Lion Country Safari (site) (Irvine, California)

 interesting place, historical layer / disappeared object

California’s Lion Country Safari entertained visitors from 1970 to 1984.

On June 16, 1970, Lion Country Safari in Irvine opened to the public. The location in Southern California had a lot going for it—a great climate, a large local population, and a significant tourist base. But Lion Country Safari had stiff competition from Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the beach.

Lion Country Safari was given a big boost by an unlikely star attraction. An elderly, nearly toothless lion named Frasier came from a Mexican circus in February 1971. The old cat’s tongue dangled from one side of his mouth, and he had trouble walking. He may not have been much to look at as far as we humans were concerned, but the lionesses saw him differently. There was population boom of lion cubs at the park. Frasier’s sorry visage adorned tee-shirts and other park souvenirs. Frasier sired 35 cubs until his death in June 1972 at 17-20 years of age, equivalent to a human age of 85-100 years. Frasier even inspired a 1973 feature movie, Frasier the Sensuous Lion, rated PG.

In 1981, Irvine Meadows Amphitheater (now called Verizon Wireless Amphitheater) was added to Lion Country Safari.

In November 1984, after more than 14 years in business, Lion Country Safari closed permanently. In 1986, the former Safari Camp became the Wild Rivers water park.


This was a drive-thru animal park, hence the roadway still exists.

The park's entertainment area was converted into the current theme park Wild Rivers in 1986-87. The remaining portion of the park was converted to a Day Camp for children named Camp Frasier, owned by Lion Country's parent company United Leisure. (The drive through reserve was used for horseback riding, archery, ATC, ATV riding and hiking.) U.L. was headed up by CEO Harry Schuster, a South African founder of Lion Country. The park was originally in the city limits of Laguna Hills and opened in June of 1970. It was the second Lion Country Safari (after Florida). However in 1982 a long bitter battle began between Schuster and the Irvine Company where the Irvine Company decided to renegotiate the 28 year lease on the land (which began in 1968) and try to take back control when property values increased. Harry Schuster then became involved in a bitter and excruciating legal battle until 1997 when they finally reached a compromise. During this ongoing legal battle Schuster threatened to 'tear it all down' -- including Irvine Meadows (built on a sublease agreement with U.L., now Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre), Wild Rivers, and the day camp. His reasoning was, "I built all this on a firm contract, why should the Irvine Company be allowed to take it from me just because they want it back?". As of May 2006, the Irvine Company still hasn't done anything with the land except re-grade what was once the Drive-Through Reserve and sublet portions for nurseries to store plants. Harry Schuster also founded the 'Loves' restaurant chain.