Enhance Your Visit - Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm®

Enhance Your Visitfotex2026-06-03T22:48:17+00:00

ENHANCE YOUR VISIT!

Special Programs and Tours

Visit

The Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm®

Why Educational Farm Visits Help Children Learn Compassion for Animals

Up-Close and Personal Experience

Enjoy an up-close and personal interaction with our beautiful animals while learning more about them from our experienced animal keepers. Choose your favorite animal enclosure and experience a unique, positive connection with our animals from inside the enclosure.

Please note: The Bunny Room, Bird Room, and Reptile Room are only available through an Up-Close and Personal Experience. These rooms are not accessible during general admission visits.

Choose from:

Big horses
Mini horses and mini goats
Bird room
Reptile room
Bunny Room: bunnies, chinchillas, and guinea pigs

Great Pyrenees, the working dogs
Sweet 7
Little, the dwarf horse and Truffle the pig
Tortoise Landing
Mini Donkeys and friends
Sheep

*Membership cost not included in the up-close and personal experience price.

Add-on per enclosure: $45 per person

guided tour

Guided Tour

See the Farm in a whole new light with a 90+minute guided tour.

Your keeper will accompany you to each of the enclosures and introduce you to our animals where you’ll learn more about diets, the different species, individual animal stories, and more!

For up to 5 people

*Membership not included in the guided tour price.

Guided tour: $295 for up to 5 people,
- $30 per additional guest

Purchase a Guided Tour

behind the scene v1

Behind the Scenes Tour

Go behind the scenes with our Founder and Executive Director, Agnès Barrelet. There is no better way to experience the Farm and the special relationship Agnès has with these animals, it’s incredible! This exciting and exclusive three-hour private tour is limited to two guests to ensure an intimate experience and a positive connection with our animals. You will have access to each enclosure, will enjoy up-close interaction with these beautiful creatures, and learn all about them. There will be 15-minute breaks as needed during your tour.
*Membership cost not included in “Behind the Scenes Tour” price.

Behind the Scenes tour: $595
- additional guest: $125

Purchase Behind the Scenes Tour

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

Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm™ by the Children's Nature Retreat Foundation

22:13 08 Jul 26

This is a cool place but prices have gone up. $50 per adult? This isn't SeaWorld. Kind of ridiculous. At least make it cheap during the weekdays to attract more people to come.

13:02 08 Jul 26

What a great place! The animals are well cared for, have space and a life extension. The grounds are beautiful, the menagerie vast and the caretakers dedicated to the well-being of the animals. I live an hour and half away but I visit whenever I can. This is a joyful place!

16:39 01 Jul 26

Nowhere in San Diego have I found a place so wonderful. There is a peaceful and magical vibe here. It's amazing how all the animals are so happy and sweet. My favorite place!

15:17 01 Jul 26

16:49 26 Jun 26

Alpine Sanctuary is a great place to go and relax with the family. Spend your time meeting and also feeding some beautiful animals that are very friendly. One of my favorite places!

Christine Arrabit

23:31 18 Jun 26

I visited with my parents and we enjoyed very much. Totally worth the trip from the coast. The animals and the staff are friendly. Very interesting animals such as the ostrich, pygmy horses, a chinese goose with teeth, and a talking cow. Fifteen minutes away from Alpine downtown with a nice restaurant, Janet's Montana.

Marcelo Jr Contreras

22:12 09 Jun 26

I Love It!

12:41 31 May 26

Loved it. Beautiful drive up a mountain. Fun time.

05:32 25 May 26

We visited Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm yesterday with my wife and daughter, and it was absolutely amazing. The entire 20+ acre ranch is impeccably well kept—paths are clean, enclosures are tidy, and you can tell a lot of love and attention goes into every detail.What stood out most was how healthy and cared for the animals looked. From the rescued livestock to the exotics, every animal seemed comfortable, active, and well-fed. It’s clear the team here truly prioritizes their welfare.This is a special place that balances education, compassion, and conservation beautifully. We left feeling inspired and grateful for the work they do. Highly recommend visiting—whether you’re an animal lover, a family looking for a meaningful outing, or just someone who wants to support a fantastic sanctuary

14:24 21 May 26

Skip the zoo and come to the Alpine Acres Sanctuary farm where you can get a closer look at the animals! Came here to celebrate my birthday with my family and it did not disappoint. Spent about 2 hours here at an extremely slow pace. Sure, this place is not as big as the zoo, but I like how I could interact with the animals without being pushed around by parents.

00:45 16 May 26

Christine Miller

17:08 11 May 26

A beautiful property full of lovely, happy animals. Such a peaceful experience. Highly recommend!!

Charlie Crowell

04:19 10 May 26

So many animals, we had a blast!

22:16 03 May 26

Definitely recommend it to everyone! It's a magical place for all those rescued animals. My hats off to the founder and those that support it!

13:07 28 Apr 26

I loved it

Josephine Müller

02:35 12 Apr 26

So ein schöner Ort hier, Man kann die Tiere füttern und die Mitarbeiter waren so freundlich. Wenn man in der Region ist sollte man unbedingt hier hin

06:12 05 Apr 26

The abundance of compassion and integrity in the mission of this organizaiton is evident in every single detail when visiting the sanctuary. The property is expansive with a luscious and well-kept landscape, and most importanty the animal habitats are exceptionally close to the natural habitats that were robbed by the circumstances from which Alpine Acres has rescued each one of them. The expertise and the values motivating the founder, Agnes, and every single member of staff is extremely evident as well. I am profoundly grateful to have discovered this wonderful place and the meaningful work that they do for their precious creatures.

23:22 04 Apr 26

Amazing, wholesome experience for the whole family. So healing to pet and interact with these precious animals. I love the farms mission and vision and will continue to support the cause!

16:35 04 Apr 26

We’ve been coming since it opened almost 10 years ago. I moved out of state and it’s still my favorite place when I come back. Magical. Relaxing. A perfect day.

11:05 17 Mar 26

We had an awesome guided tour and our toddler loved petting and feeding all the animals.

21:07 16 Mar 26

I had a really lovely experience at this animal sanctuary. The staff were so friendly and kind and they made me feel very welcomed. I especially enjoyed being able to purchase a hay bucket and feed the animals it was such a fun way to interact with them up close. I also appreciated how peaceful and quiet the sanctuary was. There weren’t too many people which made it easy to spend some one-on-one time with the animals and really enjoy the experience. I’m so glad I visited and would love to come back again. 🐾🌿

20:01 15 Mar 26

We come every year for the Easter egg hunt on Easter weekend! It’s our favorite family tradition. The kids have the best time hunting for the eggs and enjoying the animals. The staff is always so friendly and accommodating. They keep the grounds beautiful and the animals all seem so happy and well cared for. Thank you for keeping this special event and tradition going!

22:09 13 Mar 26

Nicholas Feliciano

23:08 07 Mar 26

Absolutely LOVE it here. Had tons of fun with the whole family. But be warned if you sit down in the vicinity of Spike he will claim your lap for a solid 30 minutes.

Herlinda Vasquez

03:22 05 Mar 26

Had a wonderful day with my son and granddaughter. Very relaxing, lots of areas to sit and relax. Enjoyed feeding all the animals!

15:18 02 Mar 26

22:59 14 Feb 26

Super fun experience for the whole family. We questioned if it would be worth the, but it absolutely was. It was pretty expensive. For a family of four it was about $150 with feed. There's no cell service out there so I'd recommend planning ahead for that aspect. Also, food options are limited. A pro tip would be to pack a little picnic as they have ample areas to sit below the trees.

Andrea Barnhart

16:48 03 Feb 26

Something so special and magical about this place. It made a lasting impression on our family and we will be back.

03:12 03 Feb 26

Place was ok, prices were higher than it should be.

02:40 03 Feb 26

Our experience was so amazing! They take such good care of their animals; it is clearly much more than a business to them.

19:06 21 Jan 26

We had a great time. Highlights were the zebra, the ostrich, softest bunny ever, and Spike the cat! Friendliest cat ever and he roams the grounds greeting people. I love Spike so much!

23:01 18 Jan 26

This place is such a hidden gem. SO clean, I couldn’t believe it as I know how hard it is to keep a farm looking pristine. My son absolutely loved it!

Shawn Singleton

15:56 18 Jan 26

The experience was very pleasant. It had a very relaxed atmosphere and it was well runned. The staff was very nice. It was worth the time and money

Jessica Davidson

22:33 10 Jan 26

Genevieve Wells

16:01 30 Dec 25

We found this sanctuary online when looking for places to take our son 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!

Kaitlin Lafreniere

15:41 30 Dec 25

My family went and had a wonderful time! The animals are clearly well cared for and the facility was incredibly clean. The staff were all very kind! There was hay to feed to some of the animals for purchase and they taught us the correct way to give it to the animals. Very peaceful place. Great, affordable family fun!

Katherine Rensink

09:24 30 Nov 25

We visited today and loved the experience of spending time with the animals! What I love even more is that the animals are well cared for with ample roaming space. There’s SO many animals and many are greedy, so definitely get two buckets of hay!The area is huge - way bigger than I thought it would be - and it’s very pretty. It’s very well maintained as well. The owner and her daughter (I think) are super sweet. Very happy place all around as an animal sanctuary should be!

Caroline Jullian

06:11 25 Nov 25

Super domaine, nous avons bien pu échanger avec la patronne.Je recommande à 100%

18:15 02 Nov 25

Had a wonderful afternoon at the Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm. After a brief instructional video and signing some waivers we took off with a bucket of food and wandered around the grounds.Cannot wait to go back again, and look forward to seeing what produce is available for purchase on our next visit as the tomatoes were delicious!

03:58 27 Oct 25

A very special place! Our entire family had the most enjoyable afternoon at the sanctuary farm; it is well laid out for easy walking, with many resting spots in the shade if needed. We went there for birthday celebration and Eileen helped deliver our lunch and birthday supplies to the picnic area, it was really relaxing. The animals are very well cared for, and very friendly! There was not an enclosure where an animal did not approach us, we didn't want to leave and will definitely be back!

05:15 19 Oct 25

❤️Such a well maintained, special sanctuary for these many animals! We love this place! So many pleasant places provided to sit and watch the animals and eat a picnic. Such fun feeding the animals with the hay and grain. And the large, thriving organic garden is amazing...I love the fresh vegetables (ripened on the vine!) to buy every visit!❤️

02:07 19 Oct 25

The owner and volunteers are very lovely and helpful. They definitely a good variety of primarily farm animals with some fun exotic animals sprinkled throughout. Every enclosure had an animal open to accepting food. Getting the hay bucket/bird feed is absolutely necessary for the experience. It's a bit pricey for the one-day "membership" but I'm sure their yearly memberships make the cost per visit more worth it. Overall a fun experience!

05:08 07 Oct 25

Jackie Stevens-santana

05:52 27 Sep 25

23:26 19 Sep 25

It was fun, but it was expensive.

21:16 13 Sep 25

Great place to take your kids.

17:51 28 Aug 25

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!

Arthur Hameister

16:36 15 Aug 25

01:38 04 Aug 25

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.

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.

16:07 27 Jul 25

Robert Swartchick

16:06 24 Jul 25

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.

Amanda Sandoval

20:54 20 Jul 25

21:15 16 Jul 25

Friendly staff, cool animals lots to see and feed here

03:30 27 Jun 25

AMAZING place!!! Beyond worth a visit!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

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)!

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.

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

02:33 22 Apr 25

Amazing place for family and also to have quiet moment, look into these amazing green mountains

Linda Edith Lipovsky

01:49 21 Apr 25

Very Peaceful

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!

04:29 17 Apr 25

Kids had a blast. Great location

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!

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.

19:15 16 Apr 25

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.

Gaspar Santiago (Michael)

00:07 23 Mar 25

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!

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.

17:01 11 Mar 25

Looking for a small dog for me

20:02 03 Mar 25

Anthony 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 ❤️ 🐷🐐🐢🐴🐔🐈🐤🐑🐄🐪🐂🦃🦓🦙🐿️🦆🦚🦬❤️

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.

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.

22:34 08 Feb 25

A haven to de-stress, get away from city life, and show some love to rescued animals.

05:34 06 Feb 25

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!

18:20 06 Jan 25

Nice place to take the kids and go on a date.

05:39 12 Dec 24

👍🏻 good for kids to know what to expect from animals

16:35 08 Dec 24

Nice drive up & was there for around an hour. Bought some feed & bird feed too. For two people it was $78 I think.Staff were nice enough, would recommended

19:23 03 Dec 24

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

Alice InWonderland

15:19 02 Dec 24

Forgot to leave a review sooner but it was AMAZING. 1000% worth the behind the scenes tour to feed and go inside the enclosures with the animals! We got the tour from the program director herself who was lovely and informative and answered any questions we had. You can really tell there's a deep rooted love for every single animal there; they all have names and personalities it was beautiful. For anyone who might be thinking about cost, just know 100% of it goes toward the funding of the farm, feeding the animals and maintaining them to give them the best life possible. Several have come from unfortunate circumstances and are living their best lives there now. 100/10 recommend for anyone who loves animals ❤️

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Address:
5178 Japatul Spur,
Alpine, CA 91901
Email:
info@childrensnatureretreat.org
Phone: (619) 320-4942

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