Big Red's Barn Indoor Animal Experience and Education — Attraction in Idaho

I like the barn, and my kids have a fun time. I only have a few issues/concerns. They have it posted about holding the ferrets at certain times, that’s understandable. Except they never do it at the times and then seem annoyed they have to find someone to do it. The biggest snake they have in the reptile room, it’s a bigger python I can’t remember the name, is in a cage like enclosure that’s taller than it is long, and so small the snake can’t lay out extended even half of its length let alone fully stretch out, and is on concrete. I understand having a large snake would make it difficult to house, but they have a toy/play area in the back by the prairie dogs that could be completely removed to make room for something more suitable for a snake that large. I don’t know much about the Asian small clawed otters they have, but having them in a cement slab room with an empty plastic pool doesn’t seem like the most enriching area/enclosure for them. I get they’re just a barn/petting zoo, but if you’re going to have other animals besides farm/livestock I think more care should be put into their housing/areas in the facility. I’ve already seen how the owner responds to any criticism on reviews so I’m curious to see the justification she tries to give. A little steep of a price unless your kids will want to stay for over an hour, especially because kids and adults are the same price and the most interaction can only be done with the animals in the front area, but they are very food motivated so just be ready for them to jump on you or be pushy (doesn’t bother us), the llama is the worst about personal space and will steal any food he can right from your hand but doesn’t like being pet so he’ll leave you alone if you put your hand on him and pet him.

Edited to add: response still does not give a good excuse for housing a large reptile in a too small enclosure, I understand it’s expensive and to build a bigger enclosure for that snake would cost a lot, but if you don’t have the money to properly house the animal maybe you...

I was planning on getting a year pass and I'm glad I didn't. I went to the barn today with my children and didn't have a pleasant experience. My 2 year old was excited and jumped then fell. The young gentlemen that helped us in, laughed and said that was the first rule. I wasn't sure what that meant, but sort of ignored it. As my boys excitedly went in, I was abruptly told to read rules. I believe that should be the first things said to you before you enter the gate. I stopped to read them to myself, because I already went over how to act around animals. I grew up in FFA and know do's/don'ts of barn etiquette. The gentleman who abruptly stopped me started to laugh at me and tell me to read them out loud to my children, that adults should know the rules. I found this very disrespectful and couldn't believe he'd mock me in front of my children. So that's why I'd suggest the rules outside the building before you enter, because children are too excited to wait at that time. Also, this place should really only be for children that are older. I felt like we were watched like a hawk from that moment on and anytime my children jumped with excitement, we were going to be scolded about the rules. I should have just asked for my money back and left, but didn't want to experience disappointed children.

Edit: I understand rules are important and I had already gone over rules with my children. No one mentioned rules before we walked into the facility until we were past the rules. I'm surprised you show no remorse for laughing at someone multiple times. That is completely inappropriate behavior for a business. We will...

We made the mistake of visiting Red’s Big Barn on 8-10-25. I brought my family of 10 with me there because my sister’s wanted to see a capybara . I spent $105 for 7 of the family members that wanted to go inside, even though you had to pay an extra $35 a person to visit the capybara, which we did not spend after finding out it was extra. I also bought four small buckets of food for $7 dollars a bucket so the kids could feed the animals. Keep in mind my 80 year old father, mother, and I didn’t go inside the petting zoo part. We were just standing on the inside by the entrance. After spending $133 dollars, there for 10 minutes, the store owner’s mother came over to my father, mother, and I who are Hispanic, not sure if this also has anything to do with it also, she asked us to leave in a very rude manner. She said “You didn’t pay for the AC in here so I am going to ask you to leave.” I truly thought she was joking. When I realized she was serious my father and mother walked out of the building. I felt extremely disrespected and asked for my money back. They continued to insult and argue with me. Trying to justify why we couldn’t stand in the entry way. When purchasing our tickets the clerk never once mentioned we could not stand in entry way. We were taking pictures of the family and not blocking anyone. They were rude and very condescending. I will never return and advise others to...