Last Chance to Roam With the Buffalo

‘Fess up, now, hasn’t there been at least one time in your solid, suburban existence that you’ve longed to ditch the car pool and roam with the buffalo?

Yes? Then the folks at Buffalo Ranch have a weekend planned for you.

On Saturday and Sunday, a trio of young bison celebrities will receive a grand send-off at an event that may well leave some longtime residents reaching for their hankies and, it is hoped, their pocketbooks.

The animals--Happy, Lucky and Rainbow--are the last of a small herd maintained on the site of the former Buffalo Ranch amusement park by the current tenants, a commercial and residential real estate marketing firm called the Lange Group of Companies. At the end of this month, president William Lange and his employees will move from their compound of ranch-style buildings to new digs in Fashion Island, which, in all fairness, is a lousy place for buffalo.

Established in 1955, Buffalo Ranch once spanned some 150 acres near the intersection of what is now MacArthur Boulevard and Ford Road. More than 100 bison roamed the range then; other attractions included Native American storytelling, a miniature train and even (easy now, Rainbow. . .) buffalo burgers.

The park was short-lived, however, and the land, which is owned by the Irvine Co., was leased to architect William Pereira, whose credits include planning the city of Irvine and UCI. In 1976, Lange’s company moved in as Pereira’s tenants and later purchased the buildings. Lange said he will deed the buildings to the Irvine Co. in hopes that local preservationists will be able to work with the landholder to preserve the property.

The move signals the end of an era, said Lange, and to mark the occasion, his firm and First Republic Escrow are underwriting the Last Roundup, featuring pony and hot-air balloon rides, a petting zoo, children’s crafts and Western entertainment. The event ends Sunday at 3 p.m. with a live auction of the bison.

Potential buyers must submit an application stating what, if any, experience they have with buffalo, said Lange, and where they expect to keep them (underline keep; these animals are not intended for slaughter).

If the kids have been clamoring for a bison, and you find yourself weakening, be forewarned: an adult bull may weigh up to 2,400 pounds. Proceeds from the auction and ticket sales will benefit Children’s Home Society of California, Discovery Museum of Orange County and HomeAidof Orange County.

What: Buffalo Ranch’s Last Roundup.

When: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19 and 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Auction begins Sunday at 3 p.m.)

Where: Buffalo Ranch, 2418 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, take the Corona del Mar (73) Freeway south to its end; it turns into MacArthur Boulevard. The ranch is at MacArthur Boulevard and Ford Road.

Wherewithal: $5 for children 12 and under, $10 for adults, $25 for families of four or more.

Where to call: (714) 640-2388.