Montebello Barnyard Zoo

Montebello Barnyard Zoo is a small outdoor animal attraction inside Grant Rea Park at 600 Rea Drive. Its simple format works best for toddlers and younger elementary children who want direct activity rather than a long day of exhibit viewing. The operator lists a petting zoo, pony rides, a John Deere-themed ride, animal feed, a picnic area, a playground, and party spaces.

The City of Montebello confirms that the zoo is run by a contracted vendor at the park.

Animal contact is controlled. The operator says visitors may feed and pet ponies, donkeys, sheep, and goats. Other animals have different diets, and families should not throw food into the duck pond. This is a useful rule to explain before handing a child a feed bag. Closed-toe shoes and hand cleaning after contact are sensible preparations for the farm setting.

General admission is posted at $11 per person. Optional prices include $12 for a pony ride, $10 for the John Deere ride, $3 for animal feed, and $10 for stone mining. A posted weekend special costs $24 per child and includes the pony ride, John Deere ride, and petting zoo.

That bundle appears cheaper than buying those three items separately, but families should confirm what is included and whether it is available on their visit date. The official pages do not publish age, height, or weight limits for rides.

The largest planning problem is the schedule. The operator’s homepage says regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A separate official contact page says Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Because the pages conflict, call 213-718-5442 before leaving. The operator also asks guests to call during rain or extreme heat to confirm that the zoo is open.

This is not a dependable rainy-day destination. Most activities are outdoors, and weather can cancel the outing. Plan about one to two hours for the zoo, then add time for the park playground or a picnic if conditions are comfortable. Snacks and soda are sold, but full meal choices and concession hours are not verified.