Montebello Barnyard Zoo

The inspiration

The zoo sits on a corner of Grant Rea Park and has existed since the 1960s, started with a barn and a pond, and grew from there¹ .

Who's behind it

Rolando Wolovich, who died in June 2024 at age 68, owned the zoo for about 35 years¹ . Born in Argentina, he rode on an equestrian team there, moved to the US in 1981, and worked first cleaning horse stalls before training riders and running a stable in Montebello^1,2 . Melanie Wolovich, who runs the day-to-day animal care and public outreach, now carries the operation forward^2,3 .

What to order

• Pony rides: a classic for small children, run by the staff handlers .^4,2
• The John Deere ride: a tractor-themed add-on the owner built himself .^4,1
• The petting zoo: up-close time with over 50 animals, many of them rescues .^4,1
• Mining for stones: a quieter activity when the kids need a break from the animals .⁴

Why you should try it

If you're staying nearby with young kids, this is a compact, walkable morning of feeding friendly barnyard animals and riding ponies^4,5 . It's also a rescue-minded, family-run operation that has served this corner of the San Gabriel Valley for generations^2,5 .