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Doris Day Equine Center
Visit the Ranch of Dreams
The Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch is a world-renowned animal sanctuary in Murchison, Texas that was founded in 1979 by author and animal advocate Cleveland Amory. The sanctuary is not a zoo but is now open to the public 1-2 times per month for small, prescheduled, guided tours to respect the peace and privacy of the animals. Check out our events page for upcoming tour dates, and schedule your Ranch of Dreams tour today!
Schedule Your Tour Now!
The Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch is a world-renowned animal sanctuary in Murchison, Texas. The ranch was founded in 1979 by author and animal advocate Cleveland Amory. And in 2014 the board of directors of The Fund for Animals voted unanimously to memorialize its late, great founder by renaming its flagship animal sanctuary in his honor.
With over 1,400 acres, it is home to more than 800 domestic and exotic animals, many of whom have been rescued from near-death situations such as slaughterhouses, biomedical research laboratories and trophy hunting ranches. Others have been rescued from roadside zoos or were former victims of the exotic pet trade. Still others came from public lands where they were threatened with extermination by the federal government. Bison and cattle, horses and burros, antelope and apes, camels and tigers: all have permanent, safe homes at the ranch.
The sanctuary is not a zoo and is only open to the public for private, small, guided tours to respect the peace and privacy of the animals.
You can choose to purchase a one-time visit or you can become a sustainer member through a monthly donation, giving you access to an even more intimate experience as a Fund supporter.
Tour tickets to visit the sanctuary
You will receive emails with updates and stories about all the work of The Fund.
Donor Bricks
As a thank-you for being a sustainer, you will be given the opportunity to place a custom brick in our donor walk.
1. Apes and Monkeys
You will learn about our many primates rescued from research laboratories and the private pet trade, now living a free life in sanctuary.
2. Pigs, Goats and More
At the next stop, you'll see our farm pigs, goats, sheep, turkeys and chickens. These rescued animals are enjoying their new lives at Black Beauty Ranch.
3. Big Cats
Here you will get to see our expansive big cat habitat. All of our big cats were rescued from deplorable conditions.
4. Native Wildlife
Black Beauty Ranch is a sanctuary for rescued animals, but it's also a release site for rehabilitated native wildlife. It also provides a safe home to many native species.
5. Non-Native Wildlife
Our 35-acre non-native wildlife habitat is home to more than 100 animals, many of whom were saved from being sold to captive hunting operations.
6. Cows and Steers
This section of the property is where our free-roaming cows and steers enjoy their days lounging in the sun. We'll bet you've never met an elderly cow before!
7. Doris Day Equine Center
Meet the horses at our Doris Day Equine Center, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and training of rescued equine from all over the country.
8. Wild Pigs
Our 19-acre wild pig pen is home to rescued wild pigs. A non-native species, they've become a wildlife and farming issue after being introduced to the U.S.
9. Horses
Our expansive pastures are home to many homeless horses rescued from cruelty, neglect, slaughter and exploitation.
10. Burros
True to our roots, we provide sanctuary to hundreds of wild burros saved from extermination and slaughter.
Download a PDF version of the Tour map.
We work to protect wildlife from captive hunting, the fur trade, the exotic pet trade, Canada's commercial seal slaughter, horse slaughter, habitat loss, urbanization and more.
Learn More and Take Action
Equine Protection
We fight to safeguard the welfare of horses, burros and donkeys. We work to end cruelty and abuse, horse slaughter and irresponsible breeding while encouraging responsible horse ownership and providing support and resources to the horse rescue community.
Farm Animal Protection
We work on many fronts to protect farm animals from some of the most egregious abuses on factory farms. In the last decade, we've seen significant reforms in the way farm animals are treated, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Primate Protection
We encourage and advance innovations to replace the use of animals in scientific research. Until such alternatives are available, we will work to reduce the number of animals used and refine research to decrease animal suffering.
Companion Animal Protection
We know pets are important parts of your family. We help you enjoy your furry and winged companions and solve any problems that prevent you both from purring. And we can also show you how to improve the lives of the companion animals next door, in shelters and on the streets.
Fund for the Animals
1255 23rd Street NW,