barnyard friends peting zoo

When the grand-kids visit, we give them a choice of going here or to the "big zoo". The always say "we want to go to OUR zoo." Pack a lunch, and stay a while. There are picnic tables and a kids playground out back. This place takes in animals no one else wants or have been picked up off the road injured and rehabs them. Never know what they may have there. But there's sure to be an old Donkey, sheep, goats, a Llama (watch out he doesn't spit on ya) Peacocks, sometimes dear, rabbits and of course barn yard dogs and cats. Horses to trail ride too. The kids (and me) get food to hand feed the critters. too fun. You gotta go...

If you have young or older kids, just watching them feed and interact with the various animals makes the trip worth it. My niece who loves animals wanted to go back the day we were leaving for just 30 minutes to feed them and see the animals again. Sure, you can burn through the money quickly on the feed cups but I consider this a better way to spend money than buying your kid an expensive toy or taking them to Disneyland, etc. I admit that my wife and I also had fun feeding the animals. Helen is a very patient and attentive person with the kids, always ready to answer all their questions. A great place to spend part or all of your day while you are at Petit Jean.

Helen the owner is very dear and authentic. Horseback rides of any distance are very much worth it. We will return during fall, for fall colors

The staff is very nice. The barn is fair sized and the animals are very sweet. There is an extra cost for every little thing and the kids will have you go broke with all the extra cups of feed if you don't put your foot down. There is some playground equipment and a few picnic tables. The pond out front needs some work. A great place for little kids who don't care about being hoity-toity. It's just FUN!

Great place for families with kids to visit while on Petit Jean Mt. Very friendly people, helpful, great with our small children, who were a little standoffish with some of the animals...they got them interested and they had a great time.

Our kids are 7 and 8 so definitly needed something to occupy them. Of course, we paid $22 to get into a petting zoo and they spent most of their time playing with kittens. (We have 2 cats at home! :-D)The have a good variety of animals including a baby racoon the owner had just found the day before. We could not hold it yet but he was cute to watch. They offer pony rides at an addtional charge and the "pony" was a full size horse. Really sweet mare though and my girls thought she was great. They do offer trail rides as well but we were not dressed for that. Maybe next trip!The people were really nice and helpful. Answered all our questions and made us feel right at home in their barn.Highly recommend if you have kids!