OstrichLand USA is the attraction that every Santa Ynez Valley road trip with children ends up talking about, and plenty of adults secretly enjoy it more than the wineries. It sits on Highway 246 between Buellton and Solvang, a working ranch with large paddocks of ostriches and emus right beside the road, and its single, irresistible activity is feeding them. You buy a bowl of feed at the gift shop, step up to the fence, and hold it out; the ostriches, curious and enormous, lower their long necks and peck at astonishing speed, which produces shrieks of laughter and some impressive videos. Emus, smaller and more cautious, can be fed in their own area. Staff give clear instructions and the fences keep everything safe, but hold on tightly to the bowl. The gift shop sells ostrich and emu-themed souvenirs, feathers, and real eggs: fresh ostrich eggs are available nearly year-round and emu eggs, with their striking dark-green shells, in winter and spring, so you can take home the most unusual omelet of your trip. The whole stop takes thirty to forty-five minutes and costs little, which makes it the perfect break between Solvang's bakeries and a valley tasting or on the drive back to Santa Barbara along Highway 101. Check current hours before you go, and bring hand wipes; this is a farm.
OstrichLand has been a valley fixture for years, part of the same playful roadside tradition as Solvang's windmills and Buellton's pea soup, and it has become a social media favorite thanks to the comic intensity of the feeding. Ostriches are the largest living birds, and up close, with their great eyes and long lashes, they are both comical and a little awe-inspiring; emus, from Australia, are their smaller, shaggier cousins. The ranch lets you meet both safely and cheaply, and the staff are good at explaining the birds' behavior and how they are cared for.
Visiting well: come earlier in the day or on weekdays to avoid the weekend lines at the feed counter. Hold the bowl firmly with both hands and at arm's length, keep fingers away from the beaks, and supervise small children closely; the birds are gentle but vigorous. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty. Parking is on site along the highway, and the stop is easy to combine with others: Highway 246 is the main road between Buellton and Solvang. If you buy an egg, ask about storage and cooking; a single ostrich egg feeds a crowd.
Fitting it into a trip: OstrichLand works best as a mid-day break in a family Santa Ynez Valley outing. Start with aebleskiver in Solvang and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, stop here on the way west toward Buellton, then head to lunch. Adults on a wine day can slot it between a Sunstone picnic and Los Olivos tastings for a dose of silliness. Note the Highway 101 construction work around Buellton and allow a little extra driving time.
What to expect
The experience
A roadside ranch with ostrich and emu paddocks where you buy a bowl of feed and hand-feed the birds through the fence, plus a gift shop selling feathers, souvenirs and fresh eggs.
Best time
Weekday mornings or early afternoons to avoid weekend lines; emu eggs are sold in winter and spring.
How long
Thirty to forty-five minutes.
Tips
Hold the feed bowl firmly with both hands. Supervise small children. Bring hand wipes. Check hours before you go and allow time for Highway 101 construction near Buellton.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and anyone who wants a big laugh on a Santa Ynez Valley day.
- Families
- A guaranteed hit with children of nearly every age.
- Couples
- A silly, cheap break between tastings that becomes the story of the day.
- Pair with
- Solvang's bakeries and museums, and a Sunstone picnic.
- Time needed
- Under an hour.
Good questions
Where is OstrichLand?+
On Highway 246 between Buellton and Solvang, at 610 East Highway 246, a few minutes from both towns.
Can you really feed the ostriches?+
Yes. You buy a bowl of feed at the shop and hold it out over the fence. The birds peck quickly and hard, so grip the bowl with both hands.
Is it safe for kids?+
Yes, with supervision. The fences keep the birds separate, and staff explain how to feed them. Keep small hands on the bowl and away from beaks.
Can we buy an ostrich egg?+
Usually. Fresh ostrich eggs are sold nearly year-round, and emu eggs in winter and spring.
How long should we allow?+
Thirty to forty-five minutes is plenty, which makes it an easy add-on to a Solvang or wine-country day.
