Comments on Orange County Memories: Lion Country Safari

I grew up In Buena Park. The visit I remember the ...

2011-02-22T12:10:27.887-08:00

I grew up In Buena Park. The visit I remember the most was a lioness jumping in the back of my step dad's truck and me screaming because a big lioness was looking in the window at us. The lioness started to dig at something in the truck bed and up she came with a tow rope. She jumped out of the truck and another lioness and her were playing tug of war with it. I wish we could have found the people in the car behind us because they were taking pictures of the whole thing.

I have a suggestion for all of the old LION COUNTR...

2011-01-19T10:08:56.664-08:00

I have a suggestion for all of the old LION COUNTRY SAFARI (LCS) employees – let’s start a Facebook page we can all join and post pictures and stories, who knows we might even get a reunion going…
Frank Tartaglio LCS maintenance guy from 1970 – thru – 1975
My email is ftartaglio@yahoo.com

I barely remember visiting there as I was only abo...

2010-12-30T06:59:55.994-08:00

I barely remember visiting there as I was only about 5 or 6. But I do recall the big llama coming up to our window and slobbering on the sideview mirror thinking it was going to eat it!! They had a playground too, that I remember playing on with my brother, and the toys there were animal-shaped. What a wonderful place to take the family, too bad it's gone now.

I was a young child back when Fraser the Lion was ...

2010-10-25T09:43:11.280-07:00

I was a young child back when Fraser the Lion was buried on the hill and my dad was there in the gravesite at Fraser's buriel.

I will never forget The Lion Country Safari, Great Memories - Annette Fraser

I also worked there between 1974 and 1976 and I do...

2010-09-01T23:08:28.034-07:00

I also worked there between 1974 and 1976 and I do have a pic of me and Pam holding Tigers getting ready to show them....if anyone has anymore please send them to my email... donnajb_2004@yahoo.com. ..thanks

My name is Donna Babi (Voet) at the time I worked ...

2010-09-01T22:56:08.599-07:00

My name is Donna Babi (Voet) at the time I worked there....worked alot with Brock and the animals...it was amazing...I am looking for my boss Michael Hartley and Bob....I miss them...does anyone know where they are?? if so..send me a email at donnajb_2004@yahoo.com. It was a fun place....I remember getting to be in the Hollywood Lane Parade at Christmas...was wondering if anyone had pics...thanks

KENT DEBORD SAID: I STARTED WORKING AT LION COUNTR...

2010-08-27T08:50:53.157-07:00

KENT DEBORD SAID:
I STARTED WORKING AT LION COUNTRY SAFARI WHEN IT WAS JUST A TOMATO FIELD IN 1969. I TRANSFERED TO THE MAINT SHOP ON OPENING DAY IN JULY OF 1970. I WORKED THERE UNTIL 1976. IT WAS THE BEST JOB I HAVE EVER HAD.I HAD THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. I MADE ALOT OF FRIENDS DURING THAT TIME AND HAVE LOST TRACK OF EVERYONE. IF ANYONE REMEMBERS WORKING WITH ME YOU MAY ANSWER TO MY EMAIL BELOW. MY DAD WAS A GROUNDS SUPERVISOR FOR ALL THE MAINT; DEPARTMENTS. DURING THAT SIX YEAR STRETCH I PARTICIPATED IN ANYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING WITHIN THE PARK. IT WAS LIKE WORKING IN AFRICA ON SAFARI. GREAT MEMORIES AND INCREDIBLE LIFE EXPERIENCES. I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON MEMORIES FROM LION COUNTRY SAFARI.
KENT DEBORD (ssls6rat@gmail.com)

I visited Lion Country Safaris in 1972 as a guest ...

2010-05-19T00:07:41.419-07:00

I visited Lion Country Safaris in 1972 as a guest of the organisation. I worked for the Natal Parks Board , the organisation responsible for conserving the rhino in its native habitat in Umfolozi Game Reserve . I administered the contract along with Bill York of LCS to supply surplus White Rhino of which approx. 150 of the original 300 ordered were consigned before problems caused the contract to fold. What became of all these rhino.

that looks like a great experience

2010-04-05T22:20:34.278-07:00

that looks like a great experience

One of the best articles U have ever found.... N...

2010-02-24T22:13:41.566-08:00

One of the best articles U have ever found.... Now Im just looking for a Marineland memories site.

im 22 years old, obviously never had the chance to...

2010-01-24T05:32:13.856-08:00

im 22 years old, obviously never had the chance to see lion country, but for some reason im enamored by all the history. i just read every single one of your comments. thank you for sharing

I worked there back in 1974...it was so amazing be...

2009-08-29T14:07:32.232-07:00

I worked there back in 1974...it was so amazing being able to work with all the wild animals...I will never forget that experience...Just wish I had some pictures from most of it...I only have a few...Does anyone know where you can find some pictures from 1974-1976....Thanks!

I remember Frazier so well.....he was beautiful an...

2009-08-03T23:53:16.710-07:00

I remember Frazier so well.....he was beautiful and I loved him as if he was my own lion. Although I was very young I have never forgotten him nor have I forgotten how much I loved him and how still to this day I think about him often and wish he was still here. I am so graetful that I had the opportunity to have this unique experience with such an amazing animal like Frazier! He was truly loved and admired and missed by me.
I still look for his cross that used to rest on his grave on top of the hill above the park. (now Verizon Theatre)

I just wanted to let you know that the space that ...

2009-05-26T00:26:26.486-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that the space that was LCS is NOT JUST wild rivers and the verizon ampitheather. a large part of what was LCS including where the 'gater pit (boats) were is part of a site that in the summer is used as an amazing summer day camp, currently called camp james www.campjames.com previously was known as camp fraizer (after the lion) i used to work at camp james and absolutely loved it! its the best day camp i've ever worked at and work highly recommend it! there is still a lake and some areas where it still looks 'jungle' like. very nice space!

I will always remember Lion Country. I remember th...

2009-05-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

I will always remember Lion Country. I remember the jeeps painted like zebras. Does anyone remember the machines that you could put a coin in and it would make a wax mold of the animal of your choice? Whenever I smell hot, melting wax, I think of that! I live in Pennsylvania now but the best years of my life were spent growing up in OC. I tell my husband all the time about Lion Country and he is amazed. They just never had anything like that in western Pennsylvania! I remember going on a grade school field trip (went to Killybrooke) and we were each assigned an animal. We had to observe and study about the animal and then write a report! I think I had to write about the antelopes! What great memories!

My husband and I went on safari with Bill York in ...

2009-03-04T14:15:00.000-08:00

My husband and I went on safari with Bill York in Kenya. Couple of years later when Lion Country was up and running, we visited. Because we were friends with Bill we went behind the more public areas. Two things I remember particularly. Somewhere I have snapshots of me holding two tiger cubs - an incredible armload. The other memory was of my incredible stupidity. We were jeeping around the roads; staff were throwing real meat chunks onto the vehicle and lions were enjoying their 'snack'. I love cats - all kinds and sizes and without thinking rolled down my window - to pet one, maybe? Bill ROARED at me, "Woman, shut the window!" which I did of course - fortunately before I became another snack.
vivian in alameda

Hey does anyone remember a Mark N todd Quinn?. if...

2008-11-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

Hey does anyone remember a Mark N todd Quinn?. if i remember there dad ran the LCS for a lil while. back in the 70s.i went to Trabuco Canyon school with Mark N todd. they were a;ways bringin home wild anamials.Ive seen a bunch of pics after the place closed down. kinda scary. looks like the real deal now everything all grown over.

2008-11-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

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2008-11-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

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I remember going to lion country safari for the fi...

2008-11-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

I remember going to lion country safari for the first time in 1979 on a field trip with my 7 grade class from el monte. it seemed so far. It was a wonderful place back then. i went around 5 times total but i do remember the boat ride, safari jungle jeep ride, and lots of barn yard animals you could touch. My last visit was in 1982 and i remember how sad i was because of the was so deteriorated. i wonder if a park like this would do well in these days with all the crap that is going on. i can just see some looser gang member taking a gun to a park like this and shoot some animals. so i guess it wouldnt work in today life style. life was so much better back then.

I remember one weekend in the early 70's going the...

2008-10-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

I remember one weekend in the early 70's going there with my parents in our 1969 dark green mustang.My mother wore a bright purple costume necklace that day and as we passed by the ostriches they started pecking at the windshield infatuated with Mom's jewelry.Well, let me tell you I've never seen my Mom so startled in my life!! To this day although my parents are in poor health,they still talk about that day! Also remember seeing Fraiser the lion close-up he was quite a celebrity in his day,sitting there with his tounge hanging out and all the lionesses sitting around him he was quite the king.You can still see his grave site on the hill above what was once the park also in the ampitheatre there were still some of the zebra-stripped vehicles parked in back.In Florida[West Palm]there's another Lion Country Safari like the one in O.C. took my grandson there recently and it brought back fond memories.

I absolutely loved LCS. I would take relatives th...

2008-09-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

I absolutely loved LCS. I would take relatives there that were from out of town, or just go by myself several times a year. I remember thinking that the guys that drove the Jeeps were really cute with their safari hats and all.

One of my good friends worked there, and I remember he used to bring home baby lion cubs. The reason he got to bring them home was that he had to feed them every couple hours or so.

At the time, both of us had horses at a private stable that his Dad owned, and I even remember him bringing a baby giraffe to the stables one day. We let it run in the enclosed arena and played with it. So weird to be able to be up close to wild animals, as babies they are very much like domestic cats or horses, just so playful and full of it, but bigger and more powerful.

I do remember when Bubbles escaped. I remember seeing her in the mud pond by the side of the road over the hill from LCS. She seemed very happy there! Seemed like it was off Laguna Canyon Road or something, by where they used to sell strawberries on the side of the road in the summer.

I also remember always looking for Frazier's cross on the hill. In fact, I STILL look for it, but I think they took it down because it's not there anymore.

The only time I ever visited LCS was also during a...

2008-09-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

The only time I ever visited LCS was also during a company picnic that my dad's job had. It was probably in the early 80s/ Wonder if we there at the same time! It was really cool. I just remember driving slowly and watching the animals. It's great to hear everyone's memories!

i was really little, so i only have a couple memor...

2008-08-16T02:59:00.001-07:00

i was really little, so i only have a couple memories of Lion Country Safari. i remember the machines you put quarters in and got the wax/plastic molded animals. the smell of the freshly-created plastic animals was great(to a kid!)and i still have 4 of the animals. i also remember a car in front of us, like an original Volkswagen, being surrounded by lions and one lion took that car's back bumper in its mouth and bounced it up and done... everyone was screaming! it was fantastic.
i was excited to read about the hippo paddle boats because i have a memory of those and i didn't know from where... i swear i saw those in Long Beach California's El Dorado Park, but you know, a toddler's memory CAN be foggy!

i was really little, so i only have a couple clear...

2008-08-16T02:59:00.000-07:00

i was really little, so i only have a couple clear memories of Lion Country Safari, along with some vague images.

i remember the machines you put quarters in and got the wax/plastic molded animals. the smell of the freshly-created plastic animals was great(to a kid!)and i still have 4 of the animals.
i also remember a car in front of us, like an original Volkswagen, being surrounded by lions and one lion took that car's back bumper in its mouth and bounced it up and down for a LONG time... everyone was screaming! it was fantastic.

i was excited to read one of the comments about the hippo paddle boats, because i have a memory of those and i didn't know where my memory was from... i swear i saw those in Long Beach California's El Dorado Park... maybe they ended up with those boats?? but you know, a toddler's memory CAN be foggy!