Quick tip: I recommend any animal lover come here for an up close and personal experience with some of the local mountains' wildlife! Full review: We came here for the tour and had a great time! We started out in a big round barn where we saw amazing birds up close, so much closer than you can see at a zoo. The animal handlers gave a talk about each animal and I learned things I never knew about birds of prey. We then started the walking tour and it was just so enjoyable walking among the tall pines in the clean mountain air. Living down in the big city we just don't get much chance to see nature up close like that. We saw many more animals like a bobcat, deer, coyotes and bears. The animals all seem very healthy and well cared for. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about all the animals and explained that due to being found injured or orphaned they could not be released into the wild. She said that most of them probably would have been put down if they didn't have a place like this to care for them and provide them a home. As an animal lover, it was so amazing to learn how they saved these animals from being euthanized by fish and game. It was especially heart warming to hear how, with the help of the local veterinarian, they saved a young bear who had been hit by a car out on the highway. The bear, they named Bailey, required pins in his leg because it was broken by the car, but he eventually healed well enough to run around his new home. Do yourself a favor and come check this place out, you'll be happy you did! read more

If you are an animal lover, you absolutely have to go to Wildhaven Ranch. My boyfriend and I were blown away by this wildlife sanctuary. We got up close to bears, deer, coyotes, a bobcat, a fox, a raccoon, eagles, and a turkey vulture. But the most extraordinary part was hearing all of the animals' stories and observing the powerful connections each animal has with the people who work at Wildhaven. read more

Went to the village and was advised this was a great place to go! It says it's open to the public from 1-3 every Saturday.... so we went. Gate was open, so we walked in looking for someone only to be met with a very angry, condescending, rude lady telling us they are not open (except the sign on the gate says they are open every Saturday from 1-3). Anyway, steer clear. There's nothing to see here except for an angry woman on a golf cart. read more

First let me say that this llace is wonderful. All of the staff and volunteers were so knowledgeable, and we learned to much about different animals, it was amazing. I do feel it pertinent to mention that the majority of staff were overly friendly and considerate, and while the leader was very knowledgeable and very kind to the animals, she was extremely rude to the staff amd customers. I understand you have concerns about safety, and those comments were understood, but the belittling comments to staff and customers about things that were not safety related were uncalled for and made for an uncomfortable environment. Then while snapping at everyone else to be quiet, she sat right behind me in her gf cart and talked through the whole 1st bear exhibit so I couldnt hear anything they said. Aparently the rules on apply to some and not others. Dont let thos deter you from going, it was a wonderful experience, as long as you disregard the snide comments and make sure your kids dont get upset by them. read more

My boyfriend and I visited Wildhaven Ranch this past weekend and wanted to provide some feedback. We enjoyed the animals and the small tricks they performed, but the presentations left us feeling extremely awkward about our visit. Based on our visit, we currently would not recommend a visit to this facility to friends or family. Which is not how you want guests to leave feeling. You want them to be excited to come back and to spread the word. Directions: The Word document directions that were emailed were unnecessarily confusing. Providing main street names for turns is plenty sufficient and would be more easily understood by all. Use the directions on the website/PDF on the website. This was not what was provided to me. Topics: We were pretty shocked at some of the topics that were discussed based on the average visitor's age, which was under 5 years old. We are not parents and even we were a little put off about the topics discussed; I can only imagine how the parents felt. -Death/dying -Diseases We understand that children need to learn about the circle of life and the danger of diseases, but the level of detail and amount of discussion on these topics was a bit much for the age group of the children. Keep it light and general. Personal Issues: Personal stories/medical issues should not be shared with guests, this is a business after all. Also, religion has no place in business. It is off-putting. The last thing you want your guests to feel is alienated or uncomfortable. Fighting with staff/bossing them around: It was extremely uncomfortable to watch the interactions between the two main staff. Interrupting the presentation to boss them around, tell them how to stand, what to do. It was extremely awkward for the guests. Talking Points: Animal presentations were clearly not rehearsed or planned. This resulted in the staff rambling and not providing expected information to the guests. It would benefit everyone if there was a script or at least talking points for each of the animals. Keep it short and to relevant information. Avoid death topics and only talk top line on diseases/safety. Time: We expected the whole presentation/tour to take approximately one hour. We were shocked when 2.5 hours later we were still there. That is a long time to expect guests to listen to you, and even longer for children of the age range to be able to pay attention. This place could be great with a little professional guidance. They should really consider hiring a consultant to help them with their guest experience and customer service. read more

To be honest, this place made me really uncomfortable. I get the impression these are amateur folks running a rescue for animals they aren't really sure how to appropriately care for. I can tell they really love the animals, but I'm not 100% sure they're actually doing what's best for them. It is exceedingly clear that the animals have "imprinted" on the humans-- when we were there, one of the owners went into the cage with the bears and had them do tricks like a circus animal. You viewed the animals very close up (within a foot, at times); even if these animals cannot be re-released, it's still poor practice. The owner even let the raccoons out of their enclosure entirely and fed them by hand. I know she will complain on other tours about a review that mentioned this practice, and bemoan the fact that she can't do it anymore, but really, it is a sign of a larger problem at the facility. A lot of the animals have sad stories, but I feel like they might have been better handled by people who could rehabilitate them, or take care of them in a way that didn't involve quite so much close contact with people. In fact, I looked it up, and apparently their license to rehabilitate animals was not renewed by Fish and Game. Who knows why, or how, or if it was legitimate, but it raised some flags, especially after I felt uneasy when I visited Wildhaven. I hate to be the outlier here, but I went to Wildhaven Ranch after reading all of these marvelous reviews, and felt strange the entire time. While I am no expert, I think many of the enclosures are too small and/or not appropriate for the animal. The couple giving the tour was very nice, although sometimes argued with each other, but the whole place had a weird feeling to it. The husband seemed to have some wildlife knowledge, but the woman seemed to just really love animals a lot, but have little knowledge of how to care for them-- she wanted to coddle them more than she wanted to treat them like animals. It may be different when people other than the owners give tours, but as it was, it was a weird experience. read more

Great place for adults and older kids! I just went on a tour and learned so much about the high desert / California ecosystem. We had a fairly large group of about 17 people on a Saturday. The tour was fun and actually lasted 2.25 hours, much longer than she had quoted us (probably because there were no volunteers helping today). We saw & learned about orphaned & formerly injured animals that have been rescued & rehabilitated at this facility. Animals on our tour: western screech owl, red tail hawk, American kestrel, 3 black bears, 2 mule deer, 2 coyotes, 2 raccoons, golden eagle, bald eagle, and a bobcat. All animals appear to be happy and well fed. The enclosures are large, and the place is clean. I highly recommend booking at 1pm Saturday tour when you're in Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear! read more

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Have you ever been to a zoo or any kind of animal center, and felt HORRIBLE for the animals? The way they look at you... how small the cages looked... how dirty everything was. Here at Wild Haven, you KNOW the animals are well taken care of. You look at them, and you actually feel like they're content. Wild Haven is a rehabilitation center for wild animals. We were given a tour by the owners who were incredibly nice. You encounter many animals including coyotes, owls, raccoons, and deers. The best part, you are extremely close to them. Very intimate. And for the finale, you get to see beautiful California black bears! They're so freakin' adorable. There's literally a fence that separates you. It's such a unique opportunity. We had such a great time and was filled with so much knowledge about these beautiful animals. Owners knew their stuff, and were super nice. Facility was VERY clean. I believe it's a $10 donation and tours are every Saturday (if weather permits). Call or look at the website. Word of advice though. I wouldn't recommend bringing small children (at least those we can't walk yet). Loud noises can scare some of the animals, especially the bears, so those with a loud child will be asked to step far away from the cage. Highly recommended for those in the Lake Arrowhead area! read more

I would not take your young child here. Unlike a zoo where your child is free to explore, be out of their stroller, walk around, you are NOT ALLOWED to do this here. It took a long time get all the information on each animal so there isn't a lot of activity for small children. It's interesting because they make it seem like children are welcome and this is a fun environment, but the moment I signed the release form she "informed" me that I was not to allow my child out of his stroller at anytime due to dangerous animals... Of course I wouldn't put my child in danger so in the stroller he stayed. We left a quarter of the way through the tour with our son and went to explore the beach. read more

Wildhaven Ranch - Zoos Near Me - Cedar Glen, California

Had no idea this place ever existed! Such a wonderful place to visit and see wildlife animals like eagles, coyotes, bears, and snakes. These volunteers are amazing for devoting their time to help the care of these animals. read more

Wildhaven Ranch - Zoos Near Me - Cedar Glen, California

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This is a very unique informal group tour of San Bernardino wildlife that has a very personal story behind it. While there are a small number of animals present, the visit at each enclosure provides unique information and viewing. Well worth a visit in support of this nonprofit sanctuary. read more

Great experience! Very interesting and informative visit. We learned a lot about local wildlife from the experienced and knowledgeable team.

Learned lots and enjoyed our tour with Roger and Courtney. The keepers had love and appreciation for the animals. Bears were definitely the highlight! Overall a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon read more

Wildhaven Ranch - Mischa - Zoos Near Me - Cedar Glen, California

We spent a week in lake arrowhead and did something different everyday. This was my favorite activity! Wildhaven is NOT a zoo...it is much better than a zoo. Information/facts and backstory provided on each animal we visited. Never had the opportunity to be this close to the animals we visited until I came to Wildhaven. Please be aware of the following information: 1)Diane, woman who runs the sanctuary is a bit different (you would have to be in order to dedicate your life to animals). If you have ever run an event/organization that relied on volunteers you would come close to understanding the frustration she must deal with on a regular basis. 2) the fee is per person including children. The fee helps support their mission and feed the animals. Think of it as a donation to a non-profit for which your receive an enjoyable two hour tour. 3) tour is closer to 2 hours maybe longer if guests have questions. 4) follow the directions on the website- not your phone or gps 5) not suitable for children under 5. Lots of listening and standing. She will allow children but it's difficult for a child to hold attention for that long and stay quiet. If you do decide to bring small children be warned and don't expect the sanctuary to understand how children behave. They will be asked to keep quiet and generally behave in a way that is difficult for smaller children. Be reasonable and choose a different activity for children under 5. read more

A great intimate tour when the head is the Board is giving the tour, you'll enjoy her unique connection to the animals and stories.

My husband and almost 2 year old and I had a great time. The staff was very informative. The highlight was feeding the bobcat, Lexus. It was a unique experience. We had a wonderful experience and would go back. Make sure you have verbal or emailed directions. Your GPS will get you lost. read more

It was okay, animals were lovely. Host not very nice to her employees. She is very rude to them and kept cutting them off.

We enjoyed seeing live animals that are so well taken care of by the very passionate and attentive staff. Our only issue was that the tour was too long. You definitely get a lot for the $15 admission, but it could be improved if the guides shortened the tour by 30 minutes. We don't mean to say that they should skip over any of the majestic animals, but perhaps find ways to move from one attraction to another more quickly. This is not a zoo, it's a conservation and rehabilitation center that only gives one tour every Saturday, so I can see why their guides aren't as polished as a tour guide at a zoo. That being said, we appreciate all the care and love they provide for these animals. Our favorites were the California black bears and the raccoons. read more

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I love this organization that loves and helps these beautiful creatures! The staff is amazing and my date and I had such a wonderful time and going to visit again next month read more

One-of-a-kind experience! This is a unique wildlife sanctuary where animals are cared for as part of the family by their passionate caretakers. We loved hearing the story behind each animal and how they came to live there, how they are cared for, and so much educational information and details about each animal. Diane is a wealth of information and her love and passion for this work and for each of her animals, is evident. It is so admirable how she has dedicated her life to rescuing animals. During the tour, an effort is made to allow every person to hear the explanations and see the animals up close as they respond to the trainers and are fed. Social distancing maintained at the same time. Follow the directions on the website. My family will always remember this experience! read more

Wow, what a great place. We took the kids with us, and our teenagers loved it. Diane and her volunteers did an amazing job. We are going again with more friends who are interested in animals and the great outdoors. You need to hear Diane howl like a coyote, and the coyotes answer back. It is amazing. You will learn a lot by listening and observing. This is a must see in the mountains here. Keith read more

First class wildlife preserve. Informative, great staff. Really enjoyed my visit the entire visit is with multiple guides not rushing you truly enjoy what they do. Nice to see the passion for wildlife. read more

Wildhaven Ranch - Zoos Near Me - Cedar Glen, California

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What a wonderful place: they take such great care of the animals, they are so happy. Both adults and children will enjoy the experience and it's worth it to pay the extra to feed the bear. Please come visit if you are in the mountains and consider supporting this organization financially. read more

Absolutely LOVED our Bear Watch and Eagle Walk tour. The highlight of the day was the optional near feeding!

We took our 6 year old grandson and they were amazing! Diane gave us an amazing tour and it was very educational! I have a broken foot so she drove me around in her golf cart! Way above and beyond! We will make it a regular visit now when we're at our vacation home in Lake Arrowhead! read more

Great tour, up close and personal with bears, coyotes, Bobcats Deer and Racoons. Knowledgeable tour guides provide info on each animal visited, along with info on the animals personal story as to why they are living at wildhaven ranch! Definitely we'll worth a visit. $20 for a 2 hour tour, such value for money! read more

My family had such a great visit here. They went to the paws and claws show and met many animals. The woman who was there was very fun and knowledgeable. My kids aged 10 and 13 talked about it all day and even listed this time as the favorite part of our weekend getaway. read more

Really great what they are doing here. You can always critique this and that but it was a terrific experience for the kids to get to know their native area! Thanks for opportunity! read more

What a great time we had! We were 4 adults but I think it's great for older kids (maybe 10 and up). Wear tennis shoes, dress light and bring water. Make sure you call for reservations! These are intimate group tours. The walking tour can be difficult for some b/c some parts are a bit steep, uneven and dusty. With that being said, they are very accommodating. The interns carried a chair for an elderly lady and they ran back and forth to the main office for water bottles for us ($1/bottle). Restrooms are very clean!! The tour leaders were very knowledgeable and wow! For $10/person, we saw things you could never watch in a zoo! This really was the highlight of our trip to Lake Arrowhead. Tour is about 2 hours. Thanks, again for a great time!!! We are the folks who stayed until the second feeding for Lexus the Bobcat on Saturday afternoon (6/7/14). From Downey, CA. read more

We went to Wildhaven Ranch last weekend with our kids (ages 7, 11 & 13) and it was an amazing place. We all thoroughly enjoyed the up close encounters with the animals and the personal anecdotes from all of the trainers. It's clear that they all love what they do and that the animals are respected, appreciated, and well-cared for. Highly recommend this as a stop during any visit to Lake Arrowhead. It gave the adults a chance to enjoy the amazing drive up the 'Rim of the World Highway,' en route to a destination that the kids we're excited about seeing. Five stars all the way! read more

Highly recommend this place! A great place to take children and educate them about preservation and environment!

The whole team at Wildhaven Ranch does an excellent job both caring for and sharing about the many animals that call Wildhaven home. If you love animals and are in the area, this is a great way to spend your afternoon. read more

This is a really interesting, relaxed and fun little tour of an animal sanctuary. You get to see the local wild animals pretty close and hear their stories. But what makes it really enjoyable are the volunteers- they're fun, provide a lot of interesting information and they show genuine passion for the work they do. Afterwards, you'll have a better appreciation of the local environment and its animals. Overall, great for families but even as a couple we enjoyed ourselves. For such a small fee, this non profit does not disappoint! read more

This place is fantastic. It is educational and entertaining. Those who work here are very passionate about what they do. They honestly.love what they do and they love the animals they care for. Staff is personable and friendly. read more

Magical experience! Went with my family for my birthday - learned a lot, saw some beautiful animals, and fell in love with an incredible organization. read more

This place is so wonderful! We took our kids - 11, 8, 5 they were very attentive and loved seeing the animals up close. The guide was very knowledgable and informative. This is not a zoo so please don't compare - its a nonprofit that cares for animals that were once wounded and can not be released into the wild. I look forward to returning with friends and family. I thought the tour was just long enough. Loved seeing all the animals - bears were our favorite! read more

My family and I were delighted to spend our afternoon at Wildhaven Ranch. The work they are doing/have done is inspiring. Our daughter (6) thoroughly enjoyed each presentation. On our way home we asked her what her favorite part was and she said "It was all so great! I can't pick just one." I would definitely recommend to anyone in the area. It is wonderful to see and learn how/why wild animals are injured and what we can do to help. I was thankful that we learned what role each animal plays in our ecosystem as to respect each creature and their purpose. I could write a novel about how great today was but I will leave it with- go and have fun! Be prepared to listen and learn for about two hours and be mesmerized by some of God's beautiful creatures. Thank you Wildhaven for a wonderful experience. We will see you again soon! read more

I would recommend visiting here if you are near or in the area. Some words of warning though: if you use GPS you will be lead to the back of Wildhaven Ranch which you cannot access. You must use the directions on their website although from my experience, they're not much better. Because of the difficult directions we arrived half an hour late and were met with a surly attitude from one of the female docents both on the phone and in person. I'd say the best part of the tour was seeing the black bears -- a highlight was watching a female eat a watermelon, very cute. The docents are all volunteers and very compassionate about what they do. This would be a good place to take very well-behaved children. read more

What an excellent fun experience- great for families of all ages! Bears, coyotes, raccoons, deer and more being cared for and protected. The explanations and answers were excellent too. Thank you! read more

It's sad to see all the negative reviews here, I think those who wrote them may have missed the mission of what this place is trying to do. My husband and I just went on a tour this past Saturday, 02.17.18. First off, Wildhaven is pretty clear about not being a zoo on their website. They are a state-owned sanctuary, so don't expect a zoo environment. They also caution that it's not the best place for children under 5; the tour is long and the facility itself is hilly and wild. It's evident that all of the staff there (100% whom are volunteers) care deeply for the animals and about educating the public on how to preserve their populations and homes. Diane, the director, is a character and I say that with all the fondness in my heart. She loves the animals like her own children and has an amazing way of communicating with them. Her husband, Roger, cracks jokes and was eager to answer any questions. Diane doesn't yell at her staff. She does, however, bicker with her husband. Anyone who's been married for more than a minute can understand. Betsy and Anna, other staff members, we're very knowledgeable and tailored their answers and information to be suitable for a group of fifty of us, ranging from 3-70 something years of age. The tour is two hours long and you're walking or standing most of the tour. It's steep and unpaved, so not wheelchair-accessible. Your entrance fee, $20 each, goes directly back into the fund to feed the animals you've just seen. If you're in the area, make a visit. You'll learn something new and get an experience close-up with animals you'd never get at a zoo. This Sanctuary is the perfect example of a group of people who've dedicated their time and their talents to protecting the animals, ecosystem, and state they love. 100% recommend! read more