Entry No. 25 — the Santa Barbara file — filed under: ostriches
OstrichLand USA
A 33-acre roadside farm devoted entirely to two flightless birds — roughly 80 ostriches plus a smaller flock of emus you hand-feed from a bowl at arm's length along Highway 246, amid jerky, eggs, and old-time roadside kitsch.
The story
You are driving along Highway 246 between the craft-beer strip of Buellton and the aggressive Danish kitsch of downtown Solvang when eight-foot-tall prehistoric silhouettes appear against the Santa Ynez hills. OstrichLand USA was established in the early 1990s by a South African gentleman who moved a flock of flightless giants to this 33-acre patch of Santa Barbara County dirt. What began as an exotic agricultural venture has outlived most of California's other bird ranches, surviving today as an unapologetic slab of classic roadside weirdness.
The property holds around 80 ostriches alongside a smaller flock of equally confrontational emus. These aren't hand-reared petting zoo animals. An ostrich packs a kick capable of felling a big cat and carries a brain smaller than its eyeball, which makes its laser focus on whatever pellets sit in your feeding pan feel intensely predatory. You didn't hear it from us, but standing eye-to-beak with an 80-mile-an-hour avian relic on a windy turnoff is about as close to a low-budget Jurassic Park encounter as California allows.
What it's like
Pay at the gift shop register and grab a heavy dust bowl mounted on a long metal handle. Out along the dirt fence line, dozens of neck-stretching birds immediately press against the wood railings. Hold the handle with both hands and brace yourself: ostriches don't politely nibble pellet feed—they strike down hard like feathered jackhammers, clattering into the metal bowl with aggressive enthusiasm. Wear closed-toe shoes unless you enjoy dirt and dust kicked over your feet, and grab some ostrich jerky or an empty, blown-out ostrich egg shell from the gift shop before getting back on the highway.
The move: Buy a feed bowl at the gate, hand-feed the ostriches and emus together (closed-toe shoes recommended — it's dusty), then pick up ostrich jerky or a blown ostrich egg from the shop on your way out.
- 📍 Solvang / Buellton
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 610 E Hwy 246, Solvang, CA 93463
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Lulu Hyggelig (Thomas Dambo Troll) — California Nature Art Museum — Trade living eight-foot birds for a colossal indoor troll built from reclaimed wine barrels under two miles away.
- Hans Christian Andersen Museum — Balance the chaotic pecking of heavy ratites with quiet fairy-tale folklore tucked above a Solvang bookstore.
- Gaviota Hot Springs (Las Cruces Hot Springs) — Rinse off the highway dust in a warm 99°F sulfur pool hidden in a canyon just off Highway 101.
Good to know
Where is OstrichLand USA located?
It is located at 610 E Hwy 246 in Santa Barbara County, positioned directly between Buellton and Solvang.
What kinds of animals live on the farm?
The 33-acre ranch houses roughly 80 ostriches alongside a smaller flock of emus.
How does hand-feeding the birds work?
You buy a bowl of feed at the gate that comes attached to a long metal handle. Because of the birds' violent pecking force, you hold the tray securely with both hands outside the fence.
What items are sold in the gift shop?
The gift shop carries farm souvenirs, ostrich jerky, and whole blown-out ostrich egg shells.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · independent.com · sfgate.com · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-20