Rancho Grande, tucked in the hills near Ojai, is not a resort in the traditional sense. It’s a working farm where you can stay in a cabin or one of two luxury tents, cook your meals in a full kitchen, and explore acres of land with nothing but a Gator, an e-bike, and your sense of adventure. My family and I went for a weekend, and while we were only there a few days, it felt like we had space to slow down in a way we don’t at home.

The ranch has plenty to do. There’s a basketball court, baseball field, fishing spots, paddle boats, and e-bikes. The animals are everywhere - goats, alpacas, horses, dogs, and Albert the Camel. It’s not unusual to eat breakfast on the cabin deck and have Albert stroll by, or to find goats climbing onto the Gator while you explore the property.

What stood out to me most was how open it felt. With only one cabin and 2 tents, it never seemed crowded. During our stay, it was just us, another family, and the owner, Richard Murad and his family. They treated us more like guests in their home than customers. Richard gave us a personal tour, while his son Alex took us to his favorite fishing spots. That kind of attention made the place feel personal.

The days felt free but full.  My brother and I played basketball, then ended up in the Rock Room - a game room with a grand piano, pool table, games, and space to hang out. Later, we went fishing, rode e-bikes, and made s’mores in one of the many fire pits. We took paddleboats out on the water, and at night, we used a huge telescope to look at the stars.

And then there was Albert. At first, I figured a camel would just be another animal on the ranch, but he was impossible to ignore. He was tall enough to look over our cabin roof, but calm and curious. Feeding him and watching him wander across the grounds made him one of the highlights of the trip.

What makes Rancho Grande special is how it blends the comforts of a getaway with the unpredictability of life on a farm. You’ve got a cabin, comfortable tents, and space to relax, but you also have the thrill of never knowing if your next visitor will be a dog, a goat, or a camel.

For families looking for something different, Rancho Grande is the kind of place that gives kids room to run, teens space to explore, and plenty of activities and downtime for the entire family.