A Place in the Forest
“Our stay at Rancho Grande was magical. We were blown away by the location and experience in the glorious ranch surroundings.”
Welcome to Rancho Grande! To begin your journey we invite you to explore the Photo & Video Galleries, where you’ll find breathtaking views of the ranch and entertaining clips of some of our most beloved animals. Next, visit the Activities section for a look at the adventures that await—from tranquil hikes to hands-on fun with nature.
Curious about staying with us? Click on the Stays tab for an authentic glimpse into life as a guest at the ranch. For an introduction to the animals who call Rancho Grande home, head to the Animals page, where they’re grouped by category with a short story or detail about each. Finally, the About tab offers insight into the people behind the ranch, our vision, and the rich history of this land dating back to the 1870s.
Snowy days at the ranch
Rancho Grande isn’t just any place, it's A Place in the Forest — an off grid adventure waiting to happen. Tucked deep in a private 4-season mountain valley, this vast 200 acre ranch is where animals wander freely, pink sunsets stop you in your tracks, and kids put down their phones for a while. It’s a sanctuary for rescued animals, a playground for nature lovers, and a home for a family, who live here year-round. Come feed a goat, hug a pig, race an electric mountain bike down a dirt trail, or sit by the fire and count shooting stars. Rancho Grande is wild, peaceful, and full of heart We can’t wait to share it with you.
Rancho Grande is a voice for animals
When you visit, you’re not just escaping to nature — you’re stepping into a living sanctuary, Rescued goats, abandoned pigs, alpacas, dogs, roosters, and more — all now thriving in a place where they have a forever home and are safe, cared for, and deeply loved. Quietly and consistently, Rancho Grande supports the local community too — helping struggling animal owners with food, donating to animal shelters, and giving a voice to the animals who don’t have one.
We have curated the perfect space to create lifetime memories; it’s up to you to make it happen. You could…….
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“Catch Dinner, Bake Bread, and Taste the Fire”
Cast a line into the pond and reel in catfish or bluegill—then cook your catch together with whatever else you have gathered for dinner over open coals. Knead dough with your kids and bake it beside a glowing fire. Shuck fresh corn and roast it in its husk as the sun dips behind the hills. The flavors here aren’t from a menu—they’re from your own hands.
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“Fill Your Lungs and Forget the Clock”
Get out of bed and immediately dive into a cool spring fed pond and start your day with a WOW. Then ride an electric mountain bike up a forest trail and stop to breathe in pine and wild sage. Kick off your shoes and walk barefoot through cool morning grass. Light a campfire at dusk, then lean back and let the stars rise into clean, quiet air.
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“Enjoy the Sunset while cooking dinner by the pond"
End your day by witnessing Ojai’s renowned “pink moment,” a captivating natural phenomenon where the setting sun casts a rosy hue over the Mountains. This fleeting spectacle paints the sky and landscape in shades of pink and lavender, offering a serene and unforgettable experience unique to the Ojai Valley. Locals and visitors alike cherish this almost daily occurrence.
Activities
Biking
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Stargazing
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Fishing
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Birdwatching
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Meet Animals
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Hiking
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Swimming & Paddling
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Horseback Riding
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Indoor Fun
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Baseball
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Basketball
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Trampoline
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Gift Shop
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Greenhouse
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Playground
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Biking • Stargazing • Fishing • Birdwatching • Meet Animals • Hiking • Swimming & Paddling • Horseback Riding • Indoor Fun • Baseball • Basketball • Trampoline • Gift Shop • Greenhouse • Playground •
Book Your Stay
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Cowboy Cabin
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Fish Camp
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Howard Creek
“Where Vacation Meets Summer Camp”
Summer camp has always meant stepping outside the familiar, and falling into bed pleasantly tired. Whether you bunk in a canvas safari tent or the cabin, you’ll feel that same easy rhythm: unhurried hours, honest food off the grill, and space for kids (and grown-ups) to roam. Let every day end the way camp days always did, a little dusty, and already excited for morning.
Remember the first time you woke to birdsong instead of an alarm? That feeling lives on at Rancho Grande. Spend mornings paddling or pedaling, afternoons working on a craft in the barn, and evenings circling the fire while stars appear in the sky.
Remember when animals weren’t something you walked on a leash, but something you stumbled upon? That happens at Rancho Grande, deer drink from our ponds at dawn, and wild hares dart through the brush while hawks circle above. One morning, a bald eagle spent hours perched in a pine, watching over the valley like it had claimed it.
From feeding animals to hiking forest trails, paddling mountain ponds, or just sitting still beside a stream, every experience connects you to something real, alive, and unforgettable.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Rancho Grande, our hidden mountain valley where peace, beauty, and wonder come naturally. Tucked among forests and ponds, with sweeping views in every direction, our off-the-grid retreat invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover the joy of nature. Whether you’re feeding a gentle farm animal or spotting a wild creature in the trees, every moment here holds a bit of magic. Thank you for choosing to be part of our extended family—even if just for a little while. Think of it like summer camp for the soul.
We’re so glad you’re coming.