Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona California

The Oasis Camel Dairy
26757 Old Julian Highway (entrance Highway 78)
Ramona, CA
(760) 787-0983
cameldairy.com

Open to the public (Farm Tours and Special Events)

Gil and Nancy Riegler, owners of Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, have beautiful animals you may see at county fairs in California, including Knuckles, Goldie, Jamul and Sampson. The dromedary (one hump) camels are part of 20 at their 34-acre ranch (between Ramona and Julian), which they say became the first camel dairy in the United States in 1999. Now there are 10 such camel dairies in Colorado and other states.

"Camel milk has insulin in it and is healthy and delicious," said the husband of Nancy Riegler, known for her fabulous bird and other famous animal shows at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Using the milk, their business produces special body lotions, soaps and sells chocolate, using camel milk from Dubai.

"There are 3,000 dromedary camels in the United States and Army experiments in the 19th Century proved that camels could carry heavier loads that horses and go farther distances without stopping for food or water," he said. Unfortunately, the camels scared the heck out of horses and other animals.