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5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901 | (619) 320-4942|info@childrensnatureretreat.org
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Event Calendarfotex2017-10-15T18:03:18-07:00

Location

The Children’s Nature Retreat is located on 20-acres
about a 40 minutes east of San Diego.

Hours of Operation: 10am - 5pm
We are open to the public 7 days a week.
Monday - Friday by reservation only.
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Google Rating
4.9
Based on 194 reviews
Children's Nature Retreat Foundation
Children's Nature Retreat Foundation
4.9
Sha
Sha
00:01 24 Jul 22
Awesome place to see and feed some animals, also very well kept and friendly staff. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen if you go on a summer afternoon.
張家宇
張家宇
02:43 23 Jul 22
Thanks for all the animal saver !!
Ana Victoria Hernandez
Ana Victoria Hernandez
05:34 13 Jul 22
Summer school field trip. It was very nice, all the personal was so friendly. The kids love it.
April Koether
April Koether
05:54 10 Jul 22
Marlene Eckert
Marlene Eckert
19:57 09 Jul 22
My 8-year-old granddaughter was a Zookeeper for a Day in March. She loved it so much that she requested a return visit rather than doing something else, so we’re going back to do it again next month. This was (on the day we went) a one-on-one experience, and she got to feed more than a dozen different types of animals (including bottle feeding a baby goat), plus observe a vet work on horses’ teeth and my granddaughter also helped prepare medications for sick animals and brush miniature horses. The zookeepers she worked with were very sweet and provided lots of educational explanations. I was offered the opportunity to ride along on the golf cart with both the small and larger zookeepers. The Children’s Nature Retreat really cares about the animals, most of which were rescues. They also limit the number of guests so that it never gets crowded and offer volunteer opportunities to local disabled young people. A first rate operation!
K F
K F
19:05 08 Jul 22
Had a great time, staff is very friendly & the animals are very sweet. Definitely recommend, will be back.
Adarsh Sharma
Adarsh Sharma
12:02 04 Jul 22
Irma Garcia
Irma Garcia
23:40 21 Jun 22
Sierra Jensen
Sierra Jensen
15:00 17 Jun 22
A great little place in Alpine to either take your kids for a couple of hours or to go yourself and clear your head. She has a good assortment of animals so you’re sure to find some animal you’ll like there. She even has a bison! Highly recommend this place.
Anna Malkina
Anna Malkina
23:54 16 Jun 22
Amazing place! The animals are happy and they are really well cared for! We enjoyed our time there!
Levi Riggenbach
Levi Riggenbach
20:45 12 Jun 22
Randee Ferry
Randee Ferry
03:33 28 May 22
Went with grandson’s preschool. Very fun, interactive with animals, kids got to feed the animals hay. Nice area to eat picnic lunch. Guides were informative and friendly. Not sure of cost.
Deborah Branton
Deborah Branton
12:48 24 May 22
Wonderful experience for all families. Large array of animals. Beautiful place very serene and peaceful. They sale buckets of hay to feed the animals and they also sale a pull wagon for your visit.
Benjamin Hammett
Benjamin Hammett
17:59 18 May 22
Kelley Serrano
Kelley Serrano
23:31 29 Apr 22
This place was amazing the owned was super nice and very personable with everybody and my son loved the up close and personal with the barnyard animals and the keeper was super nice and didn't rush us at all and answered all my questions about all the animals and the zebras were awesome to feed!! I loved how far away it is from everything and super relaxing!!
Drake's Unknown
Drake's Unknown
21:09 23 Apr 22
Monica Chu
Monica Chu
21:00 31 Mar 22
My boys said, "This is more than amazing? What words are better than amazing?" It's a neat rescue that allows you to take the time and enjoy the animals without the crowd. The $5 feeding bucket is totally worth it!
Phil Ortiz
Phil Ortiz
01:46 07 Mar 22
Thank you April, Liz, Travis for an amazing experience. We all had a very relaxing, enjoyable time. It was great, being able to enjoy every animal for as long as we wanted to spend time with. Every animal seemed to have their own fun personality. A must visit, the rules are simple and you will love this place. It is well cared for! You can bring snack, and water and there is seating throughout the property for you to relax and enjoy at your pace❤️❤️❤️🙏, well done!
Shenea White
Shenea White
21:28 06 Mar 22
Daniel Alvarez
Daniel Alvarez
01:42 22 Feb 22
It was a great experience! Very caring staff and animals were very nice to look at! Feeding them was fun for the kids. Zebras are cool to look at up close!
Giga Hz
Giga Hz
23:04 21 Feb 22
Very fun time my kids loved it and there were a lot of animals to see.
Angine Auggie
Angine Auggie
17:15 12 Feb 22
Such an incredible place. Please visit and support Agnes! Ended up purchasing a membership on the way out. We have been back at least 5x already. Grab a bucket of hay for $5 and head towards the horses, camel and sheep to feed them. Restrooms are very clean, and they have a handful of picnic tables so bring your lunch. They have snacks for purchase in case you forget to pack extra.
Leslie Rice
Leslie Rice
15:35 06 Feb 22
Loved all of it
Kimberly VanGerpen
Kimberly VanGerpen
22:42 29 Jan 22
Had so much fun at the Children's Nature Retreat (parents, grandparent and 4 y/o). Everyone that worked there was very nice and full of knowledge. Easy drive from North County and definitely worth it to spend a half of a day. Take a picnic!
Anna Milos
Anna Milos
17:55 29 Jan 22
My kids age 7 and 10 took a half day "farmer for a day" tour which they spent assisting the farmer in their daily routine. They spent 4 hours there and absolutely loved it, my daughter who wants to become animal caretaker couldn't stop talking about it. They learned many new things about animal training, feeding, healthcare and such. After the tour they showed me around and told me everything. They even cleaned poop so it was very much real work. It was a great bonding experience for my kids too. The farm is huge and beautiful. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere which makes it even more magical. The farm takes care of rescued animals so I felt like my money was spent for a good cause too. Thank you so much to Agnes, Adam and the others who made it such a beautiful experience!
Laura Leggs
Laura Leggs
12:23 26 Jan 22
Mark Quinn
Mark Quinn
20:29 20 Jan 22
Exceptional place a must see
Kit Medina
Kit Medina
04:22 17 Jan 22
This was a great little outing my girlfriend and I had. It's just opposite the next you take to get to Julian which was a nice surprise. It's HUGE! I believe it's 20 acres and most of that space goes to the animals. They have a lot of room to roam and they are very well.The staff are delightful and always willing to answer questions or offer help with anything. They offer military discounts which was a very nice gesture on their part. For $5 a bucket you get to feed the animals and that's a MUST! I couldn't imagine visiting here and not feeding then.We spent two and half hours here and would gladly spend more. Stop on by and see all that they have to offer.
Sara Wacker
Sara Wacker
00:50 06 Jan 22
The Retreat is such a magical place. I’m so happy that we discovered it. We visit often and bring new friends and try to attend their special events. There’s something so peaceful about feeding and engaging with the animals. You can explore at your own pace, feed the animals through or above the fences, and even bring a picnic lunch. We also enjoy getting an ice cream treat from the snack bar too. I love that all snacks and toys benefit the foundation. It’s a must visit!
Chica Estrada
Chica Estrada
06:46 04 Jan 22
I just saw on the news they need helpHow can the community help you? How do we connect to help?It is wonderful the work you do and theService you provide for children to have somewhere to go learn about animals and it is wonderful how you care for your animals
KG
KG
00:25 03 Jan 22
A great place to enjoy with your family 🤗
Tiana La Cross
Tiana La Cross
21:43 31 Dec 21
Kathy Self
Kathy Self
17:13 27 Dec 21
Lots of outdoor space to walk and enjoy the animals. Purchasing the food bucket is worth it. Great for all ages especially young kids!
Stella Kramer
Stella Kramer
23:40 20 Dec 21
We had a great time!
TRAVEL ANY
TRAVEL ANY
16:23 14 Dec 21
Long drive to find the most beautiful place lots of animals very active.Each animal has her own story there how they rescue the animals from all over and giving them a place to live.You make a reservation and you get a bucket to feed the animals food and snacks available with extra purchase lots of bathroom it’s very kid friendly kids can roam there for free without getting hurt .Displays in a desperate need of donation so every time you go and visit they make a little bit.
Sallie Vaaler
Sallie Vaaler
01:42 04 Dec 21
Nancy Prestin
Nancy Prestin
03:02 27 Nov 21
Great place for children to learn about animals and have interaction feeding them
Joseph Hairfield
Joseph Hairfield
00:41 27 Nov 21
Michele W
Michele W
17:45 13 Nov 21
Wonderful experience here. Took my 2 year old and she loved the real farm experience. Highly recommended
Edna Llanes
Edna Llanes
13:24 27 Oct 21
Natalie K
Natalie K
03:54 24 Oct 21
This is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego! I highly recommend this wonderful experience for adults and kids alike. There are plenty of unique animals you can get up close to and feed. If you’re wondering if it is worth the drive, it definitely is!
Steven Grygar
Steven Grygar
23:17 16 Oct 21
Wonderful place. The owner really cares and it shows with the animals. You can have a guide bring you in to the pens and pet and play with the animals. The also have quite a verity of animals from birds that talk to huge turtles.
Loralei Pratt
Loralei Pratt
23:17 09 Oct 21
Definitely a must see for the kiddos. It was a lot of fun seeing the different animals and being able to pet them.
Sharlene Cook
Sharlene Cook
01:32 24 Sep 21
What a peaceful and beautiful place for children to experience sweet animals!!!
Teri Tremper
Teri Tremper
04:07 20 Sep 21
A beautiful place with a variety of wild and domesticated animal - cows, zebras, horses, goats, sheep, dromedaries, bison, a variety of African cattle as well as peacocks, geese, ducks and other fowl. More importantly, one of its main missions is to provide a space for children to experience nature, so schools are especially welcome
Ashleigh Mc Daniel
Ashleigh Mc Daniel
17:59 15 Sep 21
Eduardo Rodriguez
Eduardo Rodriguez
07:36 24 Aug 21
Nice place to get away to enjoy nature and exotic animals
brenda budinich
brenda budinich
04:22 24 Aug 21
Catherine Ferguson
Catherine Ferguson
20:52 01 Aug 21
Sooo many different animals for young children to see upclose and personal. Great place to visit and to help the cause b of protecting animals...Kind and compassionate ownership and care!
Cassandra Mills
Cassandra Mills
04:12 20 Jul 21
People are great! Animals are great!! We had the best time.
Ivan Flores
Ivan Flores
22:20 12 Jul 21
Had great time here. My kids love to interact with the animals. Ppl are very friendly
Jorge Guerrero
Jorge Guerrero
03:58 05 Jul 21
Josh Rhiz
Josh Rhiz
21:06 03 Jul 21
Little pricey but definitely worth checking out.
Nelson Berggren
Nelson Berggren
07:25 27 Jun 21
Christine Clink
Christine Clink
23:16 29 May 21
We has so much fun feeding the animals🧡
Robin Faison
Robin Faison
23:11 17 May 21
This is a great place to take your children for a family outing
Casey Mahon
Casey Mahon
20:27 16 May 21
Was a awesome family experience. Staff very friendly and informative.
Konstantin Shvebs
Konstantin Shvebs
02:15 16 May 21
Kids love the possibility to feed the animals!
Jose Aguilar
Jose Aguilar
23:02 15 May 21
Very nice place to take your kids
Brian Madrid
Brian Madrid
17:19 26 Apr 21
Daniel Marino
Daniel Marino
03:14 19 Apr 21
Fantastic place. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Very clean and well maintained.
laura giraldo
laura giraldo
23:47 17 Apr 21
INGRID CAMACHO
INGRID CAMACHO
23:30 04 Apr 21
Loved it!!! Planning on coming back. My son is only 1 but he had a blast looking at the animals and egg hunting on Easter day. Even have a chance to feed the animals. Good covid 19 protocols and there's an area to wash your hands.
K Settles
K Settles
23:13 27 Mar 21
Great experience. The girls had fun esp with the up close and personal with the donkeys
Jason Smith
Jason Smith
03:41 21 Mar 21
Nice location and friendly staff. Kids had a great time feeding the animals. Animals were very active and many enjoyed being petted. The grounds are well kept with benches throughout the park to sit back and watch the animals or eat your lunch.
Peter Kam
Peter Kam
01:14 21 Mar 21
Fun place! We went in the afternoon in March, the animals were getting fed and they didn't seem to interested in eating from out hands. But it was cool to see the animals that close. The kids loved it too.
Sarah Johnson
Sarah Johnson
17:46 20 Mar 21
A true hidden gem! Agnes is so passionate about the cause and lovely to speak to. The staff is all very friendly and patient. And best of all, the animals are so well cared for! Support this local animal sanctuary and visit today. You will not be disappointed!
Stephanie S
Stephanie S
21:35 18 Mar 21
Such an awesome place. The kids love it, I love it, and the animals who get to call this amazing place home, definitely love it!! Agnes is such a great person for opening this sanctuary for animals.
Bryan Whittenberg
Bryan Whittenberg
06:47 22 Feb 21
Very fun. Great staff. Everyone had a great time.
William odierno
William odierno
22:15 21 Feb 21
Very fun and friendly place to enjoy a family day
Brian Ellis
Brian Ellis
03:27 15 Feb 21
My family and I had such an amazing time. Staff is incredibly friendly and being able to feed the animals is an experience my girls will never forget!! We will definitely be back and letting our friends know about this little hidden zoo
Amanda Ellis
Amanda Ellis
02:12 15 Feb 21
We went today with our children for Valentines Day and it was absolutely wonderful. The owner was sweet as can be and so welcoming. The animals would stop eating their food to come up to the fence to eat our food.
Michael Ramos
Michael Ramos
23:52 13 Feb 21
My family loved it. Not only was it super fun for my daughter, but the money goes to good cause of helping the animals
Linda Weiskopf
Linda Weiskopf
03:39 30 Jan 21
Elaine Taylor
Elaine Taylor
21:49 28 Jan 21
Awsome place to take the kids. Very tranquil atmosphere. I have taken my 2 year old grandson twice and we will definitely go again. Also its never very busy which is great and you could walk around the entire place in 30-45 minutes which is just enough time before the kids start getting tired.
Ana Patricia
Ana Patricia
08:23 27 Jan 21
Great experience for the little ones. Clean, animals are well cared for. You are able to get up close and personal with them and feed them.
Regina Bink
Regina Bink
18:54 20 Jan 21
vanessa villarreal
vanessa villarreal
00:15 18 Jan 21
Make sure to get at least 2 buckets of feed. This was such a nice experience, we went at at noon which is good because any later and the animals might be full and less likely to interact with guest.
Rosemary Reed
Rosemary Reed
02:59 15 Jan 21
Love the nature retreat, they really encourage interaction with the animals in a safe manner. Bring a picnic and make a day of it.
Darrell Sarno
Darrell Sarno
22:51 10 Jan 21
This place is great! Kids will love it. All the animals were friendly and you can feed all of them.
K Sp
K Sp
06:56 25 Dec 20
Such an awesome place to bring kids for a day out with the family. You can take your time looking at the animals and interacting with them. We will definitely return.
Patricia Scott
Patricia Scott
00:32 06 Dec 20
Kurt Kneeshaw
Kurt Kneeshaw
23:17 05 Dec 20
Zarghona Santos
Zarghona Santos
23:18 28 Nov 20
Perfect place to visit with your family. Great deal for all u can do.
April Chillura
April Chillura
23:50 24 Nov 20
Brian Smith
Brian Smith
20:17 09 Nov 20
Very fun place to visit the staff here is very knowledgeable. The grounds were very open spaces and beautiful and overall fun time.
Adam Roberson (#Unfiltered)
Adam Roberson (#Unfiltered)
00:54 31 Oct 20
Beautiful, well kept, and the animals are super happy all surounded by a gorgeous environment.
Shontel Grivno
Shontel Grivno
22:06 20 Oct 20
Great way to spend the day!
marcos vega
marcos vega
00:26 12 Oct 20
Great for the kid mine had lots of fun...
Rich Gillis
Rich Gillis
00:16 11 Oct 20
Oscar Bracamonte
Oscar Bracamonte
01:40 04 Oct 20
Pasamos un buen día familiar y diferente!
John Peaveler
John Peaveler
22:03 03 Oct 20
A fantastic place for people and animals. A magical place where anyone can learn to love and love to learn. Reconnect with nature or connect for the first time. Find peace and take it with you.
Ashley Murillo
Ashley Murillo
21:35 29 Sep 20
A great social distancing activity for kids.
Lety Levy
Lety Levy
15:37 26 Sep 20
A great place to visit very peaceful and I love the animals specially be able to feed them ❤
Jay Hernandez
Jay Hernandez
21:11 24 Sep 20
Wow 3 years looking for places to take my kids to feed animals and I've never heard of this hidden gem. SO WORTH IT. Animals are very friendly, easy to feed, amazing for kids any age, so much space makes it an amazing place during this pandemic life.My kids had a blast, I had a blast being able to feed some zebras and buffalos are you kidding?Amazing place overall. Just be safe with the heat 🔥😥 gets hot and there's little shade when walking around to get to the different animals.
Huiwen wu
Huiwen wu
17:15 30 Aug 20
Definitely worth come with your little one, enjoy a day with the farm animals
Elizabeth Torres
Elizabeth Torres
19:14 14 Aug 20
Veronica King
Veronica King
21:26 13 Aug 20
C.M. Henry
C.M. Henry
01:04 27 Jul 20
This place is amazing!! The animals are all well taken care of by friendly and intelligent caretakers and their enclosures are spacious and designed for their needs. All of the animals from the horses to pigs to tortoises to goats to camels to ostriches are all now acclimated to friendly human interaction and it was such a blast feeding them. Agnes has made an amazing retreat and if you are in the area this is highly worth the visit!! Double bonus: we went for a personal encounter and chose the tortoises, which just happened to be our guide Sue's favorite. It was amazing get up close with Thor and Big Daddy and help make them Sue's Secret Recipe Salad and go in and feed them!! Go support this amazing place in Alpine!! They have easy and effective social distancing measures in effect and even with other folks there it never felt even remotely busy or crowded and was so relaxing. You are missing out if you don't come check this place out!! 10/10 we will be going back!!
Marisa Madrigal
Marisa Madrigal
17:41 23 Jul 20
Diondra Yost (Princess)
Diondra Yost (Princess)
23:32 10 Jul 20
It was refreshing.
Sarah Maitland
Sarah Maitland
23:56 04 Jul 20
Feeding all the animals was so cool!
Kim Thompson
Kim Thompson
00:04 30 Jun 20
I took my best friend here for her birthday. We had a great time here! We went last Friday on the hottest day of the week! They had several benches under trees! Plus they had areas that were shady under trees and some tables have umbrellas. They have a small snack shop with water and gifts too! After you park, there is a ticket hut, and the woman that greeted us was very friendly and wearing a mask. NOW, the best is yet to see! All 130 animals are great and in different paths and farms! It was an awesome day!! Not a lot of people plus you are outside and they reccomend you go in a one way direction for social distancing. They also have hand washing stations for you to use. Now, back to the animals!! They are so beautiful, big, so many of them! No problem spending the day here with nature! The staff is very nice, friendly and informative!! I even got to love on the owner's(I think) dog!! My best friend had a wonderful birthday here!! We would definitely come back here again!!!!🐴🦓🐖🦃🦚🐢
VERONICA ROMERO
VERONICA ROMERO
02:00 22 Jun 20
Joleah Palanca
Joleah Palanca
00:12 26 Feb 20
Mario Garcia
Mario Garcia
02:25 16 Feb 20
Michael Susoeff
Michael Susoeff
23:29 08 Feb 20
This is a great place to visit in Alpine. They have many different types of animals. Children really seem to enjoy this place.
Geri Sander
Geri Sander
15:44 05 Feb 20
ncabral8
ncabral8
22:22 01 Feb 20
Felicia Oson
Felicia Oson
21:42 25 Jan 20
This place is awesome and soo beautiful with lots of fun loving and kind animals who are eager for your presence and to eat : ) we took my niece and 14 year old autistic son and they both loved it! you can tell the staff take very well of the animals and have a great passion for animals and their well being, definently will be going back for some more animal love :)
Chokoholik77
Chokoholik77
01:29 21 Dec 19
Such an amazing experience for all ages!
Susie Maxwell
Susie Maxwell
17:05 19 Dec 19
Great place to take your kids.
Meilin Chen
Meilin Chen
06:38 01 Dec 19
This place is amazing! Staffs are very friendly here. We were each given a full bucket of food to feed the animals. Almost all of the animals will approach you when they see food (except the ones that cannot be feed). 2 puppies named Belle and Athos kept us company along the way, they are so sweet. We will definitely visit again!
Tessa Haney
Tessa Haney
04:40 25 Nov 19
Ronda
Ronda
04:45 18 Nov 19
Wonderful, outdoor destination for all ages! Spending a few hours breathing fresh mountain air can be downright therapeutic. Paired with an unforgettable opportunity to learn about unique and beautiful animals that you can feed by hand is priceless.How many people can say they've touched a zebra? I have. You have no idea how large an ostrich really is until you've looked one in the eye. (Caution: You might strain your neck!) You think tortoises are slow and steady? Guess again! Or better yet, come out to the farm and see for yourself.Wear closed toe shoes and expect to get a little dirty. It's worth the drive. You won't regret it!
Sarah Olayemi
Sarah Olayemi
20:58 02 Nov 19
Lovely place!
Anthony White
Anthony White
22:47 06 Oct 19
I took my son here on a whim and he had a lot of fun, the staff was nice and the grounds where as clean as good be with the animals there, my son and I also like that we could feed/pet the animals and the feed is covered in the cost of admission.. so if your looking for something to do on a Saturday or Sunday this is a fun little place.
Jonas Lawyer
Jonas Lawyer
15:28 30 Sep 19
Great place to take the kids. They give you a bucket of fresh grown barley to feed the animals. My kids just loved interacting with the animals and getting up close, especially the tortoises and pigs. Can walk thru the park in a little over an hour, and they have picnic tables by the zebras to eat lunch at. Definitely recommend going here.
Terry Bowen
Terry Bowen
20:03 20 Aug 19
Awsome place! We need to advertise better no one would know it was there
David Lizarraga
David Lizarraga
21:15 05 Aug 19
Anna Raynor
Anna Raynor
04:10 28 Jul 19
Edmundo Arenas
Edmundo Arenas
06:23 21 Jul 19
Julie Myers
Julie Myers
05:38 09 Jul 19
This place is amazing! Great hospitality! I learned so much! Feeding the animals was so the coolest thing! This place should have 10 stars! Thank you all for a wonderful day!
Sally McClure
Sally McClure
20:10 04 Jul 19
What a fun and relaxing place! They limit daily attendance so it's never crowded or noisy. The animals have unique personalities and it's so fun to watch them interact. They're all used to people and come running over for food so you actually see them up close. You can wander around at your own pace visiting mini horses, zebras, sulcata tortoises, camels, pigs, goats, and much more. I highly recommend doing one of the "up close and personal" options or the other special tours. Such a great value, and what a unique experience!
Danny Hauger
Danny Hauger
04:34 26 Jun 19
Friendly staff that cares deeply about animals. Enjoyable place to feed and visit animals.
d ward
d ward
19:12 14 Jun 19
Amber Benz Wilson
Amber Benz Wilson
18:49 04 Jun 19
This place is amazing! The animals are fun and lively, and the staff was knowledgable and friendly. I look forward to going back!
Mari Susami (lostraveladdicts)
Mari Susami (lostraveladdicts)
02:55 01 Jun 19
They are so knowledgeable and truly love the animals.
Tina Wright
Tina Wright
04:23 31 May 19
What an amazing place! These animals are in the best care. Great place to take your kids.
Melissa Simmons
Melissa Simmons
23:51 27 May 19
GREAT GREAT PLACE! CAN PET THE ANIMALS AND FEED! UPCLOSE ENCOUNTER!
jack Budd
jack Budd
23:14 29 Apr 19
Wonderful people and animals
Dessere Ritchie
Dessere Ritchie
17:12 14 Apr 19
This place is amazing!! So clam, quiet, and limited to 100 persons a day so no crowds to battle with. You are able to get very close to the overly friendly animals, feeding them and interacting with them. Even the tortoises come "running"! We opted for the 2 hour guided tour, which is wonderfully informative and interesting. To know the back stories of the rescues, and who couldn't love the Geep (a very talkitive goat/sheep mix). All the staff are very kind and you can really see how much they truly love these animals. What a fantastic little place. We will be back for sure!!
Teresita Baker
Teresita Baker
15:57 09 Apr 19
It is a beautiful place to take your whole family. It isn't a crowded place. You can feed the animals. Have a picnic here. Bring your own food they don't sell food here. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Don't have to pay for parking or the food to feed the animals.
Karthika Bodduluru
Karthika Bodduluru
00:41 20 Mar 19
Erica King
Erica King
02:35 07 Feb 19
Our cub scouts had a wonderful experience.
Kenneth Miller
Kenneth Miller
16:22 05 Feb 19
A great place for a family outing. Less expensive than the zoo, and far less crowded. Also, gives you the opportunity to interact with the animals!
Ashley Howerton
Ashley Howerton
02:34 01 Feb 19
This place is great. You get a buck of feed to feed all the animals and if you run out no worries you can get more free of charge. You can easily spend a few hours here. Some pens you can going inside with the animals. I think that's an extra cost. You do get a discount if you live in alpine. Such a fun place. Great for anyone at any age.
Ana Zuniga
Ana Zuniga
02:12 21 Jan 19
Wonderful environment for people of all ages to enjoy. Welcoming and relaxing.
Jesus Seineke
Jesus Seineke
23:21 29 Dec 18
Do you like feeling or being close to nature? Cool date, or a family outting--this is your place. Affordable and up close. This place rocks.
Sam S
Sam S
02:13 28 Dec 18
Great place to go to see and interact with animals. The staff is really friendly and it is a great way for kids to connect with nature.
Samantha Resendiz
Samantha Resendiz
05:18 19 Dec 18
Came here on a fieldtrip. Staff is very lovely. The kids loved feeding the animals. It was a very nice experience.
Pam Duvall
Pam Duvall
05:36 16 Dec 18
Cheyanne is retired now and living like a king at children's nature retreat in japatul ,he loves visitors and frissbee,s!he is alpine favorite buffalo !!!!
Trevor Williams
Trevor Williams
20:59 24 Nov 18
We come here every time we visit California a rare gem
Anthony Windle
Anthony Windle
23:26 23 Nov 18
Roberta Colvin
Roberta Colvin
03:27 18 Nov 18
This animal sanctuary is a great place to spend all day. The animals each have a story told by the owner in a loving and respectful way. The owner and staff are dedicated, loving, caring and respectful of all. Memorable time to be had! Call first to confirm days and times. Schedule a tour, birthday party, visit. Five star experience for both children and adults.
Michelle Caravantes
Michelle Caravantes
17:27 05 Nov 18
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5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901
(619) 320-4942
[email protected]

Directions from I-8 East:

-Take the Alpine/Tavern Road exit
-Turn right on Tavern Road
-After about 9 miles, turn left onto Japatul Spur
-The retreat entrance will be on the left after approximately 1/4 mile
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