A Home-Turned-Petting Zoo in Malibu

After the 2019 death of their infant daughter, Ben and Stacey Herman channeled their grief into something the little girl had loved: animals.

- E.B. Solomont

At their home in Malibu, Calif., the couple opened a nonprofit petting zoo stocked with miniature pygmy goats, babydoll sheep and zebras. They named it Aspen Hope Ranch after their baby girl, who was born with a rare genetic disorder and died at 13 months old. Today, the ranch is a place where families can learn about, touch and interact with animals. "She loved animals and we love animals as a family," said Ben, 35, a former tech entrepreneur and investor. "It was our way of giving back."

Not anticipating the zoo would become as popular as it did-Ben estimated several thousand people have visited in recent months the Hermans are now listing the ranch for $20 million and plan to buy a more private family residence, where they will move with their four young children. The goal is to relocate the zoo somewhere nearby. "We want to continue the nonprofit by finding space to run it separate from our family home," Ben said.

Set on about 2.55 acres with ocean views, Aspen Hope Ranch comprises a roughly 5,100-squarefoot main residence, a guesthouse and equestrian facilities, including 11 stalls, a riding arena and several pastures.

U.K. natives, the Hermans moved to the U.S. about a decade ago. Ben co-founded the diversity recruiting platform Canvas and later co-founded a venture-capital firm. The family was living in Brentwood with their two older daughters when Aspen was born in 2018.