Visiting OstrichLand USA In Solvang

As an animal lover, I enjoy traveling to destinations that offer unique wildlife experiences. One of these places is the ostrich farm in Solvang, California.

OstrichLand USA is a major tourist attraction and a family-operated ranch home to 150 ostriches and emus. Here you can see these captivating big birds up close in person and even feed them yourself.

Ready to get wild? Here is the complete guide to visiting OstrichLand in Solvang, California!

“Feed This Bad Boy” sign at OstrichLand.

OstrichLand Highlights

Here is a quick overview of visiting the ostrich and emu ranch in Solvang:

Entrance cost: $7 for general admission, $5 for seniors (65+), $5 for military, $3 for kids (under 12)
Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
Feed cost: $1 per bowl
Are advanced reservations needed?: You can purchase tickets at the location or reserve them online here ahead of time.
Are dogs allowed?: Yes, but they must be kept away from the bird-feeding areas
Time needed: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Location & Parking

Entrance and gift shop at Ostrichland USA.

OstrichLand USA is a great little stop for those traveling to Solvang or Buellton. We stopped by here during our weekend stay at the nearby Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground.

This ostrich farm is located off Highway 246 between Buellton and Solvang. This attraction is very easy to access off the highway, and there is a large dirt parking lot for visitors.

If you have a large group, a tour bus, or an RV, it is recommended that you call ahead of time to arrange the parking.

The entrance to the farm is located to the right of the gift shop.

Google Map Location: Ostrichland USA

About OstrichLand

OstrichLand is an outdoor ranch at the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley where you can see enormous birds up close. Founded in 1990, this farm is now home to over 150 birds, including 80 ostriches and 70 emus.

Visiting OstrichLand is a great activity for animal lovers, families, and kids of all ages. Our little toddler was just amazed by all the giant birds and kept oohing and aaahing during the visit.

Set on a large property surrounded by lush hills, the entire setting feels like an outdoor safari.

There are viewing platforms where you can see the birds roam around freely and spot their necks reaching high above the bushes in the distance.

Here you can also buy ostrich food for $1 per bowl and feed the big guys yourself.

This is a must-do activity during your visit! I recommend purchasing at least a few bowls, as the birds devour the food very quickly.

Feeding ostriches is a fun activity for the entire family!

After your visit, be sure to stop by the on-site gift shop where you can buy a variety of souvenirs or even fresh ostrich eggs to take home.

A few fun ostrich facts:

Ostriches grow to be 8-9 feet tall and weigh 250-350 pounds
They are very fast and can run up to 45 miles per hour
The oldest recorded ostrich is 81 years old
An ostrich female can lay 30-60 eggs per season
An ostrich egg weighs 3-4 lbs
Ostriches are the only bird with 2 toes

Our Experience Visiting OstrichLand

After parking, we walked to the entrance next to the gift shop and paid for the tickets. We also bought 5 bowls of ostrich feed to give to the ostriches and emus that live on the farm.

There is a painted mural next to the entrance where you can stop to take photos of ostrich and emu wings.

There is a short path that we took down to the bird feeding area. This path is stroller and wheelchair accessible, although there is a slight downhill.

Walkway that leads to the ostrich and emu feeding areas.

The first feeding area that we walked up to was for emus. The birds looked like feathered dinosaurs with enormous bodies, brown fluffy feathers, and bright blue necks.

The emus ran up to the fence as soon as we brought out the food. There are openings in the fence where you can hold the food bowls for them to eat safely without pecking you.

Feeding emus through an opening in the fence.

Be sure to keep your fingers on the handle to avoid getting accidentally pecked. It helps to extend the bowl out to the birds so they don’t need to strain their necks.

Next to the emus, there was a small fenced area with little babies huddling around. It is not permitted to feed the babies, but you can see them through the fence.

Ostrich babies at OstrichLand in Solvang.

Keep walking down and you will reach the ostrich feeding areas. The male ostriches are known for having black and white feathers, while the females have grayish-brown feathers.

It’s best to hold on to the bowls with both hands as they peck pretty hard at the food.

On the opposite side of the feeding fences are platforms where you can step up to see the big birds roam around the farm freely in the distance. Some of the ostriches walk along the fence, trying to get more food.

My toddler was also obsessed with watching the squirrels running around, trying to eat droppings of the bird food.

A male ostrich walking next to the fence.

Feeding an ostrich along the elevated viewing platforms.

Throughout the property, there are artworks and signs where you can stop and take photos for memories.

A visitor bench with beautiful artwork by the exit.

“Feed This Bad Boy” sign along Highway 246.

Overall, the ostrich farm in Solvang is a great destination for families and kids of all ages!

Visitor Tips

There are basic porta-potty restrooms with a sink for washing hands.
Dogs are allowed but must be kept away from the ostriches and the feeding areas. There are doggie clean-up stations for waste disposal.
Visitors can purchase ostrich and emu eggs at this location. Fresh ostrich eggs cost $60 for one egg.
OstrichLand farm is ADA accessible, although there is some downhill along an uneven surface.
During the busy holiday season, it is recommended to purchase tickets online ahead of time. They sell 200 online tickets per hour.

Visiting the Solvang ostrich ranch is such a fun activity on the Central California Coast! I hope this post has helped you plan for your visit. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comment section below.

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This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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