At Rancho Grande, the animals are more than part of the landscape — they are part of the experience.

Interacting with our camel Albert and his friends the horses, goats, guinea pigs, alpacas, and all the other creatures of the ranch offers something rare and powerful: a return to trust, simplicity, and presence.

Animals live fully in the moment. They ask nothing of us except honesty and kindness. In their company, we remember how to slow down, how to listen without words, how to find joy in small things and stop worrying about things that might never happen.

Whether brushing a horse, gathering fresh eggs, or simply sitting quietly among the herds, our guests reconnect with a deeper, quieter part of themselves — the part that knows how to love, how to trust, and how to be.

The animals at Rancho Grande are not just companions; they are guides back to the purest parts of our humanity.

Rancho Grande is more than a farm or a guest retreat — it’s also part animal sanctuary. Over the years, we’ve opened our gates and our hearts to many animals in need: blind goats, rescued pigs, retired alpacas, abandoned roosters, guinea pigs, and many beloved dogs — each with their own story, each now part of our family.

We continue to welcome animals on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that every life we accept contributes to the harmony and wellbeing of the sanctuary. When we’re unable to offer a permanent home, we do our best to help find one. What we never do is give up on an animal in need.

This isn’t a donation-based effort. We receive no outside funding or grants. The animal rescue portion of Rancho Grande is funded entirely by our family, who dedicate approximately $150,000 each year to the care, feeding, housing, and medical needs of all their animals. It’s a commitment of love — not profit.

It’s a place where animals find safety, where stories of survival turn into lives of peace, and where guests become part of something meaningful: a living, breathing sanctuary for all.

Meet some of the animals that live with us

  • Alpaca

    About 50 Alpacas roam the ranch. They are sheered in Spring and the hair is sent to be processed into yarn.

  • Got Goats?

    We have over 100 Goats. They each have their own name and history. The majority were born at Rancho Grande. They spend the day wandering around the ranch and love to be headed by humans.

  • Lamb

    We have over 50 lamb. They are sweet animals that love to graze. We sheer them in early spring and make beautiful yarn.

  • Mini Horses

    Here we have Mama and her son Cowboy. Mama can give rides to small kids but prefers to just hang out with her son and wander about.

  • Pigs

    Huell was rescued from the butcher shop, He started his life as a 4H project and turned out to be to smart and his owners asked us to take him on. He is extremely friendly and happy. We also have a mini pot belly pig rescued from the street as a baby.

  • Ducks

    We have a variety of ducks, mostly born here or rescued. They include quite a few Muscovy and Pekin.

  • Guinea Pigs

    Guinea pigs are among the favorite animals at Rancho Grande. We have quite a few female guinea pigs in a barn inside the chicken coop. They live a very happy life and love to be played with.

  • Horses

    We have three trail horses, Mickey Yogi and Willy if they're not taking guests for rides there in a large pasture by the horse table, just chilling.

  • Albert the Camel

    What can we say about our camel Albert? We brought him in when he was a month old and have been connected to him at the hip ever since he's a worldwide social media sensation with over 100 million views.

  • Chickens

    We have dozens of chickens and roosters. Many roosters were left here by people who purchased baby chicks and couldn't deal with the larger noisy roosters. We try to take in every one that we can. The chickens are great egg layers and eggs are available in the chicken coop.

  • Macaws

    We have two beautiful sister macaws born 2010. Their names are Babe and Ruth.They have quite a vocabulary and usually talking to each other at sunset for no reason.

  • Rabbits

    Rabbits can be found in the chicken coop, living with the guinea pigs, and sometimes in the greenhouse, enjoying all the greens.

  • Dogs

    What can we say, we live with 10 dogs in a small cabin. Clearly our best friends who give us unconditional love. You will meet them wandering around the ranch with each other. They are all very friendly and we will greet you with enthusiasm. The first time they meet you.

  • Quail

    The Quayle live in our greenhouse. Most are from eggs hatched here at the ranch. They produce lovey eggs that are tasty and they are fun animals to watch.

  • Tortoises

    We have some interesting tortoises that live in our greenhouse. They hibernate in cold weather but can be found roaming the large area of the greenhouse looking for food. Please be careful with them and watch where you step. Try not to pick them up please.

  • Guinea fowl

    Guinea fowl live in the chicken coup. They are loud and funny looking and somewhat meaner then a chicken or duck.