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Gay's Lion Farm

Nature & parks
In El Monte, California
4.9 mi from Route 66

Gay's Lion Farm was a lion-breeding facility open to the public as a tourist attraction in El Monte, CA, from 1925 until 1942. That year wartime meat shortages forced what was meant to be a temporary closure, and it never reopened. The site lies about 5 miles off the old road, close to where Peck Road crosses Valley Boulevard. It is a curiosity for travelers interested in the early roadside attractions of Southern California.

What is Gay's Lion Farm?

The farm bred lions selectively and let the public come and watch, which made it one of the more unusual tourist draws in the area. It stood a little west of the south-east corner where Peck Road meets Valley Boulevard. Today it is a place of memory rather than a working attraction; no surviving buildings or animals are recorded here.

History of Gay's Lion Farm

The attraction opened in 1925 and ran for seventeen years. In 1942, during the Second World War, shortages of meat made it impossible to carry on, and the farm shut its gates for what was supposed to be a short pause. The lions never returned to public view.

Visiting Gay's Lion Farm: tips

Treat this as a quick historical footnote on a drive through El Monte rather than a destination; there is nothing to tour. A motel and fast food are close by if you need a break. For a longer stop, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is about 5 miles away, and the Huntington Desert Garden is about 6 miles off.

Practical info

Address: El Monte, CA 91732
Hours: Open 24 h
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Gay's Lion Farm

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Fair Oaks Pharmacy
South Pasadena, CA · 7.7 mi from Gay's Lion Farm
A 1915 pharmacy with an old-fashioned soda fountain, on the corner where Route 66 ran down Fair Oaks Avenue.
Diner & restaurant
Twohey's
South Pasadena, CA · 7.8 mi from Gay's Lion Farm
A 1950s-style diner in South Pasadena, founded in 1943 and known for a burger called the Little Stink-O.
Diner & restaurant
Philippe's
Los Angeles, CA · 11.9 mi from Gay's Lion Farm
A downtown Los Angeles restaurant running since 1908 that claims to have invented the French dip sandwich.