San Diego’s ostrich farms: A feathered past — and a living legacy

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Southern Californians celebrating Thanksgiving didn’t just carve turkeys — some might have watched ostriches strut across ranches and gardens instead. While fashion favored plumes, tourists flocked to see exotic birds, and San Diego hosted its own ostrich farms.

Out in Bonsall and near downtown, these long-necked creatures were local stars, sharing the spotlight with holiday feasts in a uniquely feathered twist on the season.

To understand why ostriches once dotted the California landscape, it helps to remember the world into which they arrived. Ostrich feathers (still used today) were a highly sought-after international luxury item, adorning hats, capes, and gowns worn by society’s elite. At their peak, plumes were so valuable they were traded on commodities markets and, ounce for ounce, could fetch more than gold. California’s warm climate and booming tourism industry made it a prime location for enterprising ranchers eager to capitalize on the craze.

Fallbrook

Out in Bonsall (near modern-day Fallbrook), E.J. Johnson imported several dozen ostriches from South Africa in the early 1880s, founding an 80-acre operation known as the American Ostrich Co. The area’s legacy lingers: Ostrich Creek Bridge still stands as a quiet reminder of that feathered era. Johnson’s ranch joined a statewide trend — exotic-animal attractions were popping up everywhere, part of an “oddity boom” that drew curious visitors who longed to see unusual creatures up close long before traditional zoos became widespread.

Bentley’s

Closer to the city, Harvey Bentley ran the Bentley Ostrich Farm at Mission Cliff Gardens, in what is now University Heights. Visitors could ride and feed ostriches, and purchase souvenirs such as blown eggs or plumed keepsakes. At the same time, harvesters cut feathers for shipment across the country.

The sight of elegantly dressed women touring the gardens, parasols in hand, while towering ostriches strutted nearby, was not uncommon. It was an era of novelty, spectacle, and occasional chaos — ostriches were not known for their cooperation.

Cawston

San Diego was far from alone in this craze. The famed Cawston Ostrich Farm in South Pasadena drew crowds with ostrich rides, races, and feathered novelties — a reminder that the ostrich boom was a regional trend. But it was also short-lived. After World War I, fashion changed, feather demand plummeted, and synthetic materials became inexpensive alternatives. Within a decade, the once-thriving feather industry collapsed.

Craze Declines

By the late 1920s, as demand for plumes declined, Bentley’s farm closed in 1929, and Mission Cliff Gardens soon followed. Today, only fragments remain: parts of the stone wall and a historic marker at Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue recall the birds that once roamed there. A century later, these remnants serve as reminders of a time when ostriches were as much a part of San Diego tourism as beaches and sunshine.

Seeing Ostriches Today

For those interested in ostriches in Southern California today, Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm in Alpine is the best option. The 20-acre sanctuary, operated by the Children’s Nature Retreat Foundation, provides a home to more than 210 animals across 29 species — including a resident ostrich and emu. Unlike the commercial farms of the past, Alpine Acres focuses on rescue, rehabilitation, and education. Visitors can explore the grounds on guided or self-guided tours, learn about the birds’ habits and quirks, and see firsthand how modern animal care differs from the practices of a century ago.

“We have one ostrich and one emu. Yes, you can view them and feed them at the fence.”

Agnes Barrelet, Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm

As Founder and Executive Director, Agnes Barrelet explained, “We have one ostrich and one emu. Yes, you can view them and feed them at the fence.”

Her philosophy centers on fostering compassion, encouraging visitors to slow down, observe, and connect with animals in a respectful, non-exploitative setting.

Fun Fact: The largest commercial ostrich ranch in the United States is Superior Ostrich in Valley Mills, Texas. Covering 335 acres, it raises more than 1,000 free-range ostriches, supplying meat, eggs, and feathers nationwide — a modern evolution of the industry that once thrived in California.

And so, San Diego’s ostrich heritage lives on — not just in photographs and historic markers, but in living animals cared for today, bridging the quirky past with a more compassionate present.

Sources:

• Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm
• Superior Ostrich Ranch
• Fallbrook Remembers the American Ostrich Company, Village News
• Mission Cliff Gardens, Hidden San Diego
• Cawston Ostrich Farm
• San Diego Historical Society archives