The Gentle Barn

I love The Gentle Barn so much. They have so much love and respect for all of their animals and seem to take such great care of them. They teach people how to read their body language, to be gentle, and respectful, which I have never seen anywhere else. 90% of the staff seem really nice, other seem annoyed by your existence, and others seem like they would rather not talk to anyone (which isn't great when you're supposed to speak to them about how to pet the animals etc). But the owners.... wow!! Absolute angels. Heros. I hope they never change. I would 100% recommend The Gentle Barn to everyone, and will definitely be back one day!

My boyfriend surprised me with a cow-hugging therapy session at The Gentle Barn, and I had no idea how much I needed it. For an hour, we connected with five rescued cows, each with a story of survival and healing. Learning about their journeys—from being saved from slaughter to receiving care and offering comfort to others—was both heartbreaking and beautiful. While I adored every one of them, I felt a special connection with Oliver. The time flew by, but I left feeling deeply grounded, joyful, and at peace. Hugging them, receiving their sweet kisses, and witnessing their unique personalities was truly unforgettable. I can’t recommend this experience enough—it’s a sanctuary not just for the animals but for anyone lucky enough to spend time with them.

This place was glorious! Such a wonderful experience. The animals are so calm and beautiful, they give off so much loving energy. The place is really cool with so many different things to see and experience. It was really cute how the cows had Halloween bows and the guides were in costumes! All of the guides were sweet and informative. Had a delicious vegan dog in a cool and spooky vampire/Halloween cart. 10/10 will go back. Bought stuff in the gift shop to support the sanctuary 💖💖💖

My girlfriend and I had such a great and powerful experience here. It is unbelievable how well run this place is. All the animals (even the small ones) have their own volunteer to watch over them and provide information about them, and you can hang out with and pet the animals as long as they are comfortable with. We never felt rushed to move on from any animal, and we got to spend a lot of time with each and every one. It was very moving hearing about what they have been through, and so powerful to learn what this organization is able to do to provide them with a dignified life.

Absolutely incredible experience! My partner and I were able to meet so many amazing animals, each of which has a volunteer that can help guide you in connecting with the animal and can tell you their amazing stories of rescue and thriving at the Gentle Barn. Everyone was incredibly nice and knowledgeable, and they ensure both the safety and comfort of the guests and the animals at all times. It really is a beautiful experience. For the folks that are considering going vegan to increase the welfare of animals, they provide great information on how to do so (but there isn't a big sales pitch, so carnivores have nothing to complain about). As a vegan of about 4 years, this was very affirming.

What a wonderful place to visit! Dress comfortably because you have the option to sit in dirt to relax and pet the small animals or kneel down in dirt to hug a cute cuddly cow. Bring shoes that you don't mind getting dirty and possibly muddy. You can bring your own water and they have water refill stations near the gift shop. Lots of shaded space to sit and have some lunch. It was so nice to see the animals who have crossed the rainbow bridge on the fence near....the rainbow bridge! Everyone I came across was knowledgeable and excited to share the story of their animal. Can't wait to go back!

Wonderful place to visit to connect with sweet and rescued animals. Well organized and the volunteers are very helpful and knowledgable. The cows are so gentle and love hugs, my favorite part of the experience. Recommended for anyone to get a chance to be up close and personal with animals and learn how beautiful they all are. Will make you think deeply about becoming a vegetarian/vegan.

Really great experience here and I love supporting a place that clearly is taking care of animals in need of a new and safe home. Clean, organized, friendly and very knowledgeable staff and volunteers! They’re doing wonderful work and hugging a cow brought me so much joy!

My boyfriend surprised me with a cow-hugging therapy session at The Gentle Barn, and I had no idea how much I needed it. For an hour, we connected with five rescued cows, each with a story of survival and healing. Learning about their journeys--from being saved from slaughter to receiving care and offering comfort to others--was both heartbreaking and beautiful. While I adored every one of them, I felt a special connection with Oliver. The time flew by, but I left feeling deeply grounded, joyful, and at peace. Hugging them, receiving their sweet kisses, and witnessing their unique personalities was truly unforgettable. I can't recommend this experience enough--it's a sanctuary not just for the animals but for anyone lucky enough to spend time with them.

It was mostly a really nice time at the gentle barn. It is a gift to be around animals! I am also glad this place is not open every day as it was overwhelming for me, I can imagine it is a lot for the animals. It was cool to see that each animal or animal family had their own volunteer. I was curious if there was multilingual education offered as the introduction at the beginning, educational signs, and all animal volunteers shared about the animals in the english language only. I could see how diversifying languages including written signs for people who want to read vs. ask about the animals can increase accessibility and expand the crowd in positive ways. I also had an awkward experience with a volunteer who asked me to back off the animal so someone could take a picture of their adult child. I didn't notice them since the animals are large and usually more than one person is connecting with them at moments. Having a volunteer ask me to back off didn't seem correct or a norm being practiced by anyone else. Every other family including ours was taking pictures at an angle that would not capture someone else, or waited for a moment when someone else wasn't connecting with the animal. The family stayed quiet when receiving the special treatment. I didn't appreciate that interaction during our short visit.

I absolutely love coming to visit and interact with all of the animals! They are all so sweet and have so much love to give to everyone. I do think there needs to be a no infant/toddler policy though because every time I have visited, kids are screaming and crying and chasing after the animals. This is an animal rescue and not a petting zoo for your poorly behaved children. I am sure it's stressful on the animals and it's very inconsiderate of parents to do so.

What a wonderful thing the Gentle Barn is. I'm so happy they are arround helping the unwanted and unhomed animals. This is not a typical shelter though. They only take certain types of animals. Please rehome your dog or cat responsibly by finding them a good home yourself and then if no possibility through a kind no kill shelter. We made a commitment please see it through.

This is a really lovely business with an awesome mission to rehab animals and bring the joy of animals to people. They are only open to the public on Sundays so it'll be busy but not overly crowded. They also ensure the animals aren't overwhelmed so you will be waiting in lines to interact with the animals but it's well worth it. They have vegan hot dogs and some vegan snacks if you're so inclined. There's plenty of parking and overflow parking -- and it's at no charge. Really nice way to get closer to animals and spend a Sunday with smiles.

Absolutely incredible experience! My partner and I were able to meet so many amazing animals, each of which has a volunteer that can help guide you in connecting with the animal and can tell you their amazing stories of rescue and thriving at the Gentle Barn. Everyone was incredibly nice and knowledgeable, and they ensure both the safety and comfort of the guests and the animals at all times. It really is a beautiful experience. For the folks that are considering going vegan to increase the welfare of animals, they provide great information on how to do so (but there isn't a big sales pitch, so carnivores have nothing to complain about). As a vegan of about 4 years, this was very affirming.

Gentle Barn is our happy place. My husband has cognitive problems and encouraging him to get out and get fresh air can be a struggle. However, once we visited the Gentle Barn it is no longer a battle. We visit Gentle Barn every Sunday. My husband has a very strong bond with Tina the goat. Gentle Barn is a safe, enjoyable and fun place to connect with animals and each other. Grateful for the services Gentle Barn provides for the animal and human community. Tina's #2 fan, My husband is Tina's #1.

The Gentle Barn is an animal sanctuary founded in 1999 and moved to the current location in 2003. The Gentle Barn has a second location in Nashville, Tennessee, and a third in St Louis, Missouri. The barn is closed to public from Monday to Saturday and ONLY open to public every Sundays from 10 AM to 2 PM. Tickets must be reserved in advance with various time slots from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. [Parking]: Free parking, but all spots near the entrance were all taken at 11:15 AM. I ended up parking at the add-on parking lot and free golf cart rides were offered to/from the lot and the main entrance. [Ticket]: I purchased and reserved tickets 1 hour ahead and each ticket was $25 (adult) plus $2.50 processing fee. [PRO TIP]: I arrived at 11:30 AM (scheduled time), but apparently visitors need to come 15 minutes ahead of scheduled time or else visitors will need to wait 45 minutes until the next intro session. Luckily the staff moved up the session time to 11:45 AM instead of making everyone wait until 12:15 PM. [Intro Briefing]: Everyone had to take stairs and walk up to an open-air auditorium for an intro speech. The speech lasted appromxately 10 minutes and the staff used the platform to spread awareness on plant-based diet (eliminating 90% of Western diseases, saving 10,000 gallons of water, etc.) and giving home to animals that aren't wanted. The staff told visitors to speak gently to animals first before petting. If animals walk away then that's a no-go on petting. Not sure whether it's okay to pet? Always feel free to ask the staff about it. [Animals at the barn]: Emu, pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, peacock, horses, donkeys, and cows. [Areas and activities]: Three key areas on petting animals - the Upper Barnyard, the Horse Barn, and the Cow Area. I spent approximately 30 minutes petting pigs, sheep, and goats at the Upper Barnyard. Meanwhile I saw others holding and taking pictures with turkeys/chickens. Next I walked down and saw a long line for the Cow Area at 12:45 PM. I waited 30 minutes in line and finally got a chance to pet cows using a brush and yes - hugging a cow for 10 seconds. At 1:30 PM I visited the Horse Barn and it was only a 5-minute wait. Visitors can purchase a small bag of carrots (10 tiny and chopped pieces) for $6 per bag to feed horses. [Food & restrictions]: Visitors are not able to bring any dairy, egg, meat, poultry, or seafood onto the property. In addition, the gift shop will not be selling plastic water bottles (only water containers and thermoses) and only water stations are available. One of the booths was selling vegan hot dogs (The Frankenstand) for $10 each and honestly it was actually pretty good thanks to all these interesting toppings at the condiment station. [Conclusion]: Ultimately I was able to tour the barn in approximately 2.5 hours (arrived at 11:30 AM and left at 2 PM). This is one of few barns that give visitors opportunities to hug the cows, give the pig's tummy rubs, and cuddle the turkeys. While I do think this is a must-do activity for anyone with kids, the barn can get pretty crowded and there are certainly additional improvement opportunities on managing waiting time. P.S. - No outside animals (including dogs) are allowed.

Beautiful place to visit with an important mission. I would recommend, if you want to see a lot of animals, to go as early as you can! Parking is on site - we had to park a short walk from the entrance. I had a knee brace on and luckily an employee came by with a car to pick people up from the further parking areas. We arrived an hour into our window and started with a talk by the owner of The Gentle Barn. It was wonderful and inspiring to hear her story. Then we went to see the horses and the cows. The animals all seemed very well taken care of and the staff and volunteers were all lovely. I didn't make it to see the larger area with the other animals because they were closing but I will definitely be back again. It was a peaceful and relaxing day to be able to feed some horses, hug a cow! and spend time with friends. Great daytrip for a weekend. Be sure to make reservations. You can bring your own picnic food (ideally vegan to honor the intention of the barn). There are also vegan food options there for purchase as well as a cute gift shop. It's great knowing your purchases go towards such a great mission. Highly recommend this trip!

This was my second time to The Gentle Barn, but a first for some of my family members. we visited on public Sunday as part of a birthday celebration. The volunteers were excellent at recognizing my great nieces birthday. She absolutely loves goats, but enjoyed all the animals. Some are timid, but so many love, hugs, kisses, and rubs. The volunteers are very helpful and explain each animals situation if you are willing to listen. This is not a petting zoo, but an educational experience as to how each animal came to The Gentle Barn, and sadly how some of them have been mistreated. Hugging a cow and brushing them is such a calming experience. There were goats, horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and a very friendly emu. I absolutely loved my llama kiss! They also give private tours, which I would love to do one day, but public Sundays runs $25 for adults, $15 for kids and under two are free. If you live nearby and enjoyed your visit, you can put this money into a season pass during your visit! All of the money goes to help The Gentle Barn mission! I recommend reserving the 10 - 11:30 AM spot and arriving closer to 10, because it does get busy. When it's hot, the experience is much better with the cooler morning air and, once it gets busy, you'll have to park in the overflow lot and there is a lot more waiting as they only allow so many visitors in at a time. This is a wonderful place to connect with animals, and give and receive lots of love!

When my energy level is low, one of my go to #selfcare gifts is being around animals. Horses in particular are extremely empathetic and all they ask in return is agency & authenticity. My #EquineTherapy session at The Gentle Barn - Santa Clarita in California filled up all of my tanks! I feel more grounded, grateful, joyful, hopeful. Thank you to Horses: Celeste, Marvel, Hiroka (Hero for short), Addison the donkey and Rebecca for an incredible experience. Here are some photos of my most favorite moments. I highly recommend booking an animal therapy session at any of #thegentlebarn locations. You can choose from 3 different options: Equine (horses/Donkeys) or All Cow hugs or Barnyard (pigs/Turkeys/chickens/emu/llama/goats/sheep).

Worth the drive and the time! Wonderful, happy rescue animals interact with guests and offer such comfort. It's a great place committed to promoting a better life to animals otherwise euthanized or left to live in neglect. This place is a safe haven for animals with no homes. So much love here. The rooms for pig rescues even have picture frames and pillows. I encourage the public to support this place and its commitment to provide a happy, nurtured life to its rescues. Thank you, The Gentle Barn, for all that you do!

Took my girlfriend here for our anniversary and we had the best day of our lives! So much fun. You can really see the love that the staff have for the animals and how well they're treated. We got to feed some goats and sheep grapes and some horses carrots. 10/10 would go back

The best petting zoo ive ever been to. You can pet any animal that would let you (And almost all of them are friendly) And they have so many animals. Would and will come again.

This is a lovely way to spend a Sunday! Grab lunch on the way home but not onsite, or bring a picnic. They have lots of covered tables. Plan to spend 2-3 hours. Kids of all ages were here and seemed engaged and entertained. Also lots of adults without kids. It's not just a kid place, in other words. Expect a drive, as it's far out and in the hills. Some of the animals are very friendly and a few do not like being touched. It's a wonderful place which seems to be doing great work with animals and people! Please wear older shoes and clothing. It is very dusty. We came home with dusty and dirty clothing and beyond. This is not a petting zoo. Listen to the knowledgeable volunteers and enjoy these beautiful animals.

I try to come here as often as I can because I just love their integrity. It's so cool that you're able to touch the animals. I love brushing the cows and feeding the horses and petting the pigs. Such a special place.

There is legitimate healing happening here. The animals are clearly loved and well cared for. It's a living testament of good in the world.

The Barn has a different proposal for animals. They have three places, in California, Tenesse and Missouri. They rescue animals from farms to save their lives. It is a perfect place to take your children to meet the animals.But, prepare your wallet, $25 per adult, $10 hot dog and $6 carrots for horses. It is a good experience mainly children.My score is 3.7 indeed. On weekends are really packed. There is line everywhere.

The gentle barn is an amazing place to visit Located in the hills of Santa Clarita each animal has a story of rescue A volunteer will be beside each animal and share with you his or her likes and dislikes It's so awesome how you can pet the animals

Yes! Yes! All the yessssssssss! I've been following the gentle barn for years on social media and I never really took the plunge to come by until last weekend. They were sold out of one day tickets BUT we bought a season pass and now we can come all year. Parking is easy and right along the side. They have a gold cart/shuttle that will help bring you back to your car or up to the front. Everyone here is SO lovely and I love their mission. Every animal here has a chaperone to make sure they are safe and comfortable and I love that for them. Hugging the cows was a spiritual experience. I cried. They're so warm. They look at you and you just feel the love. I obviously don't remember what it feels like to be a newborn but I felt like a big baby. Warm and nestled and listening to their heart and insides just warm. All love. I've been on a journey and my love of animals deepens everyday. Please please please keep in mind, if and when you visit, bring only vegan food. Out of respect for the animals. A lot of them are rescues and or trauma survivors. They also have food for purchase onsite. Such a friendly family experience. I highly recommend!!!!

Had a great time at Gentle Barn. It was a privilege to meet the loving residents at the barn. Keep up the wonderful work saving lives!!!

we had such a wonderful day here! It was super busy but was well worth the wait in each line to meet all the animals. Staff was soooo friendly & informative. We went on Sun the Turkeys Birthday & celebrated with her! early morning hours are best to visit because of less people. Definitely will be returning for more visits with all these lovely animals!

This is a hidden gem!!! I encourage everyone to go at least once. All animals are rescued and really are very gentle. My entire family enjoyed feeding and gently touching the animals. You can definitely tell that these animals are very loved and well taken care of. Each animal has a volunteer (person) that is with them at all times and it is really nice to hear their story. My 3 kids (1 adult, teen and toddler), my husband and I loved this place. Make sure you make your reservation, there is no walk ins.

I took my grandchildren to The Gentle Barn and it was an amazing experience. We did the private tour which was well worth the cost. My 4 grandchildren got lots of time with the animals and learned a lot from our guide Kim. Kim was fantastic. Her love for animals is contagious! She is a great story teller and shared just enough facts about the animals to keep the little ones interested. Her gentle spirit was the perfect role model for the children to learn how to interact with the animals. We never felt rushed but were able to leisurely visit with each animal. It was lovely to see how the animals were loved and well taken care of. I highly recommend a visit!

My family and I had a wonderful time visiting this wonderful place. I surprised my 19 year old daughter for her birthday. My whole family loves animals but she loves loves them. She was so happy and so surprised. Lisa was our tour guide and she was great! I loved how she told us the stories of each animal. I really recommend the gentle barn. They really are gentle and love each animal there. Those beautiful animals really are blessed to have that home as their forever home. Thank you for allowing us to enter their home!!

We had a private tour at the gentle barn with Kacey and we had the most fantastic time. I cannot recommend this place enough. The way they take care of their animals and the facility is so special. A great place for an event, private birthday party, or just to come and get some much needed animal therapy. Kacey specifically made our experience so wonderful and was so insightful about each animal living on the farm. We want to come back every weekend. Cannot thank them enough

The day I visited The Gentle Barn was one of the most magical days of my life. A 5 star review doesn't even encapsulate the experience. I got to pet pigs, cuddle cows, love on llamas, hand feed horses, and giggle with goats. All of these animals are rescued either from neglectful farms or the commercial food industry. Most of them with a heartbreaking backstory of abuse. The one that sticks out in my mind the most is the story of Honey Bear. A massive pig that was genetically modified to be as large as possible. Unfortunately, his skeletal structure remains the standard size for his breed, so getting around is now very difficult and painful for him. The image of a children giving him pats and hugs while he lays with a relaxed smile is an image I hope to never forget. But the one animal that just pierced into the deepest depths of my heart was Karma. The matriarchal cow of 22 years of age. She allowed me to sit with her and gently stroke her furry face. When I placed my forehead against hers I was overcome with an emotional mix of peace, sadness, love, and glee. I can't recommend this place enough. Also they have vegan hot dogs that are really yummy!

This is a tough review to leave because they're doing a great thing in rescuing animals from terrible conditions. However, as an experience, it was not very good and I cannot recommend anyone else go through what we went through. First, we booked an appointment for a timeframe after going through the mountain of waivers and liability forms which is a bit odd, but okay, sure, they have to protect themselves. We waited 20 minutes past our booking date to even be let into the park, in which you have to sit through a presentation from the founder for another I want to say 15-20 minutes before you're allowed to "free roam" and choose which line to stand in. The lines are incredibly long and slow moving. I counted the time and it was at the hour mark after our booking we even got to interact with our first animal. During that hour of speeches and lines you are constantly pumped by the staff to spend money after already buying very high price tickets. They constantly remind you this is how they support their efforts and have expanded to other locations, but at times it seems that's the only focus. The patrons unfortunately are not the best either. We had multiple people try to cut lines (staff was polite and diplomatic about stopping them) and the rude impatient patrons were all very vocal about their own dissatisfaction of the long waits and lines. I'm sure the breakdown of civility is due to the inability to usher people through effectively. The animals and handlers are friendly, but due to the short timeslots, you get very little time to interact with them before your timeslot is over and there's very little you can do besides feed them feed again you have to buy as reminded to you constantly. You are also passively encouraged to move along as quickly as possible despite it being sold as an experience to bond with the animals. I think the tipping point was for us after we realized we paid a great deal of money to have very little to no interaction with the animals we were forced to leave through the gift shop, just to make sure they could try to get us to spend more money. Our lasting impression is the entire operation is a cash grab based on appealing to people's affection for animals, but we know we aren't alone in our dissatisfaction of the experience being almost a complete waste of money because of hearing everyone else voice their frustrations around us of the same issues. I had booked this experience as a gift to a loved one and ended up having to apologize for such an overall negative experience. I would have just dismissed the experience without a negative review if it wasn't for how aggressively patrons are pumped for more and more money and how hypocritic the message from the founder was about just seeing animals as objects to make money with.

We scheduled a private tour for our family of two adults and two teens. Kim was our guide and she was amazing. Her passion for these animals is obvious and it made the whole experience even better. We were happy to see that it lives up your it's name - the animals are so well cared for and loved. We even got to see the horses receiving acupuncture treatment! We normally dislike guided tours but this was an incredible experience.

The Gentle Barn is great! It is a three hour drive for me but is always well worth it. Yesterday was my third visit. The volunteers are very helpful and friendly. My last visit there was last November and yesterday a couple of the volunteers greeted me by name when they saw me. I've been introduced to several of the animals on YouTube videos, particularly Maybelle and Miles, and I always feel like a little kid at Christmas when I get to see them in person and give them hugs. Yesterday one of the volunteers asked me which animal or animals were my favorites and I couldn't narrow it down to one or two. Where else can you give belly rubs to an 1100 pound pig, get kisses from multiple sheep at the same time, and hug cows who've been rescued from slaughter? And that's just for starters. If I lived closer I'd go more often. Visit The Gentle Barn. You won't be sorry.

Wow, I really felt an energy exchange with a chicken (Tulip) and a cow (Mercy). The positivity was so radiant during my visit yesterday. The volunteers were all cheerful to provide information about the animal they were handling, and the animals were all cheerful doing their own thing - eating, resting, chilling or enjoying pets from the guests. The founder Ellie started the day with an introduction and orientation of her barn, and I wonder if she does this for every single timed-entry group. She is so authentic and animal-oriented the same way I've watched her on social media was exactly how I experienced her. These animals are very well cared and I am so grateful for my short time in this peaceful and happy place.

Omgosh if I could give a 1000 stars I would. I love how compassionate they are with the animals. Their heart is definitely in it. I will always support them as much as I can.

I love the gentle barn so much!! It's so wonderful to see rescue animals treated so kindly. They deserve the life they live at the gentle barn. All the volunteers are amazing and they even have delicious vegan snacks! I recommend the season pass if you live in the area.

Please read the owners comment. We were told how many people could be in attendance on a Sunday but that number is the amount in all locations together. So please read below.

I absolutely LOVE The Gentle Barn! I've been four times on public Sundays and twice for cow hug therapy. It's always such a wonderful experience that leaves me in a good mood for the rest of the day. All of the animals are amazing, but the cow barn is definitely my favorite. These are MAGICAL beings who are so gentle and soothing to be around. Holding them and taking in their peaceful energy is the best feeling in the world! The volunteers/staff are also really awesome, friendly, and knowledgeable (especially Lisa, Kim, Stevie, Jen, and Sofia), and I love chatting with them about their experiences at The Gentle Barn. Today, I got lucky enough to meet the founders Ellie & Jay and they were so incredibly kind and humble. It made my heart so happy to be able to talk to them! Everyone at The Gentle Barn is so passionate about the work they do! During your visit, be prepared to get dirty! I don't recommend wearing fancy clothes or shoes. Also, this is NOT a petting zoo! This is an animal sanctuary where the animals are coming from rough and abusive backgrounds. As Gentle Barn visitors, we are meeting the animals in THEIR space. We are guests in THEIR home. The comfort level of the animals is the #1 priority of The Gentle Barn, so be respectful of that!

Perfect little way to spend a few hours out the house if you have kids ( or are a big kid at heart) All the animals have their own care takers which is nice to see because the animals are used to them. They're hogs, goats, chickens, turkeys, llamas, cows...and more *Im catching my breath* LOL The staff are friendly and theres a vegan hotdog stand and another stand with snacks. Such a cute little petting zoo. They're only open on Sundays **** So get your tickets online for your designated time slot.

Amazing place! Went with my son to a Barnyard Therapy. Jeff showed us around, provided a wealth of knowledge and gave us a wonderful hands on experience with the barn animals. Even spent some time cuddling the elderly turkey Sun! My favorite part! Thank you Jeff for such a beautiful experience!

Gentle Barn and Vegan food review. I had a recent amazing experience alongside some of my family members. Our visit started around 10:30 am. Before entering, we were given a brief summary on how to approach and pet the animals, as well as the layout of the sanctuary. The first thing I noticed was how much shade and seating accomodation was given. Not just for the humans, the animals are able to be more comfortable not being in the direct sun. Another thing I found fascinating, was seeing almost every animal having their own volunteer. People who get to bond with their animal and can share the animal's rescue story with the visitors. I mainly just followed my little nephew around and enjoyed seeing his expressions and bewilderment from all of these majestic creatures. For a dining experience, there's a concession stand that sells, vegan hot dogs, large pickles and plenty of vegan snacks and treats. Soft drinks and water also. Upon ordering your hot dog, there are optional toppings and a free condiment table. I reccomend the fried onions and chipotle mayo! A fun and uplifting experience for both adults and children!

We loved our visit and can't wait to return. The animals all seem very well taken care of and staff was pleasant! Do yourself a favor and stop by to hug a cow.

We've been coming here for 7 years. It's a truly magical place, wonderful staff, beautiful animals, great food. We have season passes and come at least twice a month. Great stress reducer, to be in nature with animals. Our family has become friendly with the staff. Now when we visit, it's list seeing old friends. Highly recommend.

This is a beautiful place filled with kindness and warmth. The staff and volunteers are so helpful and knowledgeable. They ensure the animals are safe and happy and allow for the visitors to enjoy their time with the animals. I live in a western suburb of Chicago. Is there any chance a Gentle Barn location will open up in the Chicagoland area?

Parking: there is a small lot but it gets filled up quickly, you can then park along the dirt road. The staff is very nice, you can actually touch a lot of animals. The line for the cows can be long. I really like this place, they also have a food stall that only serves vegan food. They also have a small shop, very cute stuffed animals.

The animals are sublime, the volunteers diverse and compassionate and the guests are caring and kind. What could be better than this?

Visit the Gentle Barn, it's a beautiful experience and I recommend the season pass. Animals are such lovely and therapeutic beings. Knowing the back story about these animals helps us connect with the reality of the cruelty that exists and how we need to be the voices for them. Let's educate ourselves and be a positive force in this world, go vegan when the time is right for you!

Brilliant place. Rescued animals are loved to the Nth degree. Very organized with volunteer 'docents' following individual animals as they roam the barnyard and accept affectionate strokes and kind words. Docents are there to answer questions about their assigned animal, and detect when the animal needs a time-out from human interaction. This is an animal non-profit worth supporting. You can sponsor an animal by pledging money monthly to support a cow, horse, goat, pig, sheep, chicken, turkey, donkey, etc. check out their website to find "your" animal, and then go visit them in person! Needless to say I was impressed.

Ellie and Jay and the staff are amazing. Great education for everyone on how animals should be treated humanly and not used for food. Proud donor.

Very well organized with an informed volunteer for each animal. Clean & well kept areas for all the animals. Shade trees & tented areas. Free parking off the road. Nice daytrip for kids or adults. Only open to public on Sundays in Santa Clarita. This big kid from the city got to hug a cow

I have been a follower for many years on social media and donated money a ton of times to the gentle barn so when my mother and I were going to be in Los Angeles to visit my sister this week, we decided it would be a wonderful family trip to visit! They offer a series of visitation packages ranging from $25 a person for a general admission all the way up to $1000 for private events. Unfortunately, the only day that we were able to go was Sunday, so we had to stick with the general admission visit. We arrived at 11:15 for our 11:30 visit and walked up after parking in the overflow parking area. To sum up our experience, we waited in line for the main entrance, and then waited again in a partition area, where you hear the rules of the barn and how they want you to approach the animals. We were informed that there is one volunteer assigned per animal so before touching an animal, you need to talk to the person that is over seeing that particular animal for the day. One inside, we waited in another line to enter into the upper barn area and are given the same speech about how to touch the animals and the rules. Once inside the barn area, you wait in line at each animal for your turn to touch the animal and take a selfie if you care to. Then if you care to go to another area or to see the cows or the llamas or the horses, you repeat that same process. Here's the thing, I was obviously impressed with how much care they put into each and every individual animal... As a vegan since 2007 I wish more people had the compassion and empathy for animals as the people at the gentle barn do. However, unless you are paying to have a private visit with your family, perhaps during a weekday, expect a much different experience than you see on their Instagram pages. We kind of discussed it afterwards as a family and we all agreed it was not quite the vibe that we were looking for. It almost felt like we were at Disneyland and by the time you get up to an animal you feel so bad because so many people have had their hands on them that you don't even really want to pet them. I suppose this is an indication of how successful the gentle barn is on social media (which ultimately is about raising money for the rescue) but as a visitor unfortunately, I would have to say it was not the best experience. I still wish them well :)

The best place to hug some cows and rub the belly of piggies! A truly ethical and vegan farm sanctuary. I love coming here as a perfect reminder as to why being vegan is so valuable.