Goebel's Lion Farm Site: Jungleland

5/8/20241 min read

Goebel's Lion Farm Site

Louis Goebel created the lion farm in 1926 as a support facility for the Hollywood movie industry. A wide variety of exotic animals were obtained, trained, and rented to the studios for use in films. The facility later became a theme park and opened to the public in 1929. The site became popularly known a Jungleland. Wild animal shows entertained thousands in the 1940s and 1950s. The facility closed in October 1969 because of competition from other Southern Califonia amusement parks. Goebel retained ownership of the land, which was eventually sold to the city of Thousand Oaks to create the Civic Arts Plaza and other developments. It is designated as Ventura County historical site #6 and City of Thousand Oaks historical site #13. The current location of the Civic Arts Plaza is 2100 East Thousand Oaks Blvd.

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