Jamul Trails Ranch, California’s hidden gem nestled in the rolling hills of East San Diego County, announced its opening as the premier destination for petting zoo tours, educational field trips, kids’ aquarium workshops, and as an event and party venue. For those seeking a rare combination of animal experiences, knowledge, hands-on opportunities and natural beauty. This ranch provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the best of ranch living.
Jamul Trails Ranch is a family-owned ranch owned by Kim and Pat Dillon that has been operating since 2015. Simply put, they love animals. Their goal is providing a happy, friendly, stress-free environment for all their visitors, in the San Diego area. “Our vision for Jamul Trails Ranch, “Is to become the Premier Petting Zoo in San Diego offering amazing experiences for kids to learn and experience first-hand the joys of our animals,” said Kim Dillon, founder of Jamul Trails Ranch. “We’ve carefully crafted an environment that is friendly, safe and positive.”
Her husband and Founder Pat Dillon said it is a small ranch with 14 horses, most family horses with a couple of boarders. So, there is plenty of horse riding at the ranch.
“I have small Airbnb’s here that we have here. It was Airbnb’s that showed me how much all the kids were interested in the animals. We would have people that would book them weekend after weekend, like once a month just to come and see all the animals,” he said. “I set things up and started a petting zoo so kids could come in, ride the tortoises, play with the goats, chickens, geese, ducks, horses, donkeys, rabbits, so one thing led to another.”
Dillon said its Airbnb’s are on the Airbnb site. Jamul Trails’ Airbnb is a mare hotel, where mares are placed to have babies, which he gutted and made into three small apartments, and they stay booked all the time. “We have people coming here from all over the world,” he said.
Dillon said then they started being asked to have birthday parties.
“Which was nice. Our facilities are very event oriented. We have a center courtyard with picnic tables and shade. We do birthday, graduation parties, and alike. We do a lot with preschools and elementary schools. We work with the teachers on educational things they are learning. If they are studying eggs in their science class, when the classes come, I go over chickens and how the eggs are made, when they start incubating, and when they start growing. Sometimes I make incubators for the schools, and they hatch them, so they get all that experience,” he said. “It is all primarily educational based.”
Dillan said they show students ground manners with the horses, show people how to tack them up, work with them, feed them, how to take care of them, clean up after them, wash and groom, and how to ride them.
“We do a little bit of a lot of things,” he said. “But the petting zoo is fun. Moms bring the kids and post to our Instagram. If you go to our website and click on our Instagram account, you really get a feel of what these kids get out of the petting zoo and our activities.”
Dillan said he just added a fish room because of his love of aquariums.
“I am going to be doing aquarium workshops, so if a kid wants to get an aquarium. I do a mini workshop where they learn about air filtration systems and everything you need to know about aquariums, along with all the things that you do not need. Then we build a one-gallon aquarium with a working filter system, lights, heater, and fish, and they get to take them home with them,” he said. Dillan said the ranch is morphing into larger events and working with the schools.
“Schools like Avondale Elementary in Spring Valley, they bring a class out a week. They go to fifth grade, so it takes a few weeks to get through all the classes. They do a class once a week. They get an introduction to everything and learn about all the animals. Then, whatever they are tying in going forward with their classes, we match it up to make it a hands-on experience to go along with their education,” he said. “It is amazing. Most kids in San Diego do not have access to rabbits and horses and chickens. Rural kids do a little bit, but most kids that come here have never held a chicken or watched a chicken egg hatch.”
Dillon said the ranch is open every day, but all visits and events are scheduled.
“We book everything. So, if a group of moms want to come, we make an appointment, I pick them up at the gate. I do a hayride with the kids, and then I take them through everything. It is not just a walk-in because there are so many things going on. Not only are horses being ridden and trained here, but also, it takes about an hour and a half to go through all the petting zoo animals and really learn, touch, and feed while having a good time doing it. To make it more reasonable for everyone, we do it in groups and prebook it,” he said.
Dillon said in 2025 he is going to start a City Slicker Camp.
“I’m doing eight-day camps, either eight Saturdays or eight days in a row, and show kids everything that they need to know on working on a ranch. After eight visits, they get a certificate which shows that if they go anywhere to work, they know what to do for the animals. Many kids do not have experience on a ranch. But when you learn, those are things that you keep with you. Even if you have only done eight days, those are experiences that most kids never have. Two kids that worked here off and on with me both got jobs right down the street from me and got those jobs right away by just by telling them that they worked for Pat,” he said. “Everybody on a ranch is looking for labor. If kids have a little bit of experience, they can go out and benefit from that.”
Key features of Jamul Trails Ranch include:
Seasonal Events: Experience your next party surrounded in a festive ranch setting with friendly animals at the Premier Petting Zoo in San Diego. Let Jamul Trails Ranch make your event truly special. They have customized packages and friendly staff that will no doubt create an unforgettable experience tailored to your needs. The ranch offers a variety of event spaces ideal for weddings, corporate retreats, Holiday parties and social gatherings, with breathtaking outdoor backdrops.
Kids Birthday Parties: Enjoy time meeting our ranch animals. Our basic experience will expose you to intimate time spent with our animal friends. Feed, hold, pet all on a guided tour by Pat Dillon, your guide. Great time to take pictures to document your guest’s visit.
Educational Field Trips for Groups: A great experience for preschools, and young kids up to about fifth grade. Your guide will lead you through the Petting Zoo tour with his knowledge of living and growing up on a ranch. You will feed, hold and pet all our animals! Designed for larger groups. Ranch is safe and clean with restrooms and handwashing facilities.
Private Family Petting Zoo Tour: The Premier Petting Zoo in San Diego! Enjoy time meeting the Ranch animals. Kids may hold, pet, and feed the silky chickens, pygmy goats, giant tortoise, dwarf bunnies, and baby chicks, Sam the goose, ducks, brush the mini donkey Noel, and feed friendly horses’ carrots all on a guided tour led by your guide
Kids Aquarium Workshop Party: An educational aquatic experience. Tour Jamul Trails Ranch’s fish room and learn the basics of fish keeping and the science behind it. Everyone will build and decorate their own fully functioning fish tank, then catch their own fish to put in it. The tanks have a light, filter system, and water change system. All systems are USB driven so it is safe to put in the kids’ bedroom. You also receive food and full instructions.
City Slickers Day/Summer Camps: During the camp, participants will work with donkeys, horses, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, tortoises, and fish; participating in all aspects of keeping the ranch moving. Participants will also learn beginning horse riding skills. In addition, they will have the added experience of running a full fish room with over 200 tanks. They will arrive a city slicker and go home a rancher.
For more information, visit jamultrailsranch.com.
