animals you have to check this place out! First off it's huge and you are allowed to feed and pet ALL of the animals! They have so much to see! Cows, pigs, camels, and even a zebra!! I never thought in my life I'd pet a zebra, this experience is just incredible! They even have turkeys and peacocks that roam and even came up to us for some food! All of the animals were super friendly and adorable. We even saw the smallest mini horse ever that was so cute. There are also cats that roam the property and one of them followed us throughout the whole place. Can you ask for a cuter tour guide?! They also grow their own produce and sell eggs. We picked and cut our own pumpkins and left with some duck eggs as well! Overall this was just the most fun experience I've ever had. I regret not purchasing the membership because ever since I left I keep thinking about how bad I want to come back! This is definitely a hidden gem and a fantastic experience. read more

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If you love animals and want to support a truly heart-driven cause, Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm is the place to visit. I've been in touch with Agnes, the owner and operator, for a few years now and she does it all. It's inspiring to see how much love and effort goes into keeping this sanctuary running for the animals who call it home. They offer family-friendly daily tours where you can feed the animals directly- horses, pigs, bison, goats, ducks, tortoises, camels, bulls, and more! Pro tip: go early in the morning before it gets too warm. Hours are 10 AM - 5 PM, 7 days a week (closed Thanksgiving & Christmas). They also host birthday parties and private events. I actually celebrated my 37th birthday here with about 25 friends and kids. We got a private tour with Agnes herself, and the best part? Our donation was tax-deductible since they're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It felt meaningful knowing our celebration helped sustain the farm's mission. To help fund operations, they also grow their own vegetables, herbs, greens, and squash onsite. You can text 866-612-6520 to get on their weekly veggie list and orders can be picked up at the farm or Wednesdays at Kohl's in Santee. They even offer volunteer opportunities year-round. We brought my 16-year-old nephew once to help clean the goat area. It was a hands-on, memorable experience to give back and see the difference a few hours can make. If you're looking for something wholesome, local, and purposeful......this is it!! read more

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Fantastic staff and kids loved the animals adorable your doing it for the right cost.

Come bring the whole family. For locals this is a hidden gem. The cost for two adults and one child came to around $120 with two buckets of hay and one cup of seed. We loved the experience of feeding the animals and being outdoors. If you're lucky they may have fresh ostrich eggs for sale. I got one and made the yummiest frittata, fluffiest fried rice and the creamiest silkiest flan. 10/10 must try once. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ostrich eggs for sale - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

Being members here is such a gift. It's a warm, peaceful sanctuary that's become our favorite escape. It is perfectly scaled for my 3-year-old (fresh air, safe, and engaging) I love the calm environment and the meaningful connection to the animals. A true gem for families. We visit at least once a month and it's totally worth the drive from LA. read more

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It is a nice place to visit to get a "non touristy" animal experience. Plenty of: peacocks, cows, horses, pigs, ostriches, goats, a zebra, etc. The staff members were all very friendly. This was our first visit to the Alpine, Ca. area - it was a bit of a drive and way off the standard path. The admission did seem a bit pricey but we understand that such places are expensive to run (postings throughout the area indicate that it costs $1,700/day to operate). read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Feeding the horses! - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

Such a great hidden gem in San Diego! I had fun feeding all the animals that I could (horses, goats, llamas, camels, cows and pigs). It's $5 for each bucket of hay. I got 2 and that was plenty I think for how many animals were wanting some. They also have add on options as well so you can get up close with some of the animals. Ended up buying the year membership so I can come back and bring friends. You can bring food and eat next to the animals or they have 2 little picnic areas. They also have some snacks and food items there for sale. Parking is free and a plenty. read more

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Our visit to this farm truly made me so sad for the animals. It seems obvious to anyone seeing these animals that they are not being cared for properly. Some even look as though they are starving, which is crazy given just how pricey it is to go here. One of the alpacas looked like it had mange, and there were absolutely massive animals like cows that are stuck in the tiniest of pens. The bison looked super sick as well. I know this is a sanctuary, but the general air was animal suffering. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - At least the camel looked happy :( - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

I love going here very much because I love a;l the animals. My favorite ones are the Watusis. I had a wonderful time today. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Lazy Watusis. - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

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Loved this experience! Loved the animals. Paid an additional fee for the up close encounter with the bison. So worth it. We got two buckets more than enough to feed the animals. Space is huge. Self guided. Only snacks on site for sale. Support this sanctuary as it's for a good cause. Had a great time. Parking at no cost on site read more

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First off, the people who work there are very friendly. The farm is well taken care of with a lot of farm animals that you can pet and feed. read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Moooo! - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

We booked a behind the scenes experience with the owner and now we are hooked! We will be coming back here for certain. The animals are well taken care of and the property is so beautiful. read more

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Such a hidden gem, and I'm so glad we stumbled upon it because this was a wonderful experience! Any animal lover will have the time of their lives here! - PARKING - There's an open dirt lot, tons of space! When you first drive in, there's a gate that will be opened by the attendants. I believe there's a call button but they usually see cars coming through. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - The front desk/main building before heading in is where everyone will need to sign a waiver and watch educational videos to understand how to feed the animals and things to watch out for. The ladies were very kind and friendly! We decided to buy buckets of hay and seed to feed the animals as well. There's not much shade throughout the sanctuary so be sure to bring a hat, wear sunscreen, and bring sunglasses! I would also recommend wearing comfortable, closed toed shoes as there are some rocky/dusty areas! - EXPERIENCE - I had such a fun time here, and would love to come back again! You don't get to see a lot of these animals just anywhere, and to also be able to feed them is crazy! I loved the Zebra the most, but honestly all the animals here are so beautiful and it just made me happy knowing they are all being taken care of. - OVERALL - Definitely a fun activity to do with friends or family during a weekend! read more

Came here recently for a friend's birthday and we had a great time with all the cute animals! We first ate a quick lunch at some tables outside near the parking lot while we filled out the waivers. Then we went over to the front desk to purchase our tickets and go over safety. You can purchase buckets of hay and cups of seeds from them if you'd like to feed the animals. The seeds are for the birds like the emus, peacocks, geese, ducks, and chickens. The hay can be used for most of the other animals with the exception of a select few which they explain should not be fed due to choking risk (these animals have signs on their enclosures too to remind you). The hay buckets are huge and I think you can get by with one bucket for every 2 people. We had so much hay left over and had to make multiple rounds around the sanctuary to use it all up. All the animals were so cute and we loved being able to pet and feed some of them. Staff was friendly as well and whenever there happened to be staff nearby when we were looking at an animal, they would come over to tell us the animal's name and some quick background. Very little shade when you're going around seeing the animals, so just something to be aware of. If it's a hot or sunny day I'd probably recommend wearing a hat and sunscreen. Highly recommend for all animal lovers! They even have dogs and cats on the premise! 10% off for Yelp check-in! read more

My teen, toddler, husband, and I LOVED it here! 5-dollar buckets of hay and 2-dollar seeds to feed the animals, AND you can pet them! They give a guide on how to pet them via video before you walk around. You can purchase souvenirs, snacks, and fresh produce (herbs too). There is ample seating throughout to stop and eat. We came early in April, and it got a little too toasty. Bring your sunscreen. We fell in love with one of three cats we saw as one got comfy on our stroller, making our day since we missed our cats. There was even a cow that stole my heart. She was super gentle when being fed the hay. We plan to come here again on our next San Diego trip as it costs much less than the zoo! read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - CUTE art!! - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

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I love this place! My friends and I went here to celebrate a friend's birthday and we had such a fun time!Thankfully we decided to get there around 10:30am before it got too warm. We went on a Saturday and it didn't seem too packed at that time. After parking in the dirt lot, everyone fills out a waiver and buys tickets at the front desk where two lovely ladies talk about the sanctuary. We then watched a safety video on the TV on how to properly feed the animals, how to watch out for certain fences, and other safety reminders. You can buy a bucket of hay and cup of seeds to feed the animals and I'm so glad we did-- this was the most fun part. I absolutely loved how you can get close up interactions with the animals! You can really tell the staff here love and respect all their animals. The property is pretty big so make sure to bring some comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirt on. I had a blast and I can't wait to come back! read more

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm - Ranches Near Me - Alpine, California

What a hidden gem! The most magical experience, It's a must visit if you love nature and animals!! The animals, the land and the care givers are incredible! The sweetest retreat for animals ever!!! I am so grateful for everyone that created and care for this animal and nature retreat read more

Words cannot begin to describe how incredible the San Diego Animal Sanctuary is! My best friend and I are huge animal lovers and had the honor of being given a private tour by the owner herself, Agnes. Agnes was a wonderful host who told us about her dream of opening this place up - a place where families could come to spend quality time together and happy animals can live freely without fear or stress. (brb crying!) Agnes showed us around the barn where we met several rescues who have been given a second chance at life (like the adorable blind alpaca "Sherman"). We were also able to meet gorgeous horses, tortoises, emu, goats, chickens, mini donkeys, pigs, dogs, cats, & more throughout the entire 20 acre property. You can tell these animals are all so happy and loved to the fullest extent! Did I mention we got to feed an OSTRICH, kiss a BUFFALO, and admire a ZEBRA up close? We also explored their gorgeous garden where they have tons of fresh produce you can purchase and also a wonderful PUMPKIN PATCH. P.S. this is a perfect fall activity! If you're looking for a once in a lifetime experience that is also helping out an amazing cause, look no further! read more

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we had such a fun and wonderful experience on our visit to the Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm. Will definitely get another food bucket next time to make sure we don't run out feeding all the animals as the grounds are huge! read more

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What an awesome place for a school trip or a family outing on a Sunday drive into the mountains! The farm staff were incredibly friendly, and it was great fun to feed the adorable animals, from pigs to chickens, and alpacas to emus, and more. Everything was clean, orderly, and well-managed. Fun animals in a beautiful setting. read more

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The best animal sanctuary I've ever had the pleasure to experience! I've been multiple times over the last few years and always had the best time bringing along loved ones of all ages. I love that they give the option to purchase a bucket of hay to feed the animals around the sanctuary! It makes the experience so much more amazing. They also sell their own produce! Thank you for the wonderful experiences read more

I watch the wind rustle the leaves in the trees. It was a beautiful drive to this rural part of Alpine. Loved seeing the mountains and the greenery. Admission to the Children's Retreat was $38 for the day or $149 for the year. After an afternoon here we chose the year membership. We purchased 2 buckets of fresh cut barley. There are tons of cute animals to feed and pet. You will want 4 buckets if you want to feed something to all the animals in the retreat. Some highlights of my afternoon. Watching the tortoise climb up the fence to eat so I could get a good look at the bottom of his shell. It was cool seeing how happy he was to eat some barley. Outsmarting the black horse that was hogging the food. I drew him away from the other horses with some barley while Maggie fed the other horses. Feeding the baby horse in the barn. Watching the baby pigs and mom in the barn. Checking out the zebras and camels. This place reminds me of the Children's Zoo when I was a kid. I had a great time feeding ice cream cones to goats. As the day draws to a close I sit and listen to the sound of the wind rustling the leaves in the trees. We have been members for a year now. Each visit has been a unique experience. We have visited during a heat wave and during a fall thunderstorm. I've seen the Easter bunny and a pumpkin field. Staff and owner are nice and helpful. This is one of our favorite places to visit in the world. Photos posted at: https://www.hungryones.com/2022/10/childrens-nature-retreat/ "Every experience is a form of exploration" Ansel Adams read more

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Stumbled upon this place through Yelp. Took my preteen son and teenage daughter here last week. We all absolutely enjoyed everything about this place. The layout, animals, and the intimacy/close up with animals. It gets a bit pricey if you add on up close personal add ons. Or you can purchase bucket feeds and walk around which is just as nice. The ladies working the front were super friendly and informative. I also purchased some organic veggies which were delicious. We will be back, if you haven't visited yet.. go it's worth the drive! read more

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We traveled to the animal sanctuary on a Sunday morning. It was a bit of a drive, but worth it! They give 10% teacher discounts, which was greatly appreciated! The staff were friendly and welcoming. We entered and the staff allowed us to touch a tortoise and told us about them. She then instructed us about the rules and shared with my 3 1/2 year old son how to feed the animals. This was very helpful! Afterwards, we were given a map of the facilities and went on our way. We had a wonderful time exploring for about an hour and a half. As we explored, every so often a staff member that was caring for her animals would tell us their names and a bit about them, which was nice. You can book a tour with a staff member for more money, but we chose the self-guided route. They have zebras, camels, cows, horses, pigs, alpacas, llamas, chickens, peacocks, tortoises, and more! It was a neat place and we'd love to come back and support this sanctuary! read more

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This place is not just for children, it's for everyone who adores animals! Upon arriving I was a tiny bit worried they'd turn me away with no kids in sight. After that, I was relieved to be welcomed with just the two of us. The Setup. Be prepared for walking a lot or a little if that's your preference. The property is about 20 acres. Walking paths are dirt with some gravel in places. Inside areas are cement paths. They have plenty of benches to sit on (with shade trees), restrooms, gift shop with beverages and snacks. A colorful site map is given to everyone. What's great about the Nature Retreat. The unique set up geared towards visitors feeding the animals. You get your very own bucket (for $5.00) filled with barley grown on the premises. I highly recommend doing this as the animals gravitate towards you resulting in a delightful experience. Each animal is very gentle taking the barley from you. Before your set free to roam, a short informative video explains the correct feeding process to avoid any accidentally bit fingers. Why you should be a Member. They are a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of all who visit & providing support (education access) to families in West Africa. We decided to become members and I'm so looking forward to returning again and again. My favorite animal? Thor the tortoise. I just wanted to give him my whole bucket of barley so I could watch him munch away. Animal watching. While sitting on one of the many benches with shade I was able to observe some fascinating behavior. The Friesian horses possess just exquisite beauty and cleverness. One likes to cut in front of the other to be first in the food line, however after some time he changed his tune and waited for his fellow horses to eat first. I can't wait for the baby pigs to grow out of their heat light so I can watch them run around and play. They were just so adorable napping. During my admiration of the handsome bull, he gently sniffed my hand before slowly eating the barely. After feeding a goat she decided to quickly kiss my hand, showing me some love. The camel seemed to pose for his pictures, while being his mellow self. The bison followed me along the fence line while I slowly walked. He was not interested in my bucket. However he seemed to like standing next to me, proving that my company was appreciated. A very memorable day. read more

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Absolutely loved my experience here! I came with my mom, husband, and toddler for my birthday, and it was an amazing experience for all of us! It was so fun interacting with the animals! You can feed them hay and a seed mixture, as well as pet them and give them love and affection! It was so cute how much the sheep loved to get pets and head scratches from us! They are so affectionate - it's adorable! One of the team members let my mom hold a baby tortoise, and she was in heaven! She really enjoyed getting to hold the sweet little baby, and we took the best pictures! My toddler was so excited to see all the different animals. Her favorites were the turkey, the zebra, the chickens, the tortoise, and the cats. She was running around giggling with so much joy, pointing to the animals and naming them! It was so precious and so memorable. The space is so calming and serene, and the crisp air combined with the sweet, happy animals are complete bliss! I was surprised how inexpensive it was, and I loved how the money we spent visiting the animals goes towards helping save their lives. This is truly a place you have to visit! Fun for the whole family of all ages! read more

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This place is an overpriced 10 minute stroll through a number of simple animal enclosures with no conservation or educational material provided. It's a petting zoo without the petting. We were literally done in 10 minutes. Not worth the half hour drive off the freeway. read more

Great place to visit but bit of a drive but it's worth it! They have buckets of food you can buy to feed the animals. Recommend packing a picnic and truly enjoying time outdoors under one of their trees! Big property with lots to see! We will be back once the weather cools down again. read more

I have been wanting to visit for years. There is nothing more satisfying and wholesome than supporting animals and those who dedicate their lives to rescue. The whole experience fostered feelings of empathy, tolerance, and respect. This is a perfect place to instill these attributes in young people. The weather was perfect. No dust. Our first experience was with the sweetest peacocks He got up and ran over to us. You can't feed any bird species, including the ostriches, hens, mallards, crows, blackbirds, turkeys, roosters, and peacocks. You also may not feed the mini ponies. They are watching their figures. Before entering the sanctuary, you are shown an informative video about how to safely feed the animals. They also touch on the heights of the fences if they are over 6 feet? Don't place your hands over to feed such for the ostriches, bison, or camels. Never place fingers, wrists, forearms, or arms between the holes in the fences. They also show you how to pet the zebras through the fence. Don't take selfies with the camels. Don't race the zebras. They have food and drinks for sale. They also have a cute gift shop area. They also have ice cream! You can rent red radio flyer style wagons for those with toddlers. The property is tatefully decorated for spooky season There is a beautiful garden with fresh greens. They cut us some long, fresh stems of PERFECT Kale for four dollars. We also purchased the "spicy greens" for 3 dollars. We bought their raw honey. We made a salad for dinner last night and OMG! They had a large pumpkin patch. You can purchase a pumpkin. Instead of purchasing them from big box stores. It brings awareness to youngsters about sustainability and environmental awareness. Who knows, it may spark a passion in some for gardening. We were followed by these barn kitties. We went into the Olive maze. The kitty followed us, and we sat down and hung out with the kitty. The pigs and ducks were so cool. We also met their gorgeous corn snake. This was so important. It shows kids that snakes and other reptiles deserve their love and respect, just like their furry friends. We met some sassy alpacas and llamas. I wish we got pics. We were so caught in the moment that we forgot to document. The same goes for the hilarious goats, regal horses, massive steers, and sweet cows. I had never touched a sheep before. There was this playful kid (goat) that just had to get all our attention. The feed goes so fast. But so worth it! read more

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My boyfriend took me here for my birthday last weekend and we had so much fun! You have the option to buy some hay and seeds when you arrive for a few dollars (do it!) and then you can walk around the farm at your own pace, feeding & enjoying watching the animals. They have all the regular farm animals, plus some really fun ones like zebras & camels. All animals seem well cared for, staff/volunteers were very friendly, and the proceeds from your visit go to caring for the animals. This is a must-visit if you live anywhere in San Diego! read more

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Just the most amazing dream come true. This place is so well kept and the animals seem very happy. I sooo wish I could live here! Home grown vegetables help feed the animals. Open 363 days of the year, a perfect place to bring children. I wish there was more signage about the residents but I would come back and pay for a tour. Staff nice. read more

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Due to the covid 19 pandemic we have been very cautious about going out especially with the kids. We always try and find outdoor family friendly places that are not too crowded or places that are reservation based only. If you are looking for a laid back open place that is family friendly then this is the place to come. We originally wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo but was very concerned about the number of people that could possibly be there and the level of cleanliness. I found this place randomly on Yelp and based on the reviews and website I knew this was the best place to go as an alternative to the zoo. A major plus of this place is that the kids are able to interact with the animals by feeding them. The retreat isn't that big which is perfect for families traveling with toddlers and babies. It's just the right size that once you are done seeing all the animals the kids are tired and ready to nap. The employees or owners are super nice and friendly. You are able to bring in your own food which is a plus. The retreat is super clean, I didnt see not one piece of trash anywhere on the ground. They have a small snack shack where you can purchase little snacks. Beware of the Ostriches, they are very aggressive and will snap during feeding. Zebras, horses, pigs, goats were very interactive today. Overall great place to go during this pandemic. read more

These are people that truly care for their animals. A labor of love. It is worths scheduling a visit to this sanctuary. read more

A fun place to visit and see lots of animals up close. Not as built up like the San Diego Zoo, and more dirt roads, which most people will see as more natural. To get there is a nice 8 mile drive through a safe mountain road. Have a meal before you get there, and bring a snack and water. You will want to spend around one to three hours there. Very well worth it! read more

This place is amazing, we did a behind the scenes tour, we saw all the animals and were able to pet some that were fine to do so. Where can you see Cats, Dogs, Camels, Donkeys, etc. all in the same place !!! Plus, pick up some fresh produce, home grown on the farm. Please go and visit, help support this place in any way you can. Alison and Lori read more

We went yesterday and absolutely loved it! We met the owner and founder who is super nice and has so much love for the animals, Agnes Barrelet. As she walked by animals, you could see their love for her. It's like they know they were saved. The animals are well kept, the facilities are clean, the staff is friendly and go out of the way to make sure you have a fantastic time. Moving to San Diego in 2015 we were looking for a farm and this is it! We enjoyed seeing all the animals. On the way out, we bought some fresh organic vegetables ($3 a bunch) and the best hand moisturizer ever from the gift store. Location is easy to find straight from interstate 8 to Tavern rd. This is a family friendly place and definitely worth the trip. Will go back again real soon. read more

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I Googled petting zoos in Alpine and this place came up, so I decided to take my granddaughter, who absolutely loves animals, for a visit. Unfortunately, we were quite disappointed. There were no animals available to actually pet, which was the whole point of going. We did buy some hay and seeds to feed the animals in their enclosures, but none of them seemed tame. In fact, there were warning signs everywhere about the animals potentially kicking or biting. The website had advertised a zebra, buffalo, ostriches, and camels--animals we were excited to see--but none of them were there. Overall, it ended up being an expensive outing for the mediocre experience we had. I am giving 2 stars because the ladies who run the place were extremely engaging, gracious and friendly and the animals look well cared for. read more

This place is great!! Such a personalized and intimate experience with animals on private zoo park like setting... the staff is so nice, genuine and helpful It's a beautiful retreat setting with very unique animals that you can truly get up close to the animals, feed them and interact with them. You are given a bucket for each person with fresh barley to feed the animals and you are free to walk the property and spend time as much as you want wherever. There are clean bathrooms, chairs to sit on, shade, walk ways and picnic tables. This place is truly great... worth the short drive and a true unforgettable experience... Without the crowds at the zoo read more

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****UPDATED REVIEW - SECOND VISIT **** January 2021- We came out again for a second time to get a more in-depth experience since we enjoyed our shorter visit so much last time. I went ahead and purchased the more expensive 'Keeper For a Day' ticket for my 7 year old daughter as a Christmas present. It was 1000 percent worth it! We enjoyed ourselves so much that we spent an entire day at the retreat from 9am until 5pm! No where else in San Diego county can you and your child stand next to and pet a mama and brand new baby alpaca (named pumpkin- born on Thanksgiving!) or lay on a the absolutely most cuddly giant Great Pyrenes Dogs and give them a hug that they are begging for! Or watch goats chase a golf cart right into their pen, feed pigs and giant tortoise - I could type out an novel here but in a nutshell this is a once in a lifetime experience, you will guaranteed not find this anywhere else! All the staff and volunteers went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and informed. They were all so knowledgeable, friendly, great with my little girl and just plain kind folks! The Keeper for a day ticket is a MUST DO, CAN DO, HAVE TO DO experience for any animal lover of ALL AGES! read more

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