Visit The Gentle Barn
The Gentle Barn is currently located in Los Angeles, California, Nashville, Tennessee. It is open to the public once a week for guests to hug the cows, give the pigs tummy rubs, cuddle the turkeys, feed the horses, hold the chickens, and learn their stories of resilience. During the rest of the week The Gentle Barn is available for private tours, VIP all day tours, school field trips, birthday parties, groups of at risk, inner city, and special needs kids, and special events.
NOTE: Because of the State of Emergency due to the Avian Flu, we will not be allowing anyone with their own outdoor birds or cows onto the property at this time. We will require everyone going into the animal areas to step on a disinfecting mat and use hand sanitizer. We are not taking in any new animals at this time.
Open To The Public, On Sundays
We cannot guarantee tickets at-the-door.
Private Tours, Field Trips, & Other Services
Hosted during the week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
(Not available during public open Sunday)
Private Tours
Step inside The Gentle Barn for an up-close, unforgettable experience with our rescued animals. Our tours offer a deeper look at sanctuary life, the animals’ stories, and the healing that happens here, for them and for you.
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Family Tour
In this tour you’ll have the barnyard to yourself and with the help of your tour guide, you’ll brush cows, meet the horses and donkeys, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens, pet goats, and sheep, give pigs tummy rubs, and so much more. Being at The Gentle Barn is like walking through a giant storybook where you’ll hear the animals’ stories of resilience and learn what they teach us about forgiveness, unconditional love, and living in the moment. You are sure to fall in love with animals more deeply than ever before.
- Donation: $400
- Guests: 1 - 10
- Days: Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat
- Times: 10a-12p or 2p-4p
Intended to be in intimate experience for a small group of close friends/family.
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Group Tour
This tour follows the same format and description of the Family Tour but is intended for a larger group of adults only from mixed households as part of an organized group activity. This tour is perfect for a company team building activity.
- Donation: $500
- Guests: 11 - 20 (Adults Only)
- Days: Tue, Wed, Thu, & Sat
- Times: 10a-12p or 2p-4p
Intended to be in intimate experience for a small group of organized adults only. Ideal for company team building.
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Party Tour
Try something new and different, have your next party at The Gentle Barn. Not just for kids, our parties are great for ages 6 to adult! Listen to an engaging presentation about the animals, then hug the cows, meet the horses and donkeys, give the pigs tummy rubs, hold the chickens, cuddle the turkeys, pat the goats and sheep, and so much more. Once you and your party have worked up an appetite, loving animals, have a meal and cake on our picnic tables. Out of respect for the animals, we ask that your meal and cake be vegan. Our staff are happy to give you recommendations if needed.
- Donation: $600
- (Up to 20 people) $30/person over 20
- Max 30 people total
- Days:Tue, Wed, Thu, & Sat
- All guests 2yrs+ count toward total
- Celebration must be for 6yrs+
- Times: 10a-1p or 1p-4p
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All-Day Tour
You’ll have the barnyard to yourself as your guide you will get insight and stories of the barnyard that can only be told the best by them. You’ll brush cows, meet the horses and donkeys, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens, pet goats, and sheep, give pigs tummy rubs, and so much more. Being at The Gentle Barn is like walking through a giant storybook where you’ll hear the animals’ stories of resilience and learn what they teach us about forgiveness, unconditional love, and living in the moment. You are sure to fall in love with animals more deeply than ever before.
- Donation: $1,000
- Guests: 1 - 5 (14yrs+)
- Days: Tue, Wed, Thu, & Sat
- Times: 10a-4p
- Vegan Lunch Included
- (CA ONLY) Main & Healing Center properties
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All-Day Founder's Tour
You'll have the barnyard to yourself as the founder of The Gentle Barn, Ellie Laks gives insight and stories of the barnyard that can only be told the best by them. You’ll brush cows, meet horses and donkeys, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens, pet goats, and sheep, give pigs tummy rubs, and so much more. Being at The Gentle Barn is like walking through a giant storybook where you’ll hear the animals’ stories of resilience and learn what they teach us about forgiveness, unconditional love, and living in the moment. You are sure to fall in love with animals more deeply than ever before.
Reservation for our Founder's Tour is handled offline.
- Donation: $2,000
- Guests: 1 - 5 (14yrs+)
- Days: Tue, Wed, Thu, & Sat
- Times: 10a-4p
- Vegan Lunch Included
- Guided by: Founder, Ellie Laks
- (CA ONLY) Main & Healing Center properties
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Virtual Tour
Live too far away from The Gentle Barn to visit in person? No worries, we have virtual tours where you can meet the animals, hear their stories, and get to know them. Perfect for any animal lover, family, or classroom where you can ask questions and learn about animals in a deeper way than ever before. Meet our rescued horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, llamas, and emu. Learn their names, witness their larger-than-life personalities, fall in love, and feel like you are here with us.
Field Trips
The Gentle Barn’s field trips offer K–12 students a unique blend of environmental education and social-emotional learning through hands-on experiences with rescued farmed animals. Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), our program explores topics like ecosystems, animal behavior, and human impact on the environment, while also fostering empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence.
Other Services
The Gentle Barn offers private experiences designed to support healing, connection, and personal growth. This section highlights services like Cow Hug Therapy®, Equine Therapy, and Barnyard Therapy, each offering a unique way to slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience the transformative power of animals in a one-on-one setting.
If you’re a nonprofit organization or in need of financial assistance, please visit our Programs page to explore options for low or no-cost group visits.
The Gentle Barn's staff or volunteers are there to facilitate the connection and provide safety between you and the animals, but they are NOT therapists, and in no way offer medical or mental health advice themselves. In the event that additional mental health support is needed, The Gentle Barn recommends reaching out to a licensed mental health clinician.
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Cow Hug Therapy
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Equine Therapypy
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Barnyard Therapy
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Special Events
Looking to have a group of 50 or more people? We’d love to have you, no matter what event you have in mind. We host weddings, bar and bat mitzvas, and corporate functions. Our wide-open spaces dotted with trees, barns, and loving animals make our location the perfect outdoor, peaceful experience for any event to be remembered.
Reservation for a Special Event is handled offline.