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

A local Ostrich Farm c Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center In the late s and early s Southern Californians celebrating Thanksgiving didn t just carve turkeys chosen 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 in the current era 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 state and booming tourism industry made it a prime location for enterprising ranchers eager to capitalize on the craze Two images of San Diego County The top image is of an ostrich farm in Fallbrook with ostriches moving around in a fenced corral and the hill behind them The lower image is of the old trading post and hot springs at Warner s Hot Springs The springs are in the foreground with the trading post up the hill on the left Photos courtesy of San Diego History Center Fallbrook Out in Bonsall near modern-day Fallbrook E J Johnson imported several dozen ostriches from South Africa in the early s founding an -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 remarkable creatures up close long before traditional zoos became widespread Bentley s Bentley Ostrich Farm storefront in Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center 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 Ostrich feathers seen here in were used in fashion during the heyday of ostrich farmin places like San Diego Photo via Wikipedia pubic domain 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 Bentley Ostrich Farm two young girls sitting on the ground with baby ostriches c Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center Bentley Ostrich Farm s owner Mr Bentley on a bird c Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center 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 Ostrich Farms Cawston Farm Blanche Fleming c Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center Craze Declines By the late s as demand for plumes declined Bentley s farm closed in and Mission Cliff Gardens soon followed In current times 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 View of Bentley Ostrich Farm at Mission Cliff Gardens in University Heights in Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center Seeing Ostriches In current times For those interested in ostriches in Southern California in current times Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm in Alpine is the best option The -acre sanctuary operated by the Children s Nature Retreat Foundation provides a home to more than animals across species including a resident ostrich and emu Unlike the commercial farms of the past Alpine Acres focuses on rescue rehabilitation and schooling 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 The ostrich at Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm Photo courtesy of Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm Her philosophy centers on fostering compassion encouraging visitors to slow down observe and connect with animals in a respectful non-exploitative setting And last but not least the emu at Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm Photo courtesy of Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm Fun Fact The largest commercial ostrich ranch in the United States is Superior Ostrich in Valley Mills Texas Covering acres it raises more than 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 the present day 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