WONDERING ABOUT THE RANCH?

Our ranch on the Plateau in Murrieta, California, grew up out of the pale green hills as if it had always been part of the scenery.  We experience cool ocean breezes, spectacular views of the plateau, the vineyards and a real sense of peace at our little piece of heaven. We never dreamed in our wildest of imagination that we'd be alpaca ranchers, breeders and sellers of elite-fleeced alpacas, but here we are, and we love it!

With 20 years in the Real Estate business, I knew it was time to change. After many discussions with Marc, we decided to get into ranching. Many people thought the two of us had lost our marbles when we chose to invest in alpacas, but it was on the drawing board. We turned empty and raw land into a beautiful ranch highlighted by an exceptional herd of animals with our dreams and sweat. What started as a project and ease into retirement turned into a passion.  

We had our work cut out to develop a wonderland of ranch beauty. We worked hard to transform the stark waterway that ran through the bottom part of the property into an emerald green pasture. We flattened a pad for a centerpiece barn, which presented some initial challenges for us. Part of the site is an area subject to seasonal weather extremes. It can be sunny and 70 degrees one day and 100 degrees the next. The ever-present fire danger in California was also a challenge that required a turnaround lane for fire trucks. We addressed these challenges with design features and created an area for a well that would provide plenty of water if needed.

The barn features three distinct areas, a fantastic tack room with a full bathroom, a cria pen that houses medicines and food. The tall ceilings highlight the gorgeous artwork that hangs on the walls. The padded flooring is ideal for our soft-hoofed alpacas. There is plenty of ventilation, keeping the living area cool with ceiling and wall fans. No height restrictions to limit the 25' ceiling of this stunning area was a plus. Heavy beams supported the roof span to ensure stability. Marc constructed comprehensive overhanging roofing to provide additional shade for the summer months. The state-of-the-art animal husbandry barn looks charming and picturesque on the outside and only gets better when you step inside. 

It seemed appropriate to add a lane along the bottom fence line to accommodate the breeding operation. This unique trail has two purposes; a way for the boys to travel from their barn to the girls for breeding and more exercise. It has been one of the best ideas we came up with, and it didn't take long for the boys to know its use. Open their gate, and within two minutes, they pronk into the lane and up to the girls' barn. 

We added a guest house which services as a fleece room, conference room, an office and a guest suite all in one space. It takes in the wonder and majesty of the volcanic plateau on the southern side of the Murrieta/Fallbrook. 

At PBR, you have access to some of the best alpacas in the world.