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Your membership fee helps the Farm provide daily care to our animals. The membership costs are paid after only 3 visits within the year. -
Your membership fee helps the Farm provide daily care to our animals. The membership costs are paid after only 3 visits within the year. -
Your membership fee helps the Farm provide daily care to our animals. The membership costs are paid after only 3 visits within the year. -
Your membership fee helps the Farm provide daily care to our animals. The membership costs are paid after only 3 visits within the year. -
Your membership fee helps the Farm provide daily care to our animals. The membership costs are paid after only 3 visits within the year.
Annual Membership
Hours of Operation: 10 am – 5 pm
We are open to the public 7 days a week. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Google Rating
4.9
Based on 375 reviews
Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm™ by the Children's Nature Retreat Foundation
4.9
Sara Gabriele
03:32 18 Aug 25
Amazing hidden gem! It was so clean and peaceful and we were able to feed the animals and interact with them directly. We've never experienced anything like it. Highly recommend!
Steele Sacks
21:41 03 Aug 25
A well laid out sanctuary for visitors to come see rescued animals.. Goats, peacocks sheep, horses, zebra, ostrich, chickens, (a) bison, ponies, tortoise and more.. would highly recommend just going to visit and support this wonderful cause. Very sweet ladies up front helping out as well.
cate sacks
21:40 03 Aug 25
The love I felt from the staff to the animals was clear especially when u hear the stories and see how happy and well kept they are. If you want a super fun easy walk with the family, a lived one or your kids while being able to feel, pet and talk to the animals on your way around the winding paths then this is a must. Thankyou for all that u do for these animals . The amount it costs in feed, care and work is huge.
Alina Serrano
03:29 21 Jul 25
We’re a family of three and we’re always looking for local businesses to support and came across this business. Definitely worth the drive for the amount of animals they have. It is a little pricey ( spent about 120 for the three of us after entry fee and feed) but you can tell the animals are well taken care of which is what matters in the end. Would have loved for the entry fee to include some sort of experience but that’s all an additional cost.
nick natt
04:35 25 Jun 25
We loved it. The guided tour was awesome. You get to hear names and stories of all the animal's. Great time with kids!
Olivia InLove
22:00 24 Jun 25
This is the best place with pets, next time i want to take some delicious food and drinks with me, sit and watch these magnificent horses! and ostriches and peacocks are distinguished by their importance in the world!
Maria Gladwell
04:03 21 Jun 25
What a beautiful place! We got there around 12:30. The person on the front was very helpful and kind. We paid 85 for both me and my husband, and a bucket of food. We went in our own pace, saw all the animals and enjoyed. We left around 3pm. They have some snacks and produce from their own garden. Totally recommend it!
Chelsey Hinrichsen
00:57 02 Jun 25
It was so much fun to wander and explore to find new farm critters. Everyone who worked here was lovely, the grounds were immaculate (especially for a farm), and you can tell the animals are well cared for and loved. You won’t regret going.
Simone V
20:14 01 Jun 25
We recently went to the Animal Sanctuary for a field trip with our charter school and we all had a great time. There is a wide variety of animals that the kids got to see and learn about. We were also able to feed many of the animals. I definitely recommend it for a fun family or school trip.
Deborah Reichert
18:34 01 Jun 25
Really nice people running this animal sanctuary. Large area for animals to roam. Great educational tour and chance to interact with animals. Can get hot, bring snacks, water and lunch, there is a nice area to sit outside and eat in the shade.
Ben French
23:34 27 May 25
Absolutely amazing. U can feed all the animals hay and bird seed. Such a intimate little sanctuary. You know the money is going to animals. All staff super friendly
Jonathan
03:26 19 May 25
5 starsThe San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm is an absolute hidden gem! From the moment we walked in, it was clear how much love and care goes into every inch of this place. The animals are clearly well taken care of, and the staff is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about conservation and animal welfare.We got to meet goats, pigs, emus, alpacas—you name it! And each animal has a story, a personality, and a home that feels safe and happy. It’s heartwarming to see a place so dedicated to giving animals a second chance and educating visitors about compassion and care for all creatures.Huge thank you to everyone who works and volunteers here—you’re doing such important work and creating lifelong memories for families like mine. We’ll definitely be back (and bringing friends)!
Samantha
01:39 19 May 25
I can't say enough about this special place! My husband and I took our 17 month old and we all had a blast. My son loved being pulled in a red wagon and also running around and getting his hands all over things. There's so much to explore; his little heart was so full and had the best time ever. We purchased bird feed and hay and we all loved feeding and interacting with the many animals they have. We purchased fresh produce afterwards from their farm. We ended up becoming annual members and can't wait to return and continue to support this wonderful animal sanctuary with an amazing mission.
Brett St. Cyr
00:02 05 May 25
Fantastic afternoon here. Everyone is super friendly. We spent about 4 hours walking through. Highly recommend checking this place out
Delon Leon
02:33 22 Apr 25
Amazing place for family and also to have quiet moment, look into these amazing green mountains
Veronica S
20:58 19 Apr 25
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!
Christine Joy Apostol
22:24 16 Apr 25
An amazing experience seeing all the animals there! You can feed and pet most of them. We will definitely be back!
Mel Itz
22:10 16 Apr 25
Wonderful lil sanctuary. Took us about 40 minutes to stroll through. Peacocks, goaT, sheep, horses, zebra, ostrich, chickens, bison, ponies, tortoise and cats amongst pretty plants and trees made it an enjoyable time. . We were able to pet those animals that placed body against fence. The bison was very cool and surprisingly social. Paid a few extra bucks for some hay and seed to feed everyone.Upon leaving, we decided to purchase a $25 ostrich egg. Bucket list material and a huge bargain!! April was extremely friendly and gave us the low down about some animals and how to store the egg. Very cool and affordable experience!! Highly recommend.
Anna Pollard
23:49 12 Apr 25
I am going through grief losing my grandmother. The experience I had here was so healing. Seeing animals that are rehabilitated in large well taken care of enclosures was so special. I will be bringing back a lot of friends and family here.
stephanie hoffman
22:39 23 Mar 25
This charming farm is much bigger than I imagined. We saw goats, horses, emus, ostriches, pigs, zebras and much more! My child loved every second of it! They sell fresh produce, honey and salads. Perfect for any animal lover or if you just want a peaceful get away.
Carmen Velasquez
02:18 21 Mar 25
This is such a fantastic, well run, sanctuary with rescue animals that are healthy and cared for. We loved our visit!
Rob T
16:34 12 Mar 25
Great place to go associate with the beautiful animals that share this wonderful planet with us. Be sure to purchase a couple buckets of food so that you can closely interact with the animals.
Tony Quaglietta
13:30 25 Feb 25
Thank you for taking care of these precious animals.Your farm is a testament to taking care of wildlife.Great place to bring children of all ages.
OnPoint Hospitality Management
17:40 24 Feb 25
Our visit to the San Diego Animal Sanctuary and Farm was an unforgettable experience! This incredible sanctuary provides a loving home for a variety of rescued animals, and the staff’s dedication to their care is truly inspiring. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with spacious enclosures that allow the animals to roam and play freely. My husband and I particularly enjoyed getting hands-on with the animals, from feeding the goats to petting the friendly sheep and horses. If you’re in San Diego and looking for a meaningful way to connect with animals and support a fantastic cause, I highly recommend visiting this sanctuary. It’s a beautiful reminder of compassion and the importance of giving animals a second chance at life.Another big plus: it’s open daily. Bring a hat, water and snacks. Take your time, sit on the benches, observe, be present and feel the love ❤️ 🐷🐐🐢🐴🐔🐈🐤🐑🐄🐪🐂🦃🦓🦙🐿️🦆🦚🦬❤️
Rory
06:03 19 Feb 25
I enjoy this special Sanctuary. Yes It may cost a lot of money to feed these animals and pay for help to keep this place up and running. Yes the price can be high but you help feed the animals when you do. I signed up for a annual membership. Great deal. Come often as you want and I adopted an animal. Plus they also have a vegetable garden and you can buy fresh veggies.
Karrisa Love
02:54 17 Feb 25
This place is absolutely wonderful.It is simple to purchase tickets they accept card or cash. You are able to feed the animals (extra cost) and also have a picnic if you want. There is not a time limit and I would say if your looking to do something with small children or teens this would be a nice choice.You can also rent a wagon. Just be cautious with the terrain.I posted a few photos that I took of some animals but there are tons more.
Xinyi G
22:34 08 Feb 25
A haven to de-stress, get away from city life, and show some love to rescued animals.
Mark Ballard
14:48 30 Jan 25
Beautiful grounds and great way to get up close and even feed amazing variety of animals.
Dorinda Brunner
02:28 23 Jan 25
What a fantastic place. I will never go to a Zoo again. You can look at animals at the Zoo but you can’t touch them. At the Sanctuary, there are Zebras,Bison, Alpaca,miniature Donkeys, Longhorn Steers, Chicken, Ostriches , a Peacock, Pigs, Desert Tortoises and more and you can PET and FEED every one of them!!My daughter’s little family(they have a 2 year old) and I were so delighted to meet the animals , scratch them, talk to them, feel them, you almost can’t believe you are really are experiencing it in such a beautiful way. You can buy hay and birdseed for a them and they love it. It’s is far less money than any Zoo. There are wide dirt trails that connect to each of the animals and being outside in the fresh air and shade trees is so refreshing. Bring a lunch or a snack and sit under a shade tree and eat and rest while you contemplate the next animal you want to see.This Sanctuary has rescued all of these animals and relies 100% on donations. They feed and care for each of these precious animals. So if you go, please leave a donation and if you can’t, enjoy this wonderful experience and tell your friends about it!
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Contact us
Address:
5178 Japatul Spur,
Alpine, CA 91901
Email:
info@childrensnatureretreat.org
Phone: (619) 320-4942
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